About

SHIP'S CREST
SHIELD:
Dark blue and gold are the colors traditionally associated with the Navy and symbolize the sea and excellence. Red and gold are the traditional Marine Corps colors. The chevron denotes movement symbolizing the delivery ashore of ground troops. The battle-ax, denoting strength and battle-readiness, has two cutting edges to allude to the prowess of both HARPERS FERRY and the Marines it will land.
CREST:
The ship's wheel and the fountain, heraldic symbols for the water, refer to world-wide capabilities and transportation while highlighting the location and importance of the town of Harpers Ferry, the ship's namesake. The muskets, from the Civil War era, indicate both the past and the present HARPERS FERRY while alluding to the history and heritage of the town. SUPPORTERS: The Navy and Marine Corps' officers' swords reflect the ship's mission and are crossed to denote cooperation, teamwork and strength.

In 2007 USS Harpers Ferry Received the Golden Anchor Award for Retention

Ship and unit history
SHIP: USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49) is the lead ship of its class of landing ship dock of the United States Navy. Harpers Ferry's keel was laid down on 15 April 1991, at the Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans. The ship was launched on 16 January 1993. The vessel was commissioned on 7 January 1995. As a Dock Landing Ship, she supports amphibious operations including landings via Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), conventional landing craft and helicopters, onto hostile shores. She transports and launches amphibious craft and vehicles with their crews and embarked personnel in amphibious assault operations. HARPERS FERRY, WV: The Civil War was disastrous for Harpers Ferry, which changed hands eight times between 1861 and 1865. Because of the town's strategic location on the railroad and at the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley, both Union and Confederate troops moved through Harpers Ferry frequently. The Battle of Harpers Ferry started with light fighting September 13 to capture the Maryland Heights to the northeast while John Walker moved back over the Potomac to capture Loudon Heights south of town. After an artillery bombardment on September 14 and September 15, the Federal garrison surrendered. When Virginia seceded in April of 1861 the US garrison attempted to burn the arsenal and destroy the machinery. Locals saved the equipment, which was later transferred to a more secure location in Richmond. Shortly after the end of the Civil War, Harpers Ferry, along with all of both Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, was separated from Virginia and incorporated into West Virginia. Without the distraction of Union forces at Harpers Ferry during the Antietam campaign the North might not have won that crucial battle or, consequently, the war. Namesake information This warship was named for the town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, which, because of the U.S. arsenal there, was an important location during the Civil War.

ABOUT THE SHIP:
Dock Landing Ships support amphibious operations including landings via Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), conventional landing craft and helicopters, onto hostile shores. These ships transport and launch amphibious craft and vehicles with their crews and embarked personnel in amphibious assault operations.

USS HARPERS FERRY (LSD-49) SPECIFICATIONS

Length	610 Feet
Beam	84 Feet
Draft	20 Feet
Displacement	16,708 tons
Speed	20 plus knots
Landing Craft	Two Landing Craft, Air Cushion
Propulsion	4 Colt Industries 16 Cylinder Diesels; 2 shafts, 33,000 shaft horsepower
Crew	Ships Company: 22 officers, 397 enlisted; Marine Detachment: 402 plus 102 surge
Hull	Steel hull, steel superstructure
Armament	Two 25mm MK 38 Machine Guns, Two 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts and Six .50 cal. machine guns, two Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) mounts.

USS Harpers Ferry LSD 49

Unit 100165 Box 1
FPO AP 96665-6500

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Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet