USS Boulder (LST 1190)

- decommissioned -

Named after the city in Colorado, the USS BOULDER was the 12^th NEWPORT - class Tank Landing Ship. Decommissioned on February 28, 1994, the BOULDER spent the following years berthed at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia, Penn. On April 1, 2022, the ship arrived under tow at All Star Metals, Brownsville, Tx., for scrapping. That means BOULDER spent more time in mothballs than on active duty.

General Characteristics:	Awarded: July 15, 1966
	Keel laid: September 6, 1969
	Launched: May 22, 1970
	Commissioned: June 4, 1971
	Decommissioned: February 28, 1994
	Builder: National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, Calif.
	Propulsion system: 6 diesels; 16,000 horsepower; bow thruster
	Propellers: two and one bow thruster screw
	Length: 522 feet (159 meters)
	Length over derrick arms: 561 feet (171 meters)
	Beam: 70 feet (21.2 meters)
	Draft: 17,4 feet (5.3 meters)
	Displacement: approx. 8500 tons
	Speed: 20 knots
	Aircraft: helicopter platform only
	Armament: one 20mm Phalanx CIWS, 4 3-inch/.50-caliber guns
	Crew: 14 officers, 210 enlisted and approx. 350 embarked troops

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS BOULDER. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

Click here to view the list.

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Click here to see which USS BOULDER memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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USS BOULDER Cruise Books:

Cruise Book 1986

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Accidents aboard USS BOULDER:

Date	Where	Events
September 12, 1988	off Norway	USS BOULDER runs aground off the coast of Norway during exercise Teamwork '88 due to bad weather or unchartered underwater obstructions. The ship suffers some major scrapes and tears in the bottom of the hull.

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USS BOULDER History:

The construction contract for BOULDER was awarded on July 15, 1966. Her keel was laid at the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company yard in San Diego on September 6, 1969. She was launched on May 22, 1970, sponsored by Mrs. Gordon L. Allott, wife of Senator Gordon L. Allott of Colorado, with Mrs. Donald G. Brotzman serving as matron of honor. Fitting out continued at San Diego during the following year. On April 13, 1971, BOULDER was photographed alongside the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company fitting-out pier with the still-uncompleted USS FAIRFAX COUNTY (LST 1193) nearby. BOULDER was commissioned at Long Beach, California, on June 4, 1971, with Commander Burl A. Troutman Jr. as her first commanding officer.

Although built on the Pacific coast, BOULDER was assigned to the Amphibious Force of the Atlantic Fleet and was to be based at Little Creek, Virginia. Her transfer to the East Coast began on June 21, 1971, when she departed San Diego in company with USS BEACON (PG 99), USS CHEHALIS (PG 94) and USS GREEN BAY (PG 101). The group proceeded south along the Pacific coast and called at Acapulco, Mexico, before transiting the Panama Canal. After entering the Caribbean, the ships visited Cartagena, Colombia, and continued toward the United States. BOULDER reached the Norfolk area on July 10, completing the voyage that brought her from her builder's yard to the Atlantic Fleet.

From Little Creek, BOULDER entered the normal cycle of amphibious training, readiness exercises and maintenance that characterized Atlantic Fleet tank landing ship operations. Her homeport placed her close to the principal East Coast amphibious training areas around Virginia and North Carolina and to Marine Corps facilities at Camp Lejeune and Morehead City. BOULDER's first major Mediterranean deployment began in the summer of 1972. On July 28, Amphibious Squadron 4 put to sea for Morehead City, North Carolina, with USS IWO JIMA (LPH 2), USS CHARLESTON (LKA 113), USS TRENTON (LPD 14), USS PENSACOLA (LSD 38) and BOULDER. On July 29, the ships embarked elements of the 34th Marine Amphibious Unit at Morehead City. The force departed for the Mediterranean on July 30 and conducted training during the Atlantic crossing.

The amphibious squadron reached the Rota, Spain, area on August 10, 1972. A turnover with the preceding amphibious force occupied August 10 through August 12, after which Amphibious Squadron 4 and the embarked 34th Marine Amphibious Unit assumed duties as the Sixth Fleet's Task Force 61. The force then entered a demanding schedule of amphibious exercises and port visits intended to maintain an American amphibious capability in the Mediterranean at a time when the region remained an important area of Cold War competition.

