Mediterranean Cruise USS Plymouth Rock LSD 29

A rare (and amusing) commemoration of the 1958 Mediterranean Cruise of the landing ship USS Plymouth Rock.

This scarce celebration of service in the United States Navy, signed ‘Casey’ in the lower right, was published in 1958 as a souvenir for crewmembers aboard the U.S.S. Plymouth Rock (LDS-29). That year, the landing dock ship underwent a training cruise across the Mediterranean, visiting numerous ports between Gibraltar and Beirut. The highlight of the campaign was participation in Operation Blue Bat, the American military intervention in Lebanon.

Various illustrations (some quite bawdy) showcase memorable aspects of the cruise, including beautiful women in Spain (and France, and Italy), the dedicated ice cream ship, and a stereotypical Arab with his genitals between a sword and a bundle of TNT. Caricatured sailors (including a frogman!) possibly relate to real individuals onboard ship.

In the corners, further drawings depict various units attached to the Plymouth Rock, including the 2nd Battalion (Amphibious Construction), 2nd Battalion (2nd Marines), Beachmasters Boat Unit, and UDT-21 (the publishers). UDT is an abbreviation for Underwater Demolition Team (hence the frogman), and, in the 1970s, Team 21 would officially become SEAL Team 4.