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General Characteristics Crew List About the Ship's Name Image Gallery to end of page| Sorry, no coat of arms available. |  |
USNS MENDONCA is the fourth BOB HOPE - class large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ship (LMSR) and the first ship in the Navy named after Army Sgt. LeRoy A. Mendonca. The USNS MENDONCA is operated by Patriot Contracting Services.
| General Characteristics: | Awarded: December 27, 1995 |
| Keel laid: November 3, 1997 | |
| Launched: May 25, 1999 | |
| Delivered: January 30, 2001 | |
| Builder: Avondale Shipyards, New Orleans, LA | |
| Propulsion system: 4 Colt Pielstick 10 PC4.2 V diesels | |
| Propellers: two | |
| Length: 951.4 feet (290 meters) | |
| Beam: 106 feet (32.3 meters) | |
| Draft: 34.8 feet (10.6 meters) | |
| Displacement: approx. 62,070 tons full load | |
| Speed: 24 knots | |
| Aircraft: helicopter landing area only | |
| Armament: none | |
| Capacity: 380,000 sq. ft. | |
| Crew: 26 civilian crew (up to 45); up to 50 active duty | |
| Homeport: Philadelphia, PA |
back to top go to the end of the pageCrew List:
This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USNS MENDONCA. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.
back to top go to the end of the pageAbout the Ship's Name:
USNS MENDONCA is named in honor of Army Sgt. LeRoy A. Mendonca, a native of Honolulu, HI., who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in Chich-on, Korea, on July 4, 1951.
Citation:
Sgt. LeRoy A. Mendonca, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. After his platoon, in an exhaustive fight, had captured Hill 586, the newly won positions were assaulted during the night by a numerically superior enemy force. When the 1st Platoon positions were outflanked and under great pressure and the platoon was ordered to withdraw to a secondary line of defense, Sgt. Mendonca voluntarily remained in an exposed position and covered the platoon's withdrawal. Although under murderous enemy fire, he fired his weapon and hurled grenades at the onrushing enemy until his supply of ammunition was exhausted. He fought on, clubbing with his rifle and using his bayonet until he was mortally wounded. After the action it was estimated that Sgt. Mendonca had accounted for 37 enemy casualties. His daring actions stalled the crushing assault, protecting the platoon's withdrawal to secondary positions, and enabling the entire unit to repel the enemy attack and retain possession of the vital hilltop position. Sgt. Mendonca's extraordinary gallantry and exemplary valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.
back to top go to the end of the pageUSNS MENDONCA Image Gallery:
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The photo below was taken by Stefan Karpinski and shows the MENDONCA being escorted through Bab El Mandeb by the German frigate MECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERN (F 218) during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003.
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