From August 13 through August 15, the task force conducted Amphibious Landing Exercise 1-73 at Carboneras, Spain. This was followed by a port period at Valencia from August 16 through August 21. The amphibious ships subsequently moved eastward, and from August 24 through September 2 they participated in Amphibious Landing Exercise 2-73 in the Timbakion area of Crete. From September 5 through September 9, BOULDER visited Venice, Italy, together with IWO JIMA and TRENTON. The force subsequently continued its Mediterranean training schedule. An amphibious exercise was conducted in the Caorle area of Italy on September 10 and 11 before preparations for the major NATO Exercise Deep Furrow 72 shifted the force toward the eastern Mediterranean. Activities connected with the exercise included preparations at Izmir, Turkey, on September 16 and 17 and an amphibious landing in the Timbakion area on September 19.

The following phase of Deep Furrow involved movement toward northeastern Greece. From September 20 through September 22, the amphibious force conducted an opposed transit toward Alexandroupolis. Further amphibious operations in the Alexandroupolis area followed during the latter part of September. Deep Furrow brought American Marines and naval forces together with Greek, Italian and other NATO forces in an exercise focused on the alliance's southeastern flank. Following the exercise, elements of the amphibious force visited Athens, Greece, from September 30 through October 5. BOULDER subsequently operated in the central and western Mediterranean and was documented at Genoa, Italy, on October 15. The deployment continued through the remainder of 1972 and into early 1973 as BOULDER carried out the training, transport and readiness duties assigned to the Sixth Fleet amphibious force.

After returning to the United States, BOULDER resumed Atlantic Fleet amphibious operations. During 1973, she again crossed the Atlantic and participated in exercises in European waters. Her activities included NATO amphibious training and Exercise Deep Furrow 73, another major exercise intended to test allied reinforcement and operations on NATO's southeastern flank. Elements of the 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade participated aboard several Atlantic Fleet amphibious ships. BOULDER and USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC 20) were scheduled to return participating personnel to Norfolk on December 5, 1973, while USS SUMTER (LST 1181), USS MANITOWOC (LST 1180) and PENSACOLA returned other Marine elements through Morehead City.

One of the most unusual assignments of BOULDER's career followed in 1974. The Suez Canal had been closed to international shipping since the Arab-Israeli war of June 1967. During the following years, the waterway had become obstructed by mines, unexploded ordnance, wrecked vessels and other hazards, while additional fighting during the War of Attrition and the October 1973 Arab-Israeli War added to the problem. Following the ceasefire and disengagement agreements after the 1973 war, Egypt began an extensive program to reopen the canal. The United States provided mine-countermeasures, explosive-ordnance-disposal, salvage and technical assistance.

The U.S. Navy organization responsible for the American effort was Task Force 65, established on April 8, 1974. Several related operation names applied to different elements of the canal-clearance program. Operation Nimbus Star concerned the American mine-clearing effort, Nimbus Moon covered additional clearance and related assistance, while Nimrod Spar was associated with the removal of wrecks and other major obstructions. BOULDER was not employed as a minesweeper. Her role was that of a command, logistics and support platform for personnel and equipment involved in the broader clearance effort.

Several ships successively supported Task Force 65 during the long operation, including USS INCHON (LPH 12), USS BARNSTABLE COUNTY (LST 1197), BOULDER and USS ESCAPE (ARS 6). Salvage vessels associated with the broader effort included USS OPPORTUNE (ARS 41). During October, BARNSTABLE COUNTY moved north toward Port Said as preparations were made for BOULDER to assume her support role.

On October 9, 1974, BOULDER relieved BARNSTABLE COUNTY and became the principal tank landing ship supporting the American forces working in the canal area. She provided logistical and general support while mine-clearance, explosive-ordnance-disposal and salvage work continued. The operation was conducted under unusual conditions because the canal remained closed to normal commercial traffic and still contained extensive remnants of several years of conflict. BOULDER's participation formed part of a multinational clearance effort involving Egyptian, American, British, French and other organizations. By December, the American salvage phase was approaching completion. On December 12, 1974, equipment associated with the salvage force was loaded aboard BOULDER as the retrograde of personnel and material began. Salvage activities were completed during the following week, and the American salvage organization was disestablished on December 20. BOULDER received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for her part in the canal-clearance effort. The broader rehabilitation of the waterway continued after her departure, and the Suez Canal formally reopened to international shipping on June 5, 1975.

