USS Spiegel Grove: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:45, 18 February 2025

USS Spiegel Grove[edit]

The USS Spiegel Grove (LSD-32) was a Thomaston-class dock landing ship of the United States Navy. Named after the Spiegel Grove State Park in Ohio, the ship was commissioned in 1956 and served until 1989. After decommissioning, the ship was intentionally sunk to create an artificial reef off the coast of Key Largo, Florida.

Design and Construction[edit]

The USS Spiegel Grove was laid down on 7 September 1954 by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was launched on 10 November 1955 and commissioned on 8 June 1956. The ship was designed to transport and launch landing craft and amphibious vehicles with their crews and embarked personnel in amphibious assault operations.

Service History[edit]

Early Service[edit]

After commissioning, the USS Spiegel Grove conducted shakedown training and participated in various exercises along the East Coast of the United States. She was involved in numerous amphibious warfare exercises and operations, including deployments to the Mediterranean Sea as part of the United States Sixth Fleet.

Later Service[edit]

Throughout her service, the Spiegel Grove participated in several notable operations, including the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, where she played a role in the naval blockade of Cuba. She also supported operations during the Vietnam War, providing logistical support and transportation for troops and equipment.

Decommissioning[edit]

The USS Spiegel Grove was decommissioned on 2 October 1989 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 13 December 1989. After decommissioning, she was laid up in the James River Reserve Fleet in Virginia.

Artificial Reef[edit]

In 2002, the USS Spiegel Grove was prepared for sinking as an artificial reef. The ship was towed to a site off the coast of Key Largo, Florida. On 17 May 2002, the ship sank prematurely and ended up on her side. Efforts were made to right the ship, and in June 2005, she was successfully rolled upright by a team of divers and engineers.

The Spiegel Grove now serves as a popular scuba diving site, attracting divers from around the world. The ship lies at a depth of approximately 130 feet, with the top of the wreck at about 60 feet below the surface. The site is home to a variety of marine life, including coral, sponges, and numerous species of fish.

Related Pages[edit]

References[edit]

"USS Spiegel Grove (LSD-32)." Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved from [1].
"Spiegel Grove Artificial Reef." Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Retrieved from [2].

Gallery[edit]

USS Spiegel Grove underway
USS Spiegel Grove in 1965
Diver near an old gun mount
Diver exploring the wreck
Large reel on deck
Marine life on the wreck
US flag with diver
Flag on the Spiegel Grove

USS Spiegel Grove
USS Spiegel Grove underway c. 1965
Diver near an old gun mount, Spiegel Grove wreck, Key Largo, Florida
Diver near an old gun mount, Spiegel Grove wreck, Key Largo, Florida
Spiegel Grove wreck, large reel on deck, Key Largo, Florida
USS Spiegel Grove
US flag with diver on USS Spiegel Grove wreck in 2007
USS Spiegel Grove

