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USS Fort Fisher (LSD 40)

USS FORT FISHER was the last ship in the ANCHORAGE-class of Dock Landing Ships and also the first ship in her class decommissioned. She was named for Fort Fisher at the mouth of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina, the Confederate fortification that protected the approaches to Wilmington during the American Civil War and was captured by Union forces in January 1865 following a combined naval and ground operation. Stricken from the Navy list on February 27, 1998, FORT FISHER spent the following years laid-up at Benicia, Ca., awaiting final disposal. On May 22, 2009, the FORT FISHER was sold for scrapping to International Shipbreaking Ltd., Brownsville, Tx.

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS FORT FISHER. 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 FORT FISHER memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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USS FORT FISHER Pamphlets:

• Decommissioning Pamphlet

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USS FORT FISHER's Commanding Officers:

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About the Ship's Name:

USS FORT FISHER takes her name from the Confederate stronghold which stood at the mouth of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina. The fort guarded Wilmington, the last major seaport to be closed by Union forces. The Confederate Fort Fisher was named in honor of Captain Charles F. Fisher, Confederate States Army, who was born in 1816 and killed in 1861 while commanding North Carolina troops in the First Battle of Manassas. The December 1864 - January 1865 battle for Fort Fisher was the most extensive amphibious campaign of the American Civil War and the largest amphibious operation ever conducted on the North American continent.

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About the Ship's Coat of Arms:

The blue areas allude to the world's oceans, and the red stripe with superimposed gold "tank track" refers to the ship's amphibious assault mission. Red and gold are colors traditionally associated with the Marine Corps.

The white silhouette of a sea-face of Fort Fisher, a Confederate fortification, alludes to the combined Union naval and land assaults on the Fort in December 1864 and January 1865. The latter of these dates is considered a model of amphibious operations and complete Navy-Army coordination. The preliminary Union bombardment was the most furious and sustained known at that time; the red area behind the silhouette of the Fort refers to this unprecedented bombardment from naval vessels. The scallop "shell" further alludes to the naval "shelling" of the Fort.

The shell is also a symbol of pilgrimage and is thus indicative of the ship's readiness to serve in any part of the world. The crossed cutlasses refer to Navy crews and Marine landing forces. The star is a symbol of leadership and alludes to FORT FISHER's capability of functioning as control ship in an amphibious assault. A single white star also appears on the flag of North Carolina, home state of the Fort. The five points of the star and the seven ribs of the scallop shell add up to twelve. This number has special significance as North Carolina was the twelfth state to ratify the Constitution and the Fort Fisher Campaign was the twelfth campaign of the Civil War.

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USS FORT FISHER History:

The contract for USS FORT FISHER was awarded on May 2, 1967. Her keel was laid at the Quincy Shipbuilding Division of General Dynamics in Quincy, Massachusetts, on July 15, 1970, and she was launched on April 22, 1972. The Navy acquired the ship on November 8, 1972, and FORT FISHER was commissioned at the Charlestown Naval Shipyard in Boston on December 9, 1972, with Capt. Gene F. Gauthier as her first commanding officer.

After completing her initial fitting-out and training on the East Coast, FORT FISHER departed the Boston area on February 2, 1973, and proceeded toward the Pacific by way of the Panama Canal. Her first Pacific home port was Long Beach, California. During June and July, she joined USS BARBOUR COUNTY (LST 1195) on a Naval Academy and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps midshipman training cruise to the Far East. The approximately two-month cruise included visits to Pearl Harbor, Yokosuka and Hong Kong. On August 15, 1973, FORT FISHER's home port was changed from Long Beach to San Diego, which remained the center of most of her subsequent Pacific Fleet activity.

FORT FISHER began her first extended overseas deployment in January 1974 as a unit of the Seventh Fleet amphibious force. The deployment coincided with the continuing war in Cambodia and U.S. preparations for the possible evacuation of Americans and other designated personnel from Phnom Penh. On February 14 and February 15, 1974, a turnover was conducted at Subic Bay, Philippines. USS ST. LOUIS (LKA 116), FORT FISHER and USS BRISTOL COUNTY (LST 1198), assigned to Amphibious Squadron Seven, relieved USS MOBILE (LKA 115), USS MOUNT VERNON (LSD 39) and USS BARBOUR COUNTY. USS OKINAWA (LPH 3) remained with the amphibious ready group as the principal aviation ship.