BOULDER returned to more conventional Atlantic Fleet duties during 1975. Later that year, she participated in Operation Northern European Merger, a major deployment of Second Fleet forces to northern European waters between September and December. The deployment combined national and NATO training and demonstrated the ability of American naval forces to reinforce NATO's northern region. Photographic documentation shows BOULDER operating in formation behind USS PONCE (LPD 15). Another Navy image shows BOULDER and USS DENEBOLA (AF 56) returning toward Norfolk with Second Fleet units after operations in northern Europe. The participating forces returned to the United States in December.

Early in 1976, BOULDER was diverted from normal amphibious training to humanitarian duty following the destructive earthquake that struck Guatemala on February 4. The disaster killed thousands of people and caused widespread damage to buildings, roads and other infrastructure. The United States dispatched military personnel and equipment to assist the relief effort.

During late February, BOULDER, FAIRFAX COUNTY and USS HERMITAGE (LSD 34), all associated with Amphibious Squadron 4, transported U.S. Army engineers from Morehead City toward Guatemala. The engineers were intended to assist with road repair, construction and other recovery work. BOULDER's credited humanitarian-service period covered February 28 through March 1, 1976. The larger American assistance effort continued after the ships had completed their transport mission.

BOULDER returned to the Mediterranean during 1978 as part of another Marine Amphibious Ready Group. The force carried the 34th Marine Amphibious Unit and included IWO JIMA, TRENTON, PENSACOLA, BOULDER and FAIRFAX COUNTY. From September 28 through October 13, the Marine amphibious force participated in Exercise Display Determination, a major NATO exercise in the Mediterranean region designed to test allied reinforcement, command, air, naval and amphibious capabilities on NATO's southern flank. The deployment continued into the winter. At the beginning of January 1979, BOULDER was at Barcelona, Spain, with departure scheduled for January 8. She subsequently completed the deployment and returned to Atlantic Fleet duties.

Another Mediterranean deployment followed later in 1979. BOULDER became part of Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 3-79, Task Force 61, carrying the 32nd Marine Amphibious Unit. The amphibious force included IWO JIMA, USS SHREVEPORT (LPD 12), HERMITAGE, USS SAGINAW (LST 1188) and BOULDER. During the autumn, the group conducted amphibious exercises and maintained Sixth Fleet contingency readiness while moving among training areas and ports in the Mediterranean. From November 1 through November 10, 1979, elements of the amphibious force operated in the Garrucha and Carboneras areas of Spain during Exercise Crisex 79. BOULDER was subsequently documented at Palma, Spain, during November.

The deployment continued into 1980. During January, the amphibious group operated from Taranto, Italy, remaining there until January 15. The deployment concluded during the opening months of the year, returning BOULDER to the western Atlantic shortly before she was assigned another unusual mission.

In April 1980, the Cuban government's decision to permit departures through the port of Mariel produced a mass movement of Cuban migrants toward Florida. Thousands of privately operated boats crossed the Straits of Florida, many overloaded or otherwise poorly suited for open-water operations. The rapidly expanding traffic created significant search-and-rescue and maritime-safety problems. On May 1, 1980, the Department of Defense directed a number of Atlantic Fleet ships that had been preparing for Exercise Solid Shield 80 to support Coast Guard operations connected with the Mariel Boatlift. The naval force included USS SAIPAN (LHA 2), BOULDER, PONCE, SAGINAW, SHREVEPORT and other vessels. BOULDER and SAIPAN arrived in the operating area on May 5.

BOULDER remained involved through the latter part of May, supporting the overall search-and-rescue and maritime-safety effort in waters crowded with small civilian craft moving between Cuba and Florida. Her participation extended through May 22, with the associated humanitarian-service period extending into May 23. The Mariel movement itself continued after BOULDER's participation ended and eventually brought more than 125,000 Cubans to the United States.

Later in 1980, BOULDER deployed to northern European waters for Exercise Teamwork 80, one of the largest NATO naval exercises of the period. Conducted principally from September 10 through September 24, the exercise involved approximately 60,000 personnel, around 170 ships and hundreds of aircraft from NATO nations. It extended across the North Atlantic, English Channel, North Sea and Norwegian Sea and emphasized the defense of sea lines of communication, reinforcement of northern Europe and amphibious operations on NATO's northern flank.