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-'''USS Spiegel Grove (LSD-32)''' was a [[United States Navy]] [[Dock landing ship|LSD-class ship]], named after [[Spiegel Grove]], the home and estate in [[Fremont, Ohio]] of [[Rutherford B. Hayes]], the 19th [[President of the United States]]. The ship was laid down on 7 September 1954 by the [[Ingalls Shipbuilding]] Corporation of [[Pascagoula, Mississippi]].
+== USS Spiegel Grove ==
-==Design and Construction==
+The '''USS Spiegel Grove''' (LSD-32) was a [[Thomaston-class dock landing ship]] of the [[United States Navy]]. Named after the [[Spiegel Grove State Park]] in [[Ohio]], the ship was commissioned in 1956 and served until 1989. After decommissioning, the ship was intentionally sunk to create an artificial reef off the coast of [[Key Largo]], [[Florida]].
-The USS Spiegel Grove was designed as a [[Dock landing ship|LSD-class ship]], a type of [[Amphibious warfare ship|amphibious warfare vessel]] that is designed to support and launch [[Landing Craft|landing craft]] and [[Amphibious vehicle|amphibious vehicles]]. The ship was 510 feet long, 84 feet wide, and had a displacement of 8,325 tons. It was powered by a [[Steam turbine|steam turbine]] engine that could propel the ship at speeds up to 20 knots.
-==Service History==
+== Design and Construction ==
-The USS Spiegel Grove was commissioned on 8 June 1956. During its service, the ship participated in numerous operations and exercises, including the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]], the [[Vietnam War]], and [[Operation Desert Storm]]. The ship was decommissioned on 2 October 1989.
-==Final Disposition==
+The USS Spiegel Grove was laid down on 7 September 1954 by the [[Ingalls Shipbuilding]] Corporation in [[Pascagoula, Mississippi]]. She was launched on 10 November 1955 and commissioned on 8 June 1956. The ship was designed to transport and launch [[landing craft]] and [[amphibious vehicles]] with their crews and embarked personnel in amphibious assault operations.
-After decommissioning, the USS Spiegel Grove was sunk as an [[Artificial reef|artificial reef]] off the coast of [[Key Largo]], [[Florida]] on 17 May 2002. Today, the shipwreck is a popular site for [[Scuba diving|scuba divers]] and is part of the [[Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary]].
-==See Also==
+== Service History ==
-*[[List of United States Navy LSDs]]
-*[[List of shipwrecks in the Florida Keys]]
-{{USN LSD}}
+=== Early Service ===
-{{ship-stub}}
-[[Category:United States Navy ship names]]
+After commissioning, the USS Spiegel Grove conducted shakedown training and participated in various exercises along the [[East Coast of the United States]]. She was involved in numerous [[amphibious warfare]] exercises and operations, including deployments to the [[Mediterranean Sea]] as part of the [[United States Sixth Fleet]].
-[[Category:Dock landing ships]]
+=== Later Service ===
+Throughout her service, the Spiegel Grove participated in several notable operations, including the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]] in 1962, where she played a role in the naval blockade of [[Cuba]]. She also supported operations during the [[Vietnam War]], providing logistical support and transportation for troops and equipment.
+=== Decommissioning ===
+The USS Spiegel Grove was decommissioned on 2 October 1989 and struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] on 13 December 1989. After decommissioning, she was laid up in the [[James River Reserve Fleet]] in [[Virginia]].
+== Artificial Reef ==
+In 2002, the USS Spiegel Grove was prepared for sinking as an artificial reef. The ship was towed to a site off the coast of Key Largo, Florida. On 17 May 2002, the ship sank prematurely and ended up on her side. Efforts were made to right the ship, and in June 2005, she was successfully rolled upright by a team of divers and engineers.
+The Spiegel Grove now serves as a popular [[scuba diving]] site, attracting divers from around the world. The ship lies at a depth of approximately 130 feet, with the top of the wreck at about 60 feet below the surface. The site is home to a variety of marine life, including [[coral]], [[sponges]], and numerous species of fish.
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[Thomaston-class dock landing ship]]
+* [[Amphibious warfare]]
+* [[Artificial reef]]
+* [[Scuba diving in the United States]]
+== References ==
+* "USS Spiegel Grove (LSD-32)." [[Naval History and Heritage Command]]. Retrieved from [https://www.history.navy.mil/].
+* "Spiegel Grove Artificial Reef." [[Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary]]. Retrieved from [https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/].
+== Gallery ==
+<gallery>
+USS_Spiegel_Grove_LSD-32.jpg|USS Spiegel Grove underway
+USS_Spiegel_Grove_(LSD-32)_underway_c1965.jpg|USS Spiegel Grove in 1965
+Diver_near_an_old_gun_mount,_Spiegel_Grove_wreck,_Key_Largo,_Florida.jpg|Diver near an old gun mount
+Diver_near_on_old_gun_mount,_Spiegel_Grove_wreck,_Key_Largo,_Florida.jpg|Diver exploring the wreck
+Spiegel_Grove_wreck,_large_reel_on_deck,_Key_Largo,_Florida.jpg|Large reel on deck
+_aquaimages.jpg|Marine life on the wreck
+US_flag_with_diver_on_USS_Spiegel_Grove_(LSD-32)_wreck_in_2007.jpg|US flag with diver
+Spiegel_grove_Flag.png|Flag on the Spiegel Grove
+</gallery>
+[[Category:Thomaston-class dock landing ships]]
 [[Category:Ships built in Pascagoula, Mississippi]]
-[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Florida Keys]]
+[[Category:1955 ships]]
+[[Category:Cold War amphibious warfare vessels of the United States]]
 [[Category:Artificial reefs]]
-[[Category:1956 ships]]
+<gallery>
-[[Category:Ships sunk as artificial reefs]]
+File:USS_Spiegel_Grove_LSD-32.jpg|USS Spiegel Grove
-[[Category:United States Navy Ohio-related ships]]
+File:USS_Spiegel_Grove_(LSD-32)_underway_c1965.jpg|USS Spiegel Grove underway c. 1965
+File:Diver_near_an_old_gun_mount,_Spiegel_Grove_wreck,_Key_Largo,_Florida.jpg|Diver near an old gun mount, Spiegel Grove wreck, Key Largo, Florida
+File:Diver_near_on_old_gun_mount,_Spiegel_Grove_wreck,_Key_Largo,_Florida.jpg|Diver near an old gun mount, Spiegel Grove wreck, Key Largo, Florida
+File:Spiegel_Grove_wreck,_large_reel_on_deck,_Key_Largo,_Florida.jpg|Spiegel Grove wreck, large reel on deck, Key Largo, Florida
+File:7846_aquaimages.jpg|USS Spiegel Grove
+File:US_flag_with_diver_on_USS_Spiegel_Grove_(LSD-32)_wreck_in_2007.jpg|US flag with diver on USS Spiegel Grove wreck in 2007
+File:Spiegel_grove_Flag.png|USS Spiegel Grove
+</gallery>