Vertical Axis Propeller - Beach Discharge Lighter 'BDL' 1x
The BDL Lt. Col. John U.D. Page was commissioned on November 25, 1958 and named in honor of a Medal of Honor recipient of the Korean War. The ship was designed to be an ocean-going vessel capable of rapid discharge of cargo directly onto a beach. The design of the ship allowed it to also be used to ferry items from a ship anchored offshore to the beach.
One of the unique features of the Lt. Col. John U.D. Page was its cycloidal axis propellers. These unique propellers made it possible to throw the full thrust from the engines in any direction without the need for rudders. They permitted the ship to move forward, reverse, or from side to side with equal ease. The individual blades of the propellers could also be removed when damaged without placing the ship in drydock.
The Lt. Col. John U.D. Page served for a time at Fort Eustis before being sent to Vietnam where it arrived on September 15, 1965. The BDL Page was controlled by Cam Rahn Bay Support Command and crewed by 8 Warrant Officers and 41 enlisted men. The ship would remain in Vietnam until February 20, 1973. During its period of service in Southeast Asia, the ship traveled 111,273 miles, carried 5827 passengers, and moved 327,807 tons of cargo to 836 ports-of-call. The ship was awarded two Meritorious Unit Citations for its Vietnam service.
this page online
Erected by US Army Transportation Museum.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, Vietnam • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 20, 1973.
Location. 37° 9.89′ N, 76° 34.557′ W. Marker is in Newport News, Virginia. It is in Fort Eustis. Marker can be reached from Washington Boulevard, 0.1 miles north of Jefferson Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 321 Washington Blvd, Fort Eustis VA 23604, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lighter, Amphibious Resupply, Cargo, 'LARC XV' (here, next to this marker); Landing Craft, Mechanized Model 6, 'LCM-6' (a few steps from this marker); Marine Diesel Engine DMG 6, Training Aid (a few steps from this marker); Tetrapod Breakwater Armor Unit (Breakwater Jack) (a few steps from this marker); Lighter, Amphibious Resupply, Cargo, 'LARC V' 5X (a few steps from this marker); FS Anchors - Freight Supply (FS) Ships (a few steps from this marker); Maritime Operations in the Transportation Corps
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 263 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