The American amphibious force included ships such as MOUNT WHITNEY, IWO JIMA, TRENTON, PONCE, USS SPIEGEL GROVE (LSD 32), HERMITAGE, SAGINAW, BOULDER, USS HARLAN COUNTY (LST 1196), CHARLESTON and USNS COMET (T-AKR 7). Following the principal exercise phase, participating ships conducted port visits in northern Europe. BOULDER was documented at Fredrikstad, Norway, during October before the force began its return to the United States.

On December 1, 1980, BOULDER was transferred to the Naval Reserve Force. She remained a commissioned U.S. Navy ship, but her manning and operating system changed. Naval Reserve Force vessels maintained a nucleus of active-duty personnel supplemented by Selected Reserve sailors who trained aboard the ships and augmented their crews during exercises, deployments and mobilization requirements.

During 1981, BOULDER remained assigned to the Naval Reserve Force and continued readiness and training duties. The reserve-force arrangement required periodic underway training, amphibious exercises and maintenance sufficient to keep the ship available for mobilization while providing a platform on which reserve personnel could maintain operational proficiency.

A major overseas deployment followed in 1982. BOULDER joined an Amphibious Group Two force operating in the North Atlantic and northern Europe. The amphibious force included USS NASSAU (LHA 4), USS RALEIGH (LPD 1), TRENTON, PENSACOLA, BOULDER and USS SPARTANBURG COUNTY (LST 1192). The approximately two-and-a-half-month deployment culminated in Exercise Northern Wedding 82. Northern Wedding was conducted from September 6 through September 17, 1982, and represented a major NATO test of the alliance's ability to reinforce northern Europe during a crisis. American amphibious forces and a carrier battle group crossed the Atlantic in coordination with Military Sealift Command shipping carrying personnel and equipment associated with reinforcement of Europe. The exercise required naval forces to protect transatlantic shipping, establish local sea control and support allied forces ashore.

BOULDER's deployment also included activities connected with Exercise Bold Guard 82 in Denmark and Germany. Bold Guard concentrated on reinforcement and defense of the Baltic approaches and northern continental Europe. The combination of Northern Wedding and Bold Guard placed BOULDER in the kind of reinforcement mission for which NATO maintained substantial amphibious and sealift forces during the Cold War.

BOULDER's Naval Reserve Force performance was recognized in 1983 when she received the Burke Trophy for excellence and readiness. The award reflected the performance of the reserve organization assigned to the ship and was particularly relevant to the mixed active-duty and reserve manning system under which BOULDER was then operating. During the remainder of 1983, BOULDER continued reserve-force amphibious training and readiness duties on the Atlantic coast and in nearby operating areas. These activities prepared the ship for another large joint exercise the following year.

On April 20, 1984, BOULDER was photographed underway in the Caribbean during Exercise Ocean Venture 84. Ocean Venture was a large joint exercise involving Navy, Marine Corps and other U.S. forces and was intended to test command arrangements, amphibious warfare, sea control, logistics and related capabilities in the Caribbean and western Atlantic. Further weapons training followed later in the year. From October 26 through October 31, 1984, BOULDER participated in a gunnery exercise in the Guantanamo Bay operating area together with USS SCOTT (DDG 995). Fleet Composite Squadron 6 deployed a detachment to Guantanamo Bay to provide QST-35 aerial targets for the exercise. Twenty-seven rounds were recorded as expended during the event.

BOULDER remained in Naval Reserve Force service throughout 1985. Her duties continued to combine reserve training, maintenance and periodic operational commitments rather than the regular Mediterranean deployment cycle that had characterized much of the first decade of her career. A substantial habitability-improvement effort was associated with BOULDER during fiscal year 1986. Naval Reserve Force maintenance accounts identified her as the principal major habitability project in that year's program, with expenditures of approximately $653,000.

A technical peculiarity of the NEWPORT-class design also resulted in formal Navy action during 1986. Because BOULDER's bow derrick structure and military configuration prevented certain navigation lights from being positioned with the precise spacing normally required by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, the Navy issued a special determination on September 26, 1986, recognizing that the installed arrangement represented the closest practicable compliance without interfering with the ship's military function.

