Historical Notes:
The third TRENTON was laid down at Seattle, Wash., on 8 August 1966 by
the Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Co.; launched on 3
August 1968; sponsored by Mrs. Richard J. Hughes, and commissioned on 6
March 1971, Capt. Karl R. Thiele in command.
TRENTON got underway on 9 April for the east coast and reached her home
port, Norfolk, Va., on 12 May. The amphibious transport dock remained
in port until 1 June when she departed Hampton Roads for shakedown
training out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. However, on 28 June, her
shakedown cruise was interrupted by an accident that killed 4 of
TRENTON's crew. 2 more died later as a result of injuries received
during the accident.
TRENTON returned to Guantanamo Bay for interim repairs and then made
her way back to Norfolk on one engine, arriving on 6 July. After
repairs at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, she completed shakedown training
off the Virginia Capes and in the Guantanamo Bay operating area. On 9
November, the ship returned to Norfolk and remained there through the
end of 1971.
On 17 January 1972, TRENTON rounded Cape Charles and headed north to
participate in Exercise "Snowy Beach." She arrived off Reid State Park,
Maine, three days later and participated in the cold weather amphibious
exercise until the 23d when she headed home. On 4 February, she stood
out of Hampton Roads bound for the Gulf of Mexico in company with PONCE
(LPD 15). The two ships reached New Orleans on 9 February and, for the
next six days, served as "hotel" ships for ROTC and military
participants in the Mardi Gras Festival.
TRENTON returned to Norfolk on 20 February and resumed her east
coast-West Indies routine. Following amphibious training at Onslow
Beach, N.C., and sea trials near Norfolk, she visited the Caribbean in
April with other units of Amphibious Squadron (PhibRon) 4. She then
devoted the rest of the early summer to exercises and training at
Onslow Beach and at Norfolk before preparing for her first
Mediterranean deployment.
The ship departed Norfolk on 28 July, embarked marines at Morehead
City, N.C., on the 29th, and headed across the Atlantic on the 30th.
She reached Rota, Spain, on 10 August and, with the other units of
PhibRon 4, was incorporated into the 6th Fleet as Task Force (TF) 61.
She spent the remainder of the year and most of the first month of 1973
in the Mediterranean. During that six-month period, TRENTON
participated in six amphibious landing exercises (Phiblex's), most of
which were conducted in cooperation with the military services of
foreign nations. In September, she conducted a landing exercise at
Timbakion, Crete, with units of the Italian Navy. Greek and Italian
ships joined her later that month for Phiblex 3-73 conducted at
Alexandroupolis, Greece. In mid-October, troops of the French Foreign
Legion provided the opposition for a landing exercise at Corsica.
TRENTON visited Izmir, Turkey, in mid-September and, in mid-December,
concluded her exercise schedule at Porto Scuda, Sardinia, with Phiblex
6-73. On 16 January 1973, she headed home; and, 10 days later, she
entered the Naval Amphibious Base at Little Creek, Va.
On 1 March, TRENTON shifted to the administrative command of PhibRon
10. On the 27th, she embarked marines at Morehead City and headed for
Onslow Beach, where she participated in Exercise "Exotic Dancer VI." On
7 April, the warship headed south to Vieques Island, near Puerto Rico.
From 10 to 14 April, TRENTON joined other Navy ships in Exercise
"Escort Tiger XIV," which consisted of training for disaster assistance
to the island countries of the Caribbean. During this Caribbean cruise,
she visited Maracaibo; Venezuela, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas
in the Virgin Islands before embarking the marines at Vieques on 3 May.
After a port visit at Ponce, Puerto Rico, TRENTON carried her marines
to Guantanamo Bay for a four-day exercise. On 14 May, she departed the
Caribbean and, after disembarking the marines on 17 May, reached
Norfolk on the 18th.
On 11 June, TRENTON steamed out of Hampton Roads for northern Europe.
She reached Kiel Germany, on the 22d, and, for the next week,
participated in the annual "Kiel Week" naval celebration. Early in
July, she visited Portsmouth, England, and, at mid-month, put into
Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The amphibious transport dock bade
farewell to Europe at Rotterdam on 21 July and headed back to the
United States.
TRENTON spent the remainder of the summer conducting drills in the
Virginia capes operating area and in preparation for her second
Caribbean deployment of the year. On 1 October, she shifted from
PhibRon 10 to PhibRon 8. On the last day of that month, she embarked
marines at Morehead City and headed south. For the remainder of the
year, she cruised the Caribbean, visiting ports in Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands, and in the Netherlands Antilles as well as conducting
amphibious exercises at Vieques Island. The amphibious transport dock
returned to Norfolk on 14 December.
During the first four months of 1974, TRENTON conducted operations out
of Little Creek and Norfolk and prepared for duty in the Mediterranean.
On 10 May, she embarked marines at Morehead City and put to sea. Ten
days later, she reached Rota, Spain, and joined the 6th Fleet. For the
next six months' she cruised the Mediterranean, visiting ports and
conducting exercises. In July, TRENTON participated in the evacuation
of 286 refugees from strife-torn Cyprus to Beirut, Lebanon. While with
the 6th Fleet, she participated in four amphibious exercises. One
Operation -- "Good Friendship/Double Effect" -- included ships of the
Turkish Navy. On 20 October, she steamed out of Rota to return to the
United States. She arrived in Norfolk on 31 October and operated in the
western Atlantic through the end of 1974.
On 7 March 1975, she embarked marines at Morehead City and headed
south. After an amphibious assault exercise at Onslow Beach from 8 to
10 March, she continued south to the Caribbean. During the two-month
cruise, TRENTON participated in four exercises, two of which --
"LantReadEx 2-76" and "Rum Punch" -- were held in cooperation with
units of the British and Dutch navies. She returned to Norfolk on 28
April. In May, she hosted a class from the Naval War College, conducted
a midshipman training cruise for the Naval Academy, and returned to
Onslow Beach for joint service Exercise "Solid Shield." During the
early summer, TRENTON prepared for overhaul. On 14 August, she headed
north to New York, moored at the Coastal Drydock & Repair Co.
on the following day, and commenced a nine-month overhaul.
On 12 May 1976, TRENTON completed her overhaul and, following loadout
at Little Creek, Va., she deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on 6 July
for refresher training. Returning to Norfolk on 17 August, the ship's
next three months was spent in preparation for a forthcoming
Mediterranean deployment. On 15 November, TRENTON, with embarked
elements of Marine Battalion Landing Team 1/6, formed Mediterranean
Amphibious Ready Group 3-76 and operated with the Sixth Fleet until she
returned to Norfolk on 12 May 1977.
Following post-deployment standdown which ended on 30 June, TRENTON
spent the remainder of 1977 conducting midshipman training cruises,
engaging in amphibious exercises, and participating in COMPTUEX 3-77,
which involved units of the Standing Naval Force Atlantic.
The year 1978 found TRENTON embarking elements of Battalion Landing
Team 1/2 and deploying to the Caribbean from 30 January to 7 March to
participate in Atlantic Fleet Readiness Exercise 1-78. The succeeding
four months were spent in preparations for a return to the
Mediterranean. The ship, with embarked elements of Marine Battalion
Landing Team 2/8, departed Morehead City on 27 July, as part of
Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 2-78. The remainder of 1978 was
spent with the Sixth Fleet in that sea.
Trenton was transferred on January 17, 2007 to the Indian Navy, and now
bears the name Jalashwa. |