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USS Saginaw (LST-1188)
Encyclopedia
USS Saginaw (LST-1188), a of the United States Navy
was the second ship of that name. Saginaw was named after the Saginaw River
, a river in mid-Michigan. The ship was decommissioned
in Little Creek, Virginia on 29 August 1994 and at the same ceremony transferred to the Royal Australian Navy
.
, in San Diego, California
. She was launched on 7 February 1970, sponsored by Mrs. James Harvey, wife of the Congressman from the Eighth District of Michigan (which included Saginaw), and commissioned at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard
on 23 January 1971, with Commander
G. P. Brown in command.
The new tank landing ship (LST) completed fitting out, took on ammunition at NWS Seal Beach
, California
, and got underway from San Diego on 4 March 1971, bound for the east coast. On her first day out, her lookouts sighted a mechanized landing craft, LCM(6)-805, adrift at sea. The LST took the drifting craft in tow, and later, turned her over to the Point Defiance
(LSD-31). Then, Saginaw proceeded via Acapulco, Mexico, and the Panama Canal
, to NAB Little Creek
, Virginia
, her home port, arriving on 26 March.
Early in April, while preparing for shakedown, the ship tested a new concept for her class by hoisting a major self-contained medical unit (MUST) on her tank decks. This was done to evaluate the feasibility of setting up complete hospital facilities on her deck after off-loading her troops, vehicle
s, and cargo
. She got underway on 19 April for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
, for shakedown, which lasted until her return to Little Creek on 8 June. Various types of training and post-shakedown availability kept her busy through the end of the year.
On 16 January 1972, Saginaw weighed anchor to participate in Operation "Snowy Beach" with Amphibious Squadron 8 at Reid State Park Beach, Maine
. On 28 January, she completed the exercise and began preparations for overseas movement. On 23 February, she embarked marines at Morehead City, North Carolina
, and sailed for the Mediterranean. She arrived at Rota, Spain
, on 5 March, and changed operational control to the 6th Fleet on the following day. For the next five months, Saginaw sailed the length of the "middle sea," participated in six amphibious exercises at various points across the Mediterranean, and visited ports along the way, from Spain
to Turkey
. She left the 6th Fleet in early August, and returned to Morehead City on 21 August. After disembarking Marines
there, she entered her home port on the next day. After a 30-day standdown period, she resumed normal operations out of Little Creek for the remainder of the year.
Saginaw made two voyages to Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, in January and early February 1973, to transport Marines to and from exercises held on that island. On 22 March, she deployed to the Caribbean
for two months as a unit of the Caribbean Amphibious Ready Group. She returned to Little Creek on 18 May to regroup and replenish prior to her second deployment to the Caribbean. On 5 July, she resumed operations in the Caribbean until 24 August when she re-entered Little Creek. She remained in that area until 26 November, when she put to sea to join other elements of the United States
and Canadian
Navies in CAUSEX, a convoy protection ASW exercise. Saginaw returned to Little Creek on 6 December, and remained in port for the duration of 1973.
Saginaw spent the first four months of 1974 in local operations out of Little Creek and in preparations for deployment to the Mediterranean. On 10 May 1974, she embarked Marines at Morehead City, then got underway for Rota, Spain
. She arrived in Rota on 20 May, and through June, cruised the Mediterranean as a unit of the 6th Fleet.
In the fall of 1977, Saginaw escorted the damaged submarine USS Ray back to CONUS after participation in Exercise Display Determination, a major NATO Amphibious exercise in the Mediterranean, returning to the US in 1978.
In January 1979, Saginaw deployed to the Caribbean for operations with the Amphibious Squadron Four. In June of the same year, she participated in the inter-fleet transfer of USS Pegasus (PHM-1)
; escorting USS Pegasus from Rodman, Canal Zone
to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Saginaw deployed to the US Sixth Fleet in September, 1979 with Amphibious Squadron Four and returned to the US in February 1980.
In May, 1980, Saginaw participated in Solid Shield. On her way home she was diverted to the Florida Straits to take part in Cuban Refugee Operations, rescuing some 300 people. Also in 1980 Saginaw participated in Readex 2-80 and NATO exercise Teamwork 80.