The embarked Marine force was the 31st Marine Amphibious Unit. By February 22, the force centered on USS OKINAWA, USS ST. LOUIS, FORT FISHER and USS BRISTOL COUNTY remained available for the Cambodian contingency. The immediate evacuation requirement was relaxed when conditions temporarily stabilized, but the amphibious force continued to maintain readiness. The contingency planning during this period formed part of the process that eventually resulted in Operation Eagle Pull, although FORT FISHER was no longer with the force when the actual evacuation of Phnom Penh took place in April 1975.

Later in the deployment, USS NEW ORLEANS (LPH 11) replaced USS OKINAWA in the amphibious ready group. By May 20, FORT FISHER was operating with USS NEW ORLEANS, USS ST. LOUIS and USS BRISTOL COUNTY while the 31st Marine Amphibious Unit continued its Western Pacific activities. The force subsequently moved toward Australia for Exercise Kangaroo One, a large combined exercise involving U.S. and Australian forces. On June 17, FORT FISHER, USS JUNEAU (LPD 10) and USS ALAMO (LSD 33) were refueled by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker RFA TIDE AUSTRAL during the exercise period.

At the end of June, the outgoing amphibious force conducted its turnover in Australian waters. On June 27 and June 28 at Hervey Bay, USS JUNEAU, FORT FISHER, USS ALAMO and USS BRISTOL COUNTY were relieved by an incoming group consisting of USS CLEVELAND (LPD 7), USS TULARE (LKA 112), USS FRESNO (LST 1182) and USS SAN BERNARDINO (LST 1189). FORT FISHER subsequently began the return voyage to the United States and completed her first extended Seventh Fleet deployment in July 1974.

Following her return, FORT FISHER resumed Pacific Fleet amphibious exercises, readiness training and maintenance. One documented fleet exercise took place on June 26, 1975, when FORT FISHER operated with USS CHICAGO (CG 11) and USS STERETT (DLG 31) during Fleet Exercise 2-75.

FORT FISHER continued local and Pacific Fleet operations through the first part of 1976. In October 1976, she entered Todd Shipyard at San Diego for the first extensive overhaul of her career. The work modernized the ship and restored material readiness after her first several years of active service. Following completion of the overhaul, FORT FISHER returned to training in preparation for another Western Pacific deployment.

That deployment included an unusual logistics assignment associated with the radiological cleanup of Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Enewetak had been used by the United States for nuclear weapons testing between 1948 and 1958, and during the late 1970s a major cleanup and rehabilitation project was under way to remove contaminated material and prepare portions of the atoll for eventual resettlement. Amphibious ships were employed to carry heavy construction equipment, vehicles and supplies to the remote islands. On October 21, 1977, FORT FISHER arrived at Enewetak and delivered 3,161 measurement tons of cargo for the cleanup program. The shipment included two U.S. Army LARC amphibious vehicles. The delivery formed part of the extensive sealift effort required to support the joint military cleanup operation.

FORT FISHER then continued into the Western Pacific. In December, she was operating with a task group that included USS DENVER (LPD 9), USS MOBILE and USS BARBOUR COUNTY. The ships operated with Republic of Korea forces during Exercise Ssang Yong VII. The exercise continued through December 16 and involved combined amphibious operations on the Korean Peninsula, one of the principal areas of U.S. forward military deployment in the western Pacific during the Cold War.

During the early part of 1978, FORT FISHER operated off the Vietnamese coast in connection with another unusual assignment. A U.S.-flagged yacht had been temporarily held by Vietnamese authorities, and FORT FISHER was employed in the effort that resulted in the vessel's recovery. After completing the remaining portion of the Western Pacific deployment, the ship returned to the United States and resumed her San Diego-based training and maintenance cycle.

FORT FISHER was again operating extensively with the Seventh Fleet in 1979. During May, she was assigned to Amphibious Ready Group Alpha with USS TARAWA (LHA 1) and USS BARBOUR COUNTY, while the 31st Marine Amphibious Unit was embarked. From May 5 through May 11, Company E, reinforced, of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, embarked aboard FORT FISHER, participated in Exercise Phibtraex at Sattahip, Thailand. During this period, FORT FISHER was operating in the vicinity of Prachuap, Thailand, while other elements of the ready group moved toward Subic Bay.

Later in the year, FORT FISHER returned to Enewetak as the cleanup program moved into its retrograde phase. On September 3 and September 4, 1979, the ship called at the atoll and embarked approximately 4,065 measurement tons of retrograde cargo for removal. This mission reversed the logistics role she had performed in 1977, when she had carried heavy equipment to the atoll for the cleanup.