Later that year, BOULDER deployed to South American waters for UNITAS XXVII. UNITAS was the long-running annual series of exercises between U.S. naval forces and South American navies and provided combined training in surface warfare, antisubmarine warfare, amphibious operations and other maritime tasks. During the Brazilian phase in November 1986, the American force included USS HAYLER (DD 997), USS LAWRENCE (DDG 4), USS JOHN L. HALL (FFG 32), BOULDER and USS SCAMP (SSN 588), operating with units of the Brazilian Navy.

During 1987, BOULDER continued Naval Reserve Force training and readiness duties. BOULDER returned to large-scale joint exercise activity in 1988. On March 30, she was photographed at anchor off Puerto Rico while participating in Exercise Ocean Venture 88. As with earlier exercises in the Ocean Venture series, the event provided joint and amphibious training in the Caribbean and western Atlantic.

Later in the year, BOULDER crossed the Atlantic for Exercise Teamwork 88. The NATO exercise brought together forces from nine countries and approximately 45,000 military personnel in the North Atlantic and Norwegian region. Its principal purpose was to practice maritime reinforcement and defense of NATO's northern flank. During the exercise, BOULDER suffered one of the most serious accidents of her career. At approximately 2:00 a.m. on September 13, 1988, she grounded off the central Norwegian coast northeast of the island of Froya. The grounding damaged the underside of the hull and resulted in the release of approximately 880 gallons of diesel fuel. No injuries were reported.

Salvage assistance was dispatched to the grounded ship. USS GRAPPLE (ARS 53), which was also operating in northern European waters, joined two Norwegian tugs in efforts to refloat BOULDER. The combined effort succeeded in pulling the landing ship free. Inspection revealed substantial scraping and tearing to portions of her bottom plating. On September 21, BOULDER entered dry dock for repairs to the grounding damage. She subsequently returned to service. Commander John E. Schalk was relieved as commanding officer following the incident.

The following year brought a very different type of deployment. During the summer of 1989, BOULDER undertook Great Lakes Cruise 89, combining Naval Reserve Force training, Marine Corps activities and public outreach in American and Canadian communities around the Great Lakes. Marine personnel were embarked for portions of the cruise, and associated training included Exercise Caltrop Force 89 with participants from the United States and several allied nations. On July 21, 1989, BOULDER arrived in the Duluth-Superior harbor at the western end of Lake Superior. She passed through the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge and operated in the Park Point area, where embarked Marines conducted an amphibious demonstration. The Great Lakes cruise combined operational and reserve training with public visits in communities far removed from the Navy's normal coastal bases.

Around 1990, BOULDER underwent an extensive repair and modernization program at Marine Hydraulics International in Norfolk. The work went substantially beyond routine upkeep. It included major work on the ship's reduction gears, removal and replacement of two main propulsion diesel engines, realignment of two additional main engines, structural and ballast-tank repairs, modifications to electrical switchboards and shore-power equipment, and installation of a Halon firefighting system. The scale of the machinery work reflected the continuing effort required to maintain an aging NEWPORT-class ship for further Naval Reserve Force service.

Late in 1990, BOULDER participated in preparations for Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 1-91. On November 26, USS AUSTIN (LPD 4) departed for predeployment workups as part of a four-ship amphibious force with USS GUADALCANAL (LPH 7), CHARLESTON and BOULDER under Amphibious Squadron 8. The group conducted approximately two weeks of workups in the Onslow Bay area off North Carolina. The training included amphibious procedures, warfare-at-sea scenarios, special-operations-related events and noncombatant-evacuation training. BOULDER's participation was limited to the predeployment workup phase. When Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 1-91 departed on January 23, 1991, the deploying ships were GUADALCANAL, AUSTIN and CHARLESTON; BOULDER did not accompany them overseas.

During 1991, BOULDER remained in Naval Reserve Force service in the United States. Her continued commissioned status allowed her to support reserve training and amphibious readiness at a time when the Navy was beginning to reduce the number of older amphibious ships following the end of the Cold War. BOULDER returned to a major amphibious exercise in May 1992 during Ocean Venture 92. She was assigned within the exercise amphibious organization and supported Marine operations off the North Carolina coast. On May 9, members of the 2nd Marine Division were embarked aboard BOULDER as part of an amphibious assault on Onslow Beach. Nineteen AAV7A1 amphibious assault vehicles were carried aboard for the operation.