On 24 June, 800 civilians were evacuated from Juniyah, Lebanon
by MARG 2-82 ships. On 28 August and 29 September, Saginaw entered Beirut harbor to provide vehicles and personnel for the Multi-National Force. For her participation in Lebanese operations Saginaw received three awards: the Navy Unit Commendation, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
In early 1983, Saginaw participated in Cold Winter 83. The latter part of 1983 found Saginaw busy preparing for her first Operational Propulsion Plant Examination (OPPE) as well as participation in Readex 2-83. In February 1984, Saginaw departed Little Creek for a seven month deployment with MARG 2-84 and Teamwork 84. These exercises began with a 30 plus ship ocean transit and ended with a mock-up reinforcement of NATO forces in Norway
. On April 1984, Saginaw arrived in the Mediterranean and found herself again involved in operations off the Lebanese coast. The remaining four months of the cruise were spent providing security for the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
1985 proved to be a busy year for Saginaw. Prior to a June deployment, Saginaw underwent an Operational Propulsion Plant Examination, Amphibious Refresher Training, and participated in Operation Solid Shield 85. On 14 June, Saginaw commenced the six month UNITAS XXVI / WATCC 85 deployment, making port calls through South America and West Africa. Saginaw arrived home in December, and commenced a much needed drydocking and Phased Maintenance Availability in January.
During September 1986, the ship underwent a highly successful INSURV. October saw the ship undergo Intermediate Refresher Training in GTMO where an OPPEE certification was achieved. After GTMO, Saginaw completed a successful Amphibious Refresher Training. It was during AMPHIBREFTRE that she received the highest grades by an LST ever recorded.
In late spring of 1987, Saginaw again deployed to the 6th and 7th fleets with MARG 3-87. Steering in both the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean, Saginaw participated in amphibious exercise Eastern Wind 87 and Bright Star 87. Ports visited included Mombasa
, Kenya
; Alexandria
, Egypt
; and Naples
, Italy
. During this cruise, Saginaw suffered a main space fire in engine room #1 (Main Control). Saginaw returned to Little Creek, and entered Jonathan Shipyards for extensive repairs.
In 1988, Saginaw participated in Teamwork 88 with NATO forces. Following the exercise Saginaw conducted a port visit in Ronne, Denmark
on the island of Bornholm
. Saginaw was the 1st U.S. Naval ship to visit Bornholm in 26 years.
Saginaw finished 1988 at Jonathan Shipyards in a Phased Maintenance Availability. Following PMA, Saginaw began an extensive work-up schedule to prepare for her fall Mediterranean deployment as part of MARG 1-90. This included a Damage Control Training deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, followed by an OPPEE in which Saginaw earned a "clean sweep". The MARG 1-90 deployment included many Joint Amphibious Exercises. Saginaw participated in exercises with troops from the countries of Spain
, Tunisia
, France
, and Egypt
.
In 1990, Saginaw completed a successful Supply Management Inspection, Operational Propulsion Plant Examination, and INSURV inspection, before seeing duty in both Operation Desert Shield, and Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf. In September 1990, Saginaw left Little Creek, VA. en route to the Persian Gulf, and entered the Gulf area on 14 Sept, as part of the amphibious force in the area. During her stay, she visited ports in Oman, and the United Arab Emirates before the commencement of the ground war. During the hostilities, Saginaw participated in several practice landings just south of Kuwait City
, Kuwait
.
Saginaw left the Persian Gulf after cessation of hostilities on March 24, 1991. After which, she entered dry-dock for much needed repairs. In the spring of 1991, it was decided that most of the U.S. LSTs were no longer needed by the Navy, and were to be decommissioned and sold to other countries.
In March 1992, the next six month Mediterranean Deployment commenced, and Saginaw as part of MARG 2-92 with a full crew of approx 14 officers and 210 enlisted, plus several platoons of US Marines with Humvees, Amtraks, Amphibious assault vehicles, etc. The ship participated in numerous amphibious training exercises with forces from Spain, France, Greece
, Turkey
, and others while also conducting operations in the Adriatic supporting US involvement in the former Yugoslavia
. After deployment the ship entered into an expedited turn around of industrial work, training, inspections and pre-deployment preparations. Saginaw completed a successful Supply Management Inspection and INSURV inspection. This training also included a Damage Control Training deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and a complete Amphibious Refresher Training period off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina. Late in this aggressive work up period, on the eve of the Operational Propulsion Plant Examination, the decision to sell the ship to the Australians in a "hot-ship" transfer was approved. The ready crew and ship were told to stand down from deployment preparations and begin training a full Australian crew in LST operations and maintenance. After several months of much Congressional and State Department activity, the ship was decommissioned in Little Creek, Virginia on 29 August 1994 and at the same ceremony transferred to the Royal Australian Navy
. In Australia
, the ship was converted into an Amphibious Troop Transport to meet the needs of the Australian Navy's mission.
for use as a transport
, and was re-named . The ship is now too rusty to be seaworthy, and is likely to be scrapped. http://www.smh.com.au/national/neglect-of-amphibious-fleet-triggers-defence-inquiry-20110215-1av7r.html
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...
was the second ship of that name. Saginaw was named after the Saginaw River
Saginaw River
The Saginaw River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is formed by the confluence of the Tittabawassee and Shiawassee rivers southwest of Saginaw. It flows northward into the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron just northeast of Bay City. The watershed area is .The river is an important shipping...