Following her 1979 operations, FORT FISHER returned to the United States and continued Pacific Fleet training through 1980. By early 1981, she was due for another major repair and modernization period. In February 1981, she entered Triple A Shipyard at Hunters Point in San Francisco for a regularly scheduled overhaul. The contract for the work was valued at $10.128 million. The availability continued through September and included extensive maintenance and modernization of machinery, hull and equipment. FORT FISHER returned to operational service following completion of the overhaul and began rebuilding readiness for another overseas deployment.

On August 24, 1982, FORT FISHER departed on a Western Pacific and Indian Ocean deployment with Amphibious Squadron Five. The squadron included USS BELLEAU WOOD (LHA 3), USS OGDEN (LPD 5), USS THOMASTON (LSD 28), FORT FISHER, USS CAYUGA (LST 1186) and USS TUSCALOOSA (LST 1187). The 31st Marine Amphibious Unit deployed with the force. During the early phase of the cruise, Amphibious Ready Group Alpha consisted principally of USS BELLEAU WOOD, USS OGDEN, FORT FISHER and USS CAYUGA and proceeded toward Subic Bay during September. The deployment subsequently carried FORT FISHER through the Western Pacific and into the Indian Ocean.

From November 29 through December 8, 1982, Amphibious Squadron Five participated in Exercise Jade Tiger in the Indian Ocean. The exercise combined amphibious operations with other naval and Marine training during a period in which the United States maintained a substantial naval presence in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. During the deployment, the squadron made port calls in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and Hawaii. After approximately six months overseas, FORT FISHER and the other ships of Amphibious Squadron Five returned to San Diego on February 24, 1983.

The ship spent the following months conducting maintenance and preparing for another deployment. On September 12, 1983, FORT FISHER again departed San Diego for the Western Pacific as part of Amphibious Squadron Seven. The squadron included USS PELELIU (LHA 5), USS CLEVELAND, USS ANCHORAGE (LSD 36), FORT FISHER, USS ST. LOUIS, USS PEORIA (LST 1183) and USS SAN BERNARDINO. The 31st Marine Amphibious Unit provided the embarked landing force. The amphibious ships proceeded first to Hawaii, where Marine units completed their embarkation. The force left Hawaiian waters westbound on October 3. During November, elements of the group moved into Australian waters. From November 4 through November 8, USS PELELIU, FORT FISHER and USS SAN BERNARDINO participated in Exercise Valiant Usher, a joint U.S.-Australian amphibious exercise. The deployment continued through the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean during the winter. FORT FISHER was back at San Diego by March 7, 1984.

After maintenance and training, another overseas deployment began on October 18, 1984. FORT FISHER departed San Diego with Amphibious Squadron Five, whose principal ships included USS OKINAWA, USS CLEVELAND, FORT FISHER and USS DURHAM (LKA 114). The ships formed part of Fleet Exercise 85-1 during their trans-Pacific movement. From October 29 through November 2, the amphibious force participated in Exercise Bell Volcano 85-1 in Hawaiian waters. The exercise included amphibious training and provided the deploying ships and Marines with additional integrated preparation before the force continued westward.

During early 1985, FORT FISHER took part in Team Spirit 85 in South Korean waters. Team Spirit was the large annual U.S.-Republic of Korea exercise intended to practice reinforcement and combined operations on the Korean Peninsula. Its amphibious component included the movement of Marine units from ships to landing areas along the Korean coast. FORT FISHER supported these operations through her well deck and landing craft facilities. The 1984-85 deployment concluded during the spring, and the ship returned to Southern California in May 1985.

FORT FISHER was back at sea for major training almost immediately. From June 4 through June 8, she participated in Exercise Kernel Usher 85-3 with a task group that included USS DURHAM, USS OKINAWA, USS CLEVELAND, USS ROARK (FF 1053), USS BRADLEY (FF 1041), USS THACH (FFG 43) and USS JOSEPH STRAUSS (DDG 16). Kernel Usher provided additional amphibious and naval warfare training in preparation for the next overseas deployment. A final predeployment exercise, Kernel Usher 85-5, was conducted off Southern California from July 24 through August 1.

