GARRETT COUNTY (AGP 786, ex LST) Class

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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.