, a river in mid-Michigan. The ship was decommissioned
Decommissioning
Decommissioning is a general term for a formal process to remove something from active status. Specific instances include:Infrastructure:* Decommissioned highway* Greenfield status of former industrial sites* Nuclear decommissioning of power plants...
in Little Creek, Virginia on 29 August 1994 and at the same ceremony transferred to the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
.
History
Saginaw was laid down on 24 May 1969 by the National Steel and Shipbuilding CompanyNational Steel and Shipbuilding Company
National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, commonly referred to as NASSCO, is a shipyard in San Diego, California and Norfolk, Virginia and a division of General Dynamics. The shipyard specializes in constructing commercial cargo ships and auxiliary vessels for the US Navy and Military Sealift...
, in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. She was launched on 7 February 1970, sponsored by Mrs. James Harvey, wife of the Congressman from the Eighth District of Michigan (which included Saginaw), and commissioned at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard
Long Beach Naval Shipyard
thumb|right|300px|Long Beach Naval Shipyard in 1993The Long Beach Naval Shipyard, which closed in 1997, was located at Terminal Island between the city of Long Beach and the San Pedro district of Los Angeles and approximately 23 miles south of the Los Angeles International Airport.The Long Beach...
on 23 January 1971, with Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
G. P. Brown in command.
The new tank landing ship (LST) completed fitting out, took on ammunition at NWS Seal Beach
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach is a United States Navy weapons and munitions loading, storage and maintenance facility located in Seal Beach, California with detachments in Concord, Fallbrook, and San Diego, all also in California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and got underway from San Diego on 4 March 1971, bound for the east coast. On her first day out, her lookouts sighted a mechanized landing craft, LCM(6)-805, adrift at sea. The LST took the drifting craft in tow, and later, turned her over to the Point Defiance
USS Point Defiance (LSD-31)
USS Point Defiance was a of the United States Navy. She was named for a location in Pierce County, Washington, the site of a military reservation established by the U.S. Government in 1866...
(LSD-31). Then, Saginaw proceeded via Acapulco, Mexico, and the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
, to NAB Little Creek
Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek
The Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek is the major operating base for the Amphibious Forces in the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet. The base comprises four locations in three states, including almost 12,000 acres of real estate. Its Little Creek location in Virginia Beach, Virginia totals...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, her home port, arriving on 26 March.
Early in April, while preparing for shakedown, the ship tested a new concept for her class by hoisting a major self-contained medical unit (MUST) on her tank decks. This was done to evaluate the feasibility of setting up complete hospital facilities on her deck after off-loading her troops, vehicle
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
s, and cargo
Cargo
Cargo is goods or produce transported, generally for commercial gain, by ship, aircraft, train, van or truck. In modern times, containers are used in most intermodal long-haul cargo transport.-Marine:...
. She got underway on 19 April for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, for shakedown, which lasted until her return to Little Creek on 8 June. Various types of training and post-shakedown availability kept her busy through the end of the year.
On 16 January 1972, Saginaw weighed anchor to participate in Operation "Snowy Beach" with Amphibious Squadron 8 at Reid State Park Beach, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. On 28 January, she completed the exercise and began preparations for overseas movement. On 23 February, she embarked marines at Morehead City, North Carolina
Morehead City, North Carolina
Morehead City is a port city in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,661 at the 2010 census. Morehead City celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding on May 5, 2007...
, and sailed for the Mediterranean. She arrived at Rota, Spain
Rota, Spain
-External references:*, official website * On-line since 1999! News, premiere information, pictures, weather, etc. Into Spanish, English... ****- External links :...
, on 5 March, and changed operational control to the 6th Fleet on the following day. For the next five months, Saginaw sailed the length of the "middle sea," participated in six amphibious exercises at various points across the Mediterranean, and visited ports along the way, from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. She left the 6th Fleet in early August, and returned to Morehead City on 21 August. After disembarking Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
there, she entered her home port on the next day. After a 30-day standdown period, she resumed normal operations out of Little Creek for the remainder of the year.