The exercise demonstrated several methods by which BOULDER could transfer heavy equipment ashore. Utility landing craft LCU-1658 operated with the ship while carrying engineering vehicles, trucks and High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, and received fuel and supplies from BOULDER during the exercise. Marine helicopters operated overhead while landing craft and amphibious vehicles moved between ship and shore.

Only weeks later, BOULDER began another Great Lakes deployment. Great Lakes Cruise 92 ran from June 16 through August 20, 1992. A Marine detachment of approximately 146 personnel accompanied the ship. Equipment carried for training and public demonstrations included an M198 155mm howitzer, a TOW antitank missile system, six AAVP7A1 amphibious assault vehicles, a Light Armored Vehicle and associated vehicles and display equipment. The cruise combined Naval Reserve Force training with Marine Corps demonstrations, recruiting activities and public visits around the Great Lakes. On June 28, Marines associated with BOULDER conducted an amphibious demonstration in the Woodlawn Beach area near Hamburg, New York. On July 28, BOULDER was at Toledo, Ohio, where visitors toured the ship and viewed the military equipment carried on her vehicle deck. The cruise continued through August before the ship returned from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic coast.

BOULDER undertook another extended Great Lakes cruise in 1993. Great Lakes Cruise 93 began on June 17 and continued through the end of August. An embarked Marine detachment consisted of approximately 150 Marines together with Navy personnel. Equipment carried for training and public demonstrations included an M198 155mm howitzer, TOW and Dragon antitank weapons, an 81mm mortar, a Mk 19 grenade launcher, military vehicles, a Light Armored Vehicle, combat rubber raiding craft and six AAVP7-series amphibious assault vehicles. BOULDER visited a succession of American Great Lakes ports during the cruise. She was at Detroit, Michigan, at the end of June and was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the beginning of July. By July 6, she had reached Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, where her visit continued through July 10. The ship subsequently continued through the lakes and was at Cleveland, Ohio, during the opening days of August, with departure planned for August 5.

After completing the Great Lakes portion of the cruise, BOULDER returned eastward through the St. Lawrence Seaway. Her final movement toward the Atlantic coast was affected by Hurricane Emily at the end of August. The storm delayed the ship's departure from the Newport, Rhode Island, area. By September 1, the embarked Marine detachment was aboard BOULDER en route to Morehead City, where arrival was expected on September 2. The cruise became one of the last major operational activities of her commissioned career.

By then, the Navy was withdrawing the NEWPORT-class tank landing ships from active and reserve service as the amphibious fleet shifted toward newer dock landing ships, amphibious transport docks and amphibious assault ships using landing craft, LCACs and helicopters. BOULDER's ability to place her bow directly against a beach or causeway remained useful, but the cost of maintaining the aging ship increasingly worked against continued service in the smaller post-Cold War fleet.

USS BOULDER was decommissioned on February 28, 1994, ending almost twenty-three years of commissioned service. She was subsequently placed in inactive status at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Unlike some NEWPORT-class ships that were transferred to foreign navies soon after leaving American service, BOULDER remained in U.S. custody for many years. Her retention was connected with continuing plans to preserve additional amphibious lift capacity for mobilization. Navy and Marine Corps planning material continued to list BOULDER together with several other inactive Newport-class ships as mobilization assets associated with the Amphibious Lift Enhancement Plan.

During her extended inactive period at Philadelphia, maintenance was limited to that considered necessary for preservation and management of the hull. At one stage, BOULDER was moved within the inactive-ship facility to Pier 5 for removal of two of her main propulsion diesel engines. Sections of deck above the machinery spaces had to be opened so that the large engines could be lifted vertically out of the ship. The engines were then lowered to the pier and prepared for removal from the facility.

BOULDER remained on the Naval Vessel Register until December 1, 2008, when she was finally stricken. By that point, she had spent considerably longer in inactive status than many ships remained in active commission. Even after being stricken, however, the hull remained at Philadelphia while the Navy worked through the disposal of its inventory of obsolete vessels. The final disposition of BOULDER came in 2022. On March 16, the former tank landing ship was removed from the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia and began her final tow south. She arrived at the All Star Metals facility at Brownsville, Texas, on April 1, 2022, for dismantling and recycling.