Marine Detachment or MarDet was a unit of 35 to 55 United States Marines aboard battleships or aircraft carriers. They were a regular component of a ship's company since the formation of the United States Marine Corps up until the 1990s. Missions of the Marine Detachment evolved over time, and included protecting the ship's captain, security and defense of the ship, operating the brig, limited action ashore, securing nuclear weapons and ceremonial details.
USS Los Angeles (CA-135) CLASS - BALTIMORE
Displacement 13,600 Tons, Dimensions, 673' 5" (oa) x 70' 10" x 26' 10" (Max)
Armament 9 x 8"/55, 12 x 5"/38AA, 48 x 40mm, 24 x 20mm, 4 Aircraft
Armor, 6" Belt, 8" Turrets, 2 1/2" Deck, 6 1/2" Conning Tower.
Machinery, 120,000 SHP; G. E. Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 33 Knots, Crew 2000. Operational and Building Data
Ordered 07 AUG 1942
Keel laid on 28 JUL 1943 by the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pa
Launched 20 AUG 1944
Commissioned 22 JUL 1945
Decommissioned 09 APR 1948
Recommissioned 27 JAN 1951
Decommissioned 15 NOV 1963
Stricken 01 JAN 1974 Fate: Sold for scrap to Terminal Island's National Metal and Steel Corp. on 16 MAY 1975 for $1,036,089
Description
A Western Pacific Cruise is a ship's deployment from her home port, usually lasting between 5 and 8 months. Ships visit different ports such as Phuket, Thailand; Salalah, Oman; Darwin, Australia, Bali, Jebel Ali, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong. The ships hosted foreign militaries, performed numerous underway replenishments-at-sea and conducted general quarters drills, fire drills and maritime patrols.
US Navy provides during these deployments provocative "freedom of navigation" operations, known as FONOPS, that send warships into the disputed areas around the world on any given year.
Any cruise is hazardous with sailors injured or killed during flight, refueling, ordnance, operations or weather; day or night. Foriegn military vessels threatening by fast approach to ramming. Often at times ships are endangered by low fly overs from hostile aircraft.
BattleType
Exercise
Country
Pacific Ocean
Parent
Deployment - Western Pacific (WESTPAC) Cruise Series