Saginaw made two voyages to Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, in January and early February 1973, to transport Marines to and from exercises held on that island. On 22 March, she deployed to the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
for two months as a unit of the Caribbean Amphibious Ready Group. She returned to Little Creek on 18 May to regroup and replenish prior to her second deployment to the Caribbean. On 5 July, she resumed operations in the Caribbean until 24 August when she re-entered Little Creek. She remained in that area until 26 November, when she put to sea to join other elements of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Navies in CAUSEX, a convoy protection ASW exercise. Saginaw returned to Little Creek on 6 December, and remained in port for the duration of 1973.
Saginaw spent the first four months of 1974 in local operations out of Little Creek and in preparations for deployment to the Mediterranean. On 10 May 1974, she embarked Marines at Morehead City, then got underway for Rota, Spain
Rota, Spain
-External references:*, official website * On-line since 1999! News, premiere information, pictures, weather, etc. Into Spanish, English... ****- External links :...
. She arrived in Rota on 20 May, and through June, cruised the Mediterranean as a unit of the 6th Fleet.
In the fall of 1977, Saginaw escorted the damaged submarine USS Ray back to CONUS after participation in Exercise Display Determination, a major NATO Amphibious exercise in the Mediterranean, returning to the US in 1978.
In January 1979, Saginaw deployed to the Caribbean for operations with the Amphibious Squadron Four. In June of the same year, she participated in the inter-fleet transfer of USS Pegasus (PHM-1)
USS Pegasus (PHM-1)
USS Pegasus was the lead ship of her class of hydrofoils operated by the United States Navy. Pegasus class vessels were designed for high speed and mobility, and carried a powerful armament....
; escorting USS Pegasus from Rodman, 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...
to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Saginaw deployed to the US Sixth Fleet in September, 1979 with Amphibious Squadron Four and returned to the US in February 1980.
In May, 1980, Saginaw participated in Solid Shield. On her way home she was diverted to the Florida Straits to take part in Cuban Refugee Operations, rescuing some 300 people. Also in 1980 Saginaw participated in Readex 2-80 and NATO exercise Teamwork 80.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
by MARG 2-82 ships. On 28 August and 29 September, Saginaw entered Beirut harbor to provide vehicles and personnel for the Multi-National Force. For her participation in Lebanese operations Saginaw received three awards: the Navy Unit Commendation, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
In early 1983, Saginaw participated in Cold Winter 83. The latter part of 1983 found Saginaw busy preparing for her first Operational Propulsion Plant Examination (OPPE) as well as participation in Readex 2-83. In February 1984, Saginaw departed Little Creek for a seven month deployment with MARG 2-84 and Teamwork 84. These exercises began with a 30 plus ship ocean transit and ended with a mock-up reinforcement of NATO forces in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. On April 1984, Saginaw arrived in the Mediterranean and found herself again involved in operations off the Lebanese coast. The remaining four months of the cruise were spent providing security for the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
1985 proved to be a busy year for Saginaw. Prior to a June deployment, Saginaw underwent an Operational Propulsion Plant Examination, Amphibious Refresher Training, and participated in Operation Solid Shield 85. On 14 June, Saginaw commenced the six month UNITAS XXVI / WATCC 85 deployment, making port calls through South America and West Africa. Saginaw arrived home in December, and commenced a much needed drydocking and Phased Maintenance Availability in January.
During September 1986, the ship underwent a highly successful INSURV. October saw the ship undergo Intermediate Refresher Training in GTMO where an OPPEE certification was achieved. After GTMO, Saginaw completed a successful Amphibious Refresher Training. It was during AMPHIBREFTRE that she received the highest grades by an LST ever recorded.
In late spring of 1987, Saginaw again deployed to the 6th and 7th fleets with MARG 3-87. Steering in both the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean, Saginaw participated in amphibious exercise Eastern Wind 87 and Bright Star 87. Ports visited included Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
; Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
; and Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. During this cruise, Saginaw suffered a main space fire in engine room #1 (Main Control). Saginaw returned to Little Creek, and entered Jonathan Shipyards for extensive repairs.
In 1988, Saginaw participated in Teamwork 88 with NATO forces. Following the exercise Saginaw conducted a port visit in Ronne, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
on the island of Bornholm
Bornholm
Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming. Tourism is...
. Saginaw was the 1st U.S. Naval ship to visit Bornholm in 26 years.
Saginaw finished 1988 at Jonathan Shipyards in a Phased Maintenance Availability. Following PMA, Saginaw began an extensive work-up schedule to prepare for her fall Mediterranean deployment as part of MARG 1-90. This included a Damage Control Training deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, followed by an OPPEE in which Saginaw earned a "clean sweep". The MARG 1-90 deployment included many Joint Amphibious Exercises. Saginaw participated in exercises with troops from the countries of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
In 1990, Saginaw completed a successful Supply Management Inspection, Operational