On August 9, 1985, FORT FISHER departed San Diego again, this time in company with USS OKINAWA, USS CLEVELAND and USS DURHAM as Task Group 76.3. The group crossed the Pacific and arrived at Subic Bay on September 1. A scheduled upkeep period was interrupted on September 4 and September 5 when the ships put to sea for storm avoidance. They returned after the immediate weather threat passed and departed Subic Bay on September 8 for Australia.

From September 19 through September 23, Task Group 76.3 participated in Exercise Valiant Usher 85-5AS off Western Australia. The exercise also involved the battle group centered on USS MIDWAY (CV 41), combining amphibious training with operations by the carrier force. The group subsequently continued through Southeast Asian waters. Elements of Task Group 76.3 reunited on October 11 and proceeded toward Singapore, where the group conducted an upkeep period from October 12 through October 17. It then sailed toward Hong Kong, where the ships visited from October 23 through October 28.

After returning to Philippine waters, Task Group 76.3 participated in Exercise Fortress Blitz from November 2 through November 7 in the Zambales amphibious training area. The ships subsequently continued their Western Pacific schedule before beginning the homeward crossing. After a final Pacific transit and a stop at Pearl Harbor, FORT FISHER returned to San Diego on December 16, 1985.

The increasing importance of the Landing Craft Air Cushion was changing U.S. amphibious operations during the mid-1980s. FORT FISHER therefore entered another significant modernization period in September 1986. The work continued through May 1987 and modified the ship to operate and support the LCAC. The new air-cushion craft could transport Marines, vehicles and heavy equipment at high speed from amphibious ships positioned over the horizon to beaches inaccessible to many conventional displacement landing craft.

After returning to operational service, FORT FISHER underwent the training and qualification required to employ the new landing craft. By late 1987, she was working with other Pacific amphibious units in preparation for another Western Pacific deployment. She participated with USS PELELIU, USS JUNEAU and USS BRISTOL COUNTY in Kernel Usher 88-1 during the predeployment period.

On January 14, 1988, FORT FISHER deployed as part of Amphibious Ready Group Alpha with USS PELELIU, USS JUNEAU and USS BRISTOL COUNTY. After crossing the Pacific, the group made a brief fuel stop at Guam on February 2 and reached Subic Bay on February 7. From February 8 through February 14, the ships took part in Exercise Valiant Usher 88-1 off the Philippines. The exercise provided an early opportunity during the deployment to conduct integrated amphibious operations with the ship's LCAC capability.

FORT FISHER remained in the Philippines during part of February and subsequently moved with the amphibious force toward Hong Kong and South Korea. During March and April, she participated in Team Spirit 88 in Korean waters as U.S. and South Korean forces conducted the annual large-scale combined exercise. Her deployment included operations at Pusan and Pohang, and LCAC well-deck operations formed an important part of the ship's amphibious training. On April 13, members of FORT FISHER's crew participated in a Project Handclasp and civic-action project at the Sinae Won Children's Rehabilitation Center in Pusan. Supplies delivered to the facility included a sewing machine, books, hygiene items, food, clothing and toys, while sailors also carried out painting work at the center.

The Western Pacific cruise also included additional operations in the Philippines, Hong Kong and Guam. FORT FISHER underwent an Operational Propulsion Plant Examination at Guam before beginning her return passage. A Tiger Cruise was conducted during the final part of the deployment from July 5 through July 14. FORT FISHER completed the deployment and returned to Southern California on July 14, 1988.

Later in 1988, FORT FISHER carried out an unusual logistics assignment associated directly with the expansion of the Navy's LCAC force. She twice transited the Panama Canal to transport newly built LCACs from Panama City, Florida, to Assault Craft Unit Five at Camp Pendleton, California. Her large well deck allowed the craft to be transported from the Gulf Coast to their operational base on the Pacific coast.

During 1989, FORT FISHER concentrated on maintenance and workups for another Western Pacific deployment. From September 5 through September 14, she participated in Exercise Kernel Usher 89-3 with USS PELELIU, USS CLEVELAND and USS FRESNO, with Marine Service Support Group 15 and personnel from SEAL Team One involved in the exercise. Only a few days later, the amphibious ships moved north for a much larger training event. From September 18 through October 14, FORT FISHER, USS PELELIU, USS CLEVELAND and USS SCHENECTADY (LST 1185) participated in Exercise Kernel Potlatch as part of Pacific Exercise 89 in the Aleutian region. The exercise tested amphibious operations in the colder environment of the North Pacific and formed part of the final preparation cycle for the force's next deployment.

