In this 2014 video, the former USS Ogden (LPD 5) takes a harpoon missile strike from the Republic of Korea’s submarine LeeSunSin (SS 068) and a naval strike missile from a Royal Norwegian Navy frigate during a Sink Exercise.
The USS Ogden (LPD-5) was an Austin-class amphibious transport dock ship in service in the U.S. Navy. Construction on the ship was completed on February 4, 1963, at the New York Naval Shipyard. It was officially launched on June 27, 1964. It was the second U.S. Navy ship named for the city of Ogden, Utah.
Following an initial training off of Norfolk, the Ogden arrived in San Diego on October 29, 1965, where she joined the Pacific Fleet and completed training. She deployed twice to Vietnam during her first year of service (February 8 through April 4, 1966, and again from May 16 through July 7, 1966) transporting Marines and their equipment to the war front. On her return trips, she brought home damaged vehicles for repairs.
A pioneer she conducted experiments with aircraft capable of doing vertical or short landings and take-offs (V/STOL) in the summer of 1966. From January 1973 through July 1973 she was a participant in Operation Endsweep clearing mines from Haiphong Harbor along with RH-53A helicopters as a member of Task Force 78.
The Ogden also saw action in the Persian Gulf during Desert Shield as a part of the first amphibious fleet to be sent in. Her assignments revolved around intercepting blockade running freighters and tankers.
At the outset of Desert Storm, she was part of the task force charged with capturing Failaka Island. The mission was a success meeting very little resistance. As part of the mission, the Ogden earned the distinction of making the largest transfer of prisoners by ship ever taking prisoners from Failaka Island to Saudi Arabia.
On February 27, 2002, the Ogden was damaged in a collision with the submarine US Greenville opening a 5 x 18-inch hole in one of her fuel tanks. Even though the collision was the fault of the Greenville, the Ogden’s captain was relieved of command.
Featured in literature, the USS Ogden serves as the base of operations in the Tom Clancy novel “Without Remorse” where an aborted POW rescue attempt against North Vietnam takes place.
Originally scheduled for decommissioning in 2000, the requirements of Operation Iraqi Freedom bought her an extra life and pushed her decommissioning back to February 21, 2007.
The Ogden was sunk off the coast of Hawaii on July 10, 2014.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Shannon E. Renfroe/Released)