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USS Garrett County (LST 786, later AGP 786) in June 1968.
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Class: GARRETT COUNTY (AGP 786, ex LST)
Design: Navy LST 542
Displacement (tons): 4,080 full
Dimensions (feet): 328' oa, 316' wl x 50' e/wl x 12.3'
Armament: (1969) 2-40mmT, 4-40mmS (no singles installed in LST 838)
Accommodations: 9 officers, 109 enlisted
Speed (kts.): 11.6
Propulsion (HP): 1,800
Machinery: Geared diesel, 2 screws
Construction:
AGP | Name | Reclas | Builder | Keel | Launch | Recomm |
786 | GARRETT COUNTY | 25 Sep 1970 | Dravo, Pittsburgh | 21 May 1944 | 22 Jul 1944 | 26 Aug 1966 |
821 | HARNETT COUNTY | 25 Sep 1970 | Missouri Valley Bridge | 19 Sep 1944 | 27 Oct 1944 | 20 Aug 1966 |
838 | HUNTERDON COUNTY | 25 Sep 1970 | American Bridge | 20 Sep 1944 | 8 Nov 1944 | 17 Sep 1966 |
Disposition:
AGP | Name | T | Decomm | Strike | Disposal | Fate | MA Sale/Depart |
786 | GARRETT COUNTY | | 1971 | 15 Jun 1975 | 24 Apr 1971 | Loan | -- |
821 | HARNETT COUNTY | | 12 Oct 1970 | 15 Jun 1975 | 12 Oct 1970 | Loan | -- |
838 | HUNTERDON COUNTY | | 30 Jun 1971 | 1 Aug 1974 | 1 Jul 1971 | Loan | -- |
Class Notes:
Four World War II LSTs (these three and JENNINGS COUNTY, LST-846) were recommissioned in June-September 1966 to support Operation Game Warden, a brown-water navy effort to keep the rivers of the Mekong Delta free of Viet Cong infiltration. The intent was to keep three ships on station at any one time supporting a River Division of 10 river patrol boats (PBRs), a few UH-1 helicopter gunships, and a SEAL Platoon, with the fourth ship undergoing maintenance in the Western Pacific. JENNINGS COUNTY, the first ship reactivated, suffered an engine room fire and was struck in 1970. HUNTERDON COUNTY entered Cambodia on 12 May 1970 and remained there rearming and refueling Army, Navy, and South Vietnamese helicopters. On 25 September 1970 effective that date CNO changed the designations of the three remaining ships from LST 786, LST 821, and LST 838 to AGP 786, AGP 821, and AGP 838.
Ship Notes:
AGP | Name | MA | Notes |
786 | GARRETT COUNTY | | (ex-LST 786) Decomm 9 Jul 1946, recom as base ship 26 Aug 1966. Loan RVN as CAN THO. Escaped to Philippines Apr 1975, loaned 17 Nov 1975, purchased 13 Sep 1977, renamed KALINGA APAYO. BU 2012.
|
821 | HARNETT COUNTY | | (ex-LST 821) Decomm 8 Jul 1946, recom as base ship 20 Aug 1966. Loan RVN as MY THO. Escaped to Philippines 1975, loaned 17 Nov 1975, purchased 13 Sep 1977, renamed DUMAGAT, then in 1989 SIERRA MADRE. Deliberately grounded 1999 at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratley Islands to affirm Philippine territorial claims against China. Still there 2021 in ruinous condition but manned. |
838 | HUNTERDON COUNTY | | (ex-LST 838) Decomm 7 Aug 1946, recom 10 Sep 1966 as base ship. Loan Malaysia as SRI LANGKAWI (sale 1 Aug 1974). Deleted early 1980s. |
Page Notes:
Compiled: 2 Aug 2021
© Stephen S. Roberts, 2021