FORT FISHER departed San Diego on January 12, 1990 in company with USS CLEVELAND and USS FRESNO. The ships rendezvoused with USS PELELIU later that day and continued westward. The amphibious group operated around Iwo Jima and Okinawa during the opening weeks of the cruise. USS CLEVELAND temporarily detached because of an engineering casualty on January 21 and rejoined the force on January 25.

The group conducted a series of Western Pacific exercises during February. Exercise Valiant Usher 90-3 was held off Iwo Jima on January 31 and February 1, followed by additional operations around Okinawa and the Philippines. FORT FISHER was at Okinawa in late February taking aboard supplies and Marine equipment in preparation for Team Spirit 90. During March, FORT FISHER participated in Team Spirit 90 in and around South Korea. Her cruise included Pusan, where she was in port from March 27 through March 29, as well as extensive amphibious training associated with the combined U.S.-South Korean exercise. After the Korean phase, the ship returned to the Philippines for further operations and upkeep. The later part of the cruise included Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand. FORT FISHER was at Singapore from May 15 through May 17 and at Pattaya Beach, Thailand, from June 3 through June 7. During the homeward passage, the ship called at Pearl Harbor on July 1 and July 2 before completing the Pacific crossing and returning to Southern California in July 1990.

Unlike several other Pacific Fleet amphibious ships subsequently deployed to Southwest Asia for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, FORT FISHER did not form part of the amphibious forces sent to the Persian Gulf for the 1990-91 conflict. Following the 1990 Western Pacific deployment, she remained associated with Pacific Fleet operations.

During 1991, FORT FISHER undertook a different type of operational assignment when she supported U.S. counter-narcotics operations off Central America. The mission formed part of the interagency effort to detect and interdict maritime narcotics trafficking routes between South and Central America and the United States. The ship's communications facilities, boats and endurance made her suitable for supporting maritime surveillance and interdiction activities.

Preparations for another extended deployment occupied the following months. On May 28, 1992, FORT FISHER departed San Diego with an amphibious group under Amphibious Squadron One. The principal ships operating with FORT FISHER were USS TARAWA, USS OGDEN and USS SCHENECTADY, with elements of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked. The group crossed the eastern Pacific from May 28 through June 4 and called at Pearl Harbor on June 4. From June 5 through June 19, the ships continued across the western Pacific. On June 19 and June 20, FORT FISHER participated in Exercise Valiant Usher 92-7 off Okinawa. She then entered Buckner Bay for a port period on June 21 and June 22.

From June 23 through June 25, FORT FISHER transited the Taiwan Strait and then proceeded to Hong Kong, where she remained from June 26 through July 1. After crossing the South China Sea, she entered Singapore for a port visit from July 6 through July 12. The ship then continued west through the Strait of Malacca and across the Indian Ocean before passing through the Strait of Hormuz into the Arabian Gulf. On July 22, FORT FISHER anchored at Sitrah Anchorage off Bahrain. She subsequently left the Gulf briefly and visited Muscat, Oman. From July 26 through July 29, sailors and Marines associated with the ship delivered Project Handclasp humanitarian supplies to the Al Amana Mission in Muscat. FORT FISHER then returned through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Arabian Gulf again.

By early August, she was operating off Kuwait. From August 4 through August 15, FORT FISHER and the other ships of the amphibious group supported Exercise Eager Mace 92-3. The training involved the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Kuwaiti forces and occurred in the post-Gulf War security environment established after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991. The exercise included the movement of Marine forces and equipment ashore and formed part of the continuing U.S.-Kuwaiti military relationship. On August 19, FORT FISHER participated in a maritime interception exercise involving a Qatari merchant vessel. From August 20 through August 28, she was in Bahrain. Additional exercises in the Arabian Gulf followed through early September, and the ship subsequently called at Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates from September 8 through September 10.

After leaving the Arabian Gulf on September 10, FORT FISHER was redirected toward the rapidly developing humanitarian crisis in Somalia. Severe famine, the collapse of the Somali government and continuing armed conflict had prevented relief supplies from reaching much of the civilian population. The United Nations and the United States were expanding efforts to deliver food and support international relief operations. From September 13 through September 20, FORT FISHER patrolled along the East African coast while supporting the airlift of Pakistani troops to Mogadishu as part of the international relief effort. The USS TARAWA Amphibious Ready Group remained offshore and provided a mobile Marine force while arrangements were made for the introduction of additional United Nations personnel. FORT FISHER and USS OGDEN also performed logistics movements between the operating area off Mogadishu and Mombasa, Kenya.

