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USS Holmes County (LST-836)
Encyclopedia
USS Holmes County (LST-836) was an built for the United States Navy
during World War II
. Named after counties in Florida
, Mississippi
, and Ohio
, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
Originally laid down as LST-836 by the American Bridge Company
of Ambridge, Pennsylvania
on 11 September 1944; launched on 29 October; sponsored by Mrs. H. E. Hetu; and commissioned on 25 November with Ensign Elmo J. Sullivan in command.
, LST-836 loaded ammunition, lumber, and cement, then departed New Orleans on 2 January 1945. She unloaded the cargo at Balboa, Panama
in the Canal Zone
, and proceeded to San Diego, arriving on the 23rd. In early February she sailed for Hawaii
, where she trained, embarked troops, then steamed to the Marshall Islands
. Following three weeks of preparation in the Marshalls and Carolines, the landing ship departed Ulithi
on 12 April for Okinawa. With the battle for this strategic base well underway, LST-836 arrived six days later; unloaded troops and equipment and returned Ulithi on 29 April. For the rest of the war, she shuttled cargo and troops throughout the Pacific; then after VJ Day
was assigned to duty with the occupation forces in Japan
. Returning to the United States
LST-836 arrived San Francisco on 19 January 1946; and remained on the West Coast until she decommissioned at Vancouver, Washington
on 25 July 1946.
on 3 November 1950 with Lieutenant Thomas J. McLaughlin in command. After refresher training she sailed for the Far East
, to join United Nations
forces in South Korea
. Arriving Yokosuka on 28 March 1951, the veteran landing ship was once again assigned to a battle zone and for the next eight months shuttled cargo and troops between Japan and various Korea
n ports. After a brief stateside overhaul in early 1952, LST-836 departed San Diego on 24 July for operations in conjunction with the first hydrogen bomb tests
in the Marshall Islands. From August to November she aided scientists as they tested this new source of power. She returned to San Diego; then, after a brief respite, sailed on 16 March 1953 for further duty in the still raging Korean War
. Arriving at Yokosuka on 22 April, LST-836 immediately commenced cargo runs from the staging areas to Inchon. When the fighting ended, LST-836 remained in the Far East to transport cargo to the United Nations peacekeeping force stationed in Korea.
overhaul in late 1959, the landing ship was assigned to the Pacific Amphibious Force, and for the next five years Holmes County engaged in amphibious exercises along the West Coast and in the Hawaiian Islands.
. She arrived Da Nang
, South Vietnam
on 22 November and operated there for the rest of the year and into 1966. On 29 March 1966, after 89 days in the combat zone, Holmes County steamed for Yokosuka, Japan, for upkeep before starting the 5,500-mile journey home. Holmes County received the following message from Commander 7th Fleet: "As you depart 7th Fleet Intra-Coastal Task Unit, be assured you leave behind an admiration for the extraordinary work you have done this cruise." On 26 May Holmes County arrived home. After serving in the San Diego area for four months, she participated in the Fleet Exercise "Operation Base Line" in October. This was one of the largest peacetime operations conducted by the Pacific Fleet.
Holmes County returned to Vietnam and participated in the following campaigns:
, she was subsequently renamed as the RSS Endurance (L201). Sold outright to the Republic of Singapore Navy
(RSN) on 5 December 1975. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register
(date unknown).
Following the commissioning of the new RSS Endurance (LS207)
into the Singapore Navy in 1999, she was decommissioned for the last time that same year along with her sister ships Excellence (L202, ex LST-629), Intrepid (L203, ex LST-579) and Persistence (L205, ex LST-613). Currently, all four are used as floating defense barricade for Changi Naval Base
.
LST-836 received one battle star for World War II service, three stars for the Korean War, and 11 campaign stars for her service in Vietnam.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Named after counties in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
Originally laid down as LST-836 by the American Bridge Company
American Bridge Company
The American Bridge Company is a privately held civil engineering firm specializing in the construction and renovation of bridges and other large civil engineering projects, founded in 1900, and headquartered in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh.-Products and industry positioning:The...
of Ambridge, Pennsylvania
Ambridge, Pennsylvania
Ambridge is a borough in Beaver County in Western Pennsylvania, incorporated in 1905 and named after the American Bridge Company. Ambridge is located 16 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, alongside the Ohio River. In 1910, 5,205 people lived in Ambridge; in 1920, 12,730 people lived there, and in...
on 11 September 1944; launched on 29 October; sponsored by Mrs. H. E. Hetu; and commissioned on 25 November with Ensign Elmo J. Sullivan in command.
World War II, 1944–1946
After shakedown off FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, LST-836 loaded ammunition, lumber, and cement, then departed New Orleans on 2 January 1945. She unloaded the cargo at Balboa, Panama
Balboa, Panama
Balboa is a district of Panama City, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal.- History :The town of Balboa, founded by the United States during the construction of the Panama Canal, was named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the Spanish conquistador credited with discovering the Pacific Ocean...
in the Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, and proceeded to San Diego, arriving on the 23rd. In early February she sailed for Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, where she trained, embarked troops, then steamed to the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
. Following three weeks of preparation in the Marshalls and Carolines, the landing ship departed Ulithi
Ulithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
on 12 April for Okinawa. With the battle for this strategic base well underway, LST-836 arrived six days later; unloaded troops and equipment and returned Ulithi on 29 April. For the rest of the war, she shuttled cargo and troops throughout the Pacific; then after VJ Day
Victory over Japan Day
Victory over Japan Day is a name chosen for the day on which the Surrender of Japan occurred, effectively ending World War II, and subsequent anniversaries of that event...
was assigned to duty with the occupation forces in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Returning to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
LST-836 arrived San Francisco on 19 January 1946; and remained on the West Coast until she decommissioned at Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
on 25 July 1946.
