USS COLONIAL

• USS Colonial (LSD-18) was a Casa Grande-class dock landing ship, commissioned by the United States Navy during World War II, though she was launched too late to see combat in that conflict. • The ship was named after Colonial Beach, Virginia, continuing the Navy tradition of naming landing ships after American counties or communities. • USS Colonial was launched on 28 May 1945 by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company and officially commissioned into service on 15 February 1946. • She played an important role during the Korean War, participating in the Inchon amphibious landings in September 1950, a pivotal operation that turned the tide in favor of United Nations forces. • The ship was crucial in supporting the evacuation of Hungnam in December 1950, helping rescue thousands of UN troops and civilians from advancing Chinese forces. • USS Colonial was involved in the testing and deployment of early U.S. Navy helicopters for amphibious assault operations, thus contributing to the development of modern amphibious warfare tactics. • During the Vietnam War, Colonial conducted multiple deployments, serving as a mobile base for riverine and amphibious operations, and providing support for the famous “Brown Water Navy”. • In 1967, while off the coast of Vietnam, USS Colonial rescued survivors of the SS Alva Cape, a merchant ship that had struck a mine, demonstrating her crew's bravery and humanitarian commitment. • The ship was decommissioned on 15 March 1970 after nearly 25 years of service, and subsequently sold for scrap in 1977. • USS Colonial earned eight battle stars for her service during the Korean War, a testament to her significant role in several critical military operations.