Before the later formal beginning of Operation Restore Hope in December 1992, FORT FISHER assisted in inserting a U.S. Air Force combat control team at Mogadishu airport. The deployment therefore placed the ship in the developing Somalia relief effort, but it preceded Operation Restore Hope itself.

After completing the Somalia phase, FORT FISHER entered Mombasa on September 23 and September 24. She then began the long eastward voyage across the Indian Ocean. The ship reached Perth, Australia, on October 12. From October 14 through October 19, she participated in Exercise Valiant Usher 93-1 off Australia before returning to Perth for another port period through October 26. FORT FISHER then crossed the Pacific. She made a brief fuel stop at Guam on November 6 and November 7, crossed the International Date Line on November 13 and reached Pearl Harbor on November 16. A Tiger Cruise began during the final eastern Pacific transit on November 17. FORT FISHER returned to San Diego on November 25, 1992.

During 1993, FORT FISHER returned to the normal Pacific Fleet cycle of upkeep, inspections and amphibious training following the long 1992 deployment. By 1994, she was preparing for another Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf cruise, this time with a newly commissioned amphibious assault ship. The deploying Amphibious Squadron Five group consisted of USS ESSEX (LHD 2), USS OGDEN and FORT FISHER, with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked. The ships began integrated workups during the summer of 1994. In August, FORT FISHER operated with USS ESSEX and USS OGDEN during Composite Training Unit Exercise 94 and Fleet Exercise 94. Additional Fleet Exercise training began on September 14 and included amphibious demonstrations, small-boat raids, landing craft operations and LCAC launch and recovery evolutions.

The group began its overseas deployment on October 25, 1994. It crossed the Pacific and reached the Okinawa area in November. From November 8 through November 13, FORT FISHER conducted amphibious operations around Okinawa. She then proceeded to Hong Kong, where she remained from November 19 through November 23. After leaving Hong Kong, FORT FISHER continued to Singapore and entered Sembawang Shipyard on November 28. She remained there through December 4 for an upkeep period. The amphibious group then moved across the Indian Ocean toward the Arabian Gulf. By December, the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the three ships were under U.S. Naval Forces Central Command operational control.

FORT FISHER supported Exercise Eager Mace in Kuwait from December 15 through December 22, 1994. The exercise took place under the U.S.-Kuwaiti defense relationship established after the Gulf War and included amphibious and ground training with Kuwaiti forces. After completing Eager Mace, the ship entered Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, on December 25 and remained there through January 7, 1995.

The next phase of the deployment involved a succession of bilateral exercises with regional partners. From January 10 through January 19, FORT FISHER supported Exercise Nautical Mantis in Saudi Arabia. Exercise Iron Magic followed in the United Arab Emirates from January 20 through January 23. FORT FISHER then visited Dubai on January 24 and January 25. The deteriorating situation in Somalia subsequently brought the amphibious force to East Africa. The United Nations had decided to terminate the United Nations Operation in Somalia II, and international forces required protection during the withdrawal of the final peacekeepers from Mogadishu. The resulting multinational operation was designated Operation United Shield.

FORT FISHER proceeded toward East Africa with USS ESSEX and USS OGDEN. On February 4 and February 5, she participated in an amphibious landing rehearsal near Mombasa, Kenya, in preparation for the Somalia operation. By early February, FORT FISHER was part of the naval force assembled for Operation United Shield. The coalition force eventually included ships from several countries. U.S. Navy participants included USS ESSEX, USS OGDEN, FORT FISHER, USS BELLEAU WOOD, USS CAYUGA, USS LAKE ERIE (CG 70) and USS KISKA (AE 35), together with Marine forces from the 13th and 31st Marine Expeditionary Units and supporting units.

The decisive amphibious withdrawal phase began during the night of February 28 and March 1. Marine forces conducted an amphibious landing near Mogadishu International Airport and moved into positions protecting the airport, New Port and the routes used by the remaining United Nations forces. FORT FISHER provided amphibious lift and landing-craft support within the offshore force. After the final United Nations troops had withdrawn toward the waterfront, they and the covering Marine forces were moved back to the ships. The withdrawal was completed on March 3, ending the United Nations military presence in Somalia at that time.