Korea, 1950–1954
Following four years in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, LST-836 recommissioned at Bremerton, WashingtonBremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
on 3 November 1950 with Lieutenant Thomas J. McLaughlin in command. After refresher training she sailed for the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
, to join United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
forces in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Arriving Yokosuka on 28 March 1951, the veteran landing ship was once again assigned to a battle zone and for the next eight months shuttled cargo and troops between Japan and various Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n ports. After a brief stateside overhaul in early 1952, LST-836 departed San Diego on 24 July for operations in conjunction with the first hydrogen bomb tests
Operation Ivy
Operation Ivy was the eighth series of American nuclear tests, coming after Tumbler-Snapper and before Upshot-Knothole. Its purpose was to help upgrade the U.S. arsenal of nuclear weapons in response to the Soviet nuclear weapons program...
in the Marshall Islands. From August to November she aided scientists as they tested this new source of power. She returned to San Diego; then, after a brief respite, sailed on 16 March 1953 for further duty in the still raging Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Arriving at Yokosuka on 22 April, LST-836 immediately commenced cargo runs from the staging areas to Inchon. When the fighting ended, LST-836 remained in the Far East to transport cargo to the United Nations peacekeeping force stationed in Korea.
Pacific Fleet, 1954–1964
From 1954 to 1959 she made three WestPac cruises and participated in training operations along the West Coast. On 1 July 1955 LST-836 was renamed USS Holmes County (LST-836). Following a FRAMFleet Rehabilitation and Modernization
The Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization program of the United States Navy extended the lives of World War II-era destroyers by shifting their mission from a surface attack role to that of a submarine hunter...
overhaul in late 1959, the landing ship was assigned to the Pacific Amphibious Force, and for the next five years Holmes County engaged in amphibious exercises along the West Coast and in the Hawaiian Islands.
Vietnam, 1965–1971
On 11 October 1965 Holmes County, a veteran of two conflicts, departed San Diego for operations in Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. She arrived Da Nang
Da Nang
Đà Nẵng , occasionally Danang, is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of...
, South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
on 22 November and operated there for the rest of the year and into 1966. On 29 March 1966, after 89 days in the combat zone, Holmes County steamed for Yokosuka, Japan, for upkeep before starting the 5,500-mile journey home. Holmes County received the following message from Commander 7th Fleet: "As you depart 7th Fleet Intra-Coastal Task Unit, be assured you leave behind an admiration for the extraordinary work you have done this cruise." On 26 May Holmes County arrived home. After serving in the San Diego area for four months, she participated in the Fleet Exercise "Operation Base Line" in October. This was one of the largest peacetime operations conducted by the Pacific Fleet.
Holmes County returned to Vietnam and participated in the following campaigns:
- Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II (17-21 April 1967)
- Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III (21 June-18 August 1967)
- Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V (21 October-1 November 1968)
- Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI (2-30 November 1968, 20-24 December 1968, 22 January-22 February 1969)
- Tet 69/Counteroffensive (23-24 February 1969, 31 May-8 June 1969)
- Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 (9 June-19 July 1969, 12 August-1 September 1969)
- Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 (10-25 December 1969, 25 February-4 March 1970)
- Sanctuary Counteroffensive (8-14 June 1970)
- Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII (26 September-26 November 1970, 26 January-12 March 1971, 31 March-10 May 1971)
Decommissioning and sale
Decommissioned on 1 July 1971 and transferred to SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, she was subsequently renamed as the RSS Endurance (L201). Sold outright to the Republic of Singapore Navy
Republic of Singapore Navy
The Republic of Singapore Navy is the naval component of the Singapore Armed Forces , responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the RSN is regarded as...
(RSN) on 5 December 1975. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
(date unknown).
Following the commissioning of the new RSS Endurance (LS207)
Endurance class landing platform dock ship
The Endurance class landing platform dock ships are the largest class of ships in the Republic of Singapore Navy . They were designed and built locally by Singapore Technologies Marine to replace the old County class tank landing ships...
into the Singapore Navy in 1999, she was decommissioned for the last time that same year along with her sister ships Excellence (L202, ex LST-629), Intrepid (L203, ex LST-579) and Persistence (L205, ex LST-613). Currently, all four are used as floating defense barricade for Changi Naval Base
Changi Naval Base
Changi Naval Base is the latest naval facility of the Republic of Singapore Navy and was built to replace Brani Naval Base. Located about 1.5 kilometres east of Changi Air Base and 3.5 kilometres east of Singapore Changi Airport, the base was built on 1.28 km² of reclaimed land, it was...
.
LST-836 received one battle star for World War II service, three stars for the Korean War, and 11 campaign stars for her service in Vietnam.