US Navy Maintenance Center successfully completes waterborne rudder overhaul onboard USS Rushmore LSD 47.

According to information published by the United States Navy on October 14, 2021, the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC) of the U.S. Navy successfully completed a waterborne rudder overhaul onboard USS Rushmore (LSD 47) Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship recently.
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USS Rushmore LSD 47 Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship of U.S. Navy. (Picture source U.S. Navy)

This was the first-ever waterborne dock landing ship (LSD) rudder overhaul for U.S. Navy SWRMC (Southwest Regional Maintenance Center) - this waterborne solution involved SWRMC engineers, divers, and waterfront operations team collaborating with industry partners from Epsilon and Bay City Marine. This project was an emergent work item and included work normally accomplished in a dry dock as part of a planned availability. It is typically a three-month work item under ideal conditions.

The project took approximately 10 weeks from start to finish including production work and sea trials. SWRMC is meeting its mission to provide superior ship maintenance, modernization, technical support, and training for the Pacific Fleet.

The USS Rushmore (LSD-47) is a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship in service with the United States Navy. The assigned mission of the dock landing ship is to transport and launch loaded amphibious craft and vehicles with their crews and embarked personnel in amphibious assaults by landing craft and amphibious vehicles. It can render limited docking repair service to small ships and craft.

The Whidbey Island-class dock landing ships are used by the U.S. Navy to transport United States Marine Corps (USMC) vehicles and she has a large flight deck for the landing of helicopters or V-22 Ospreys. The well deck was designed to hold four LCAC hovercraft, five if the vehicle ramp is raised, for landing Marines. Recent deployments have instead filled the well deck with a combination of LCU(s), AAVs, Tanks, LARCs, and other USMC vehicles and gear. The ship is also equipped with multiple cranes and a shallow draft that further make it ideal for participating in amphibious operations.