After leaving Somalia, FORT FISHER began the return voyage across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. She crossed the equator on March 11 and reached Fremantle, Australia, on March 17. The ship remained there through March 24 before continuing across the Pacific. FORT FISHER called at Pearl Harbor from April 15 through April 17 and embarked guests for the final Tiger Cruise. On April 24, she arrived off Camp Pendleton to debark Marines and their equipment. FORT FISHER returned to Naval Station San Diego on April 25, 1995, completing the six-month deployment.

Following post-deployment leave and maintenance, the ship returned to training. In March 1996, the Navy awarded Southwest Marine a five-year phased-maintenance contract covering FORT FISHER, USS ANCHORAGE and USS MOUNT VERNON. The arrangement provided for successive repair and modernization availabilities for the three ANCHORAGE-class ships rather than one continuous shipyard period.

FORT FISHER did not undertake a Western Pacific deployment during 1996. Instead, the latter part of the year is documented as a work-up period for her next and final overseas cruise. From November 6 through November 15, she trained off Southern California with USS BOXER (LHD 4), USS OGDEN, USS CHANDLER (DDG 996), the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Navy special warfare personnel during a Composite Training Unit Exercise. The amphibious ships conducted landings and small-boat raids around Southern California and San Clemente Island while responding to simulated surface, air and submarine threats.

Training intensified during early 1997. On January 9, FORT FISHER again put to sea with USS BOXER, USS OGDEN and USS CHANDLER for Composite Warfare Exercise 96-20. The exercise included amphibious landings, boat raids and opposition from simulated surface, air and submarine forces. The USS BOXER Amphibious Ready Group subsequently participated in Fleet Exercise 97-11 from January 16 through January 24 in conjunction with the carrier battle group centered on USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64). The final major predeployment exercise began on February 10 with Joint Task Force Exercise 97-1. FORT FISHER and the other ships of the amphibious ready group trained with the carrier force for operations expected during the forthcoming deployment. The ships then completed final maintenance and predeployment preparations.

FORT FISHER departed San Diego on March 24, 1997 for what became her final overseas deployment. The USS BOXER Amphibious Ready Group consisted of USS BOXER, USS OGDEN and FORT FISHER, with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked. The deployment took the group across the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean and into the Middle East. During the outward passage, the ships made several Asian port visits. The group visited Hong Kong and Singapore. At the end of April, FORT FISHER and USS OGDEN separated from USS BOXER for a visit to Penang, Malaysia, while USS BOXER visited Phuket, Thailand.

The amphibious group subsequently proceeded across the Indian Ocean and into the Red Sea. FORT FISHER made an extended stay at Aqaba, Jordan, lasting approximately thirty days. During this period, the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the ships supported Exercises Infinite Moonlight and Infinite Shadow with Jordanian forces. The training included amphibious, ground, aviation and special-operations scenarios and formed part of the continuing U.S.-Jordanian military relationship.

The deployment also included a visit to Massawa, Eritrea, before the group proceeded into the Arabian Gulf. FORT FISHER participated in Exercise Red Reef and Exercise Iron Magic with regional forces. Red Reef involved training with Saudi Arabian forces, while Iron Magic was conducted with the United Arab Emirates. The ships also operated from Jebel Ali during their Arabian Gulf period.

On the eastward return voyage, the amphibious group again divided for separate port visits. USS BOXER visited Bali, while FORT FISHER and USS OGDEN called at Surabaya, Indonesia. In Australia, USS BOXER visited Darwin while FORT FISHER and USS OGDEN visited Cairns. The ships later reassembled for the final Pacific crossing and called at Pearl Harbor before continuing toward California. FORT FISHER returned to San Diego on September 24, 1997.

Following her return, FORT FISHER entered the final months of her commissioned service. The Navy was progressively replacing the older ANCHORAGE-class ships with newer dock landing ships designed from the outset for LCAC operations and contemporary amphibious command, control and support requirements.

FORT FISHER was decommissioned at San Diego on February 27, 1998 after more than twenty-five years of commissioned service. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on the same date. After decommissioning, the former FORT FISHER was placed in reserve and was subsequently held in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California, while awaiting disposal. On May 22, 2009, the ship was sold for dismantling to International Shipbreaking Ltd. of Brownsville, Texas. The administrative removal from the Suisun Bay inventory was recorded on January 4, 2010, and FORT FISHER departed the reserve fleet under tow on January 5 for the voyage to Texas. Dismantling at Brownsville was recorded as completed on January 14, 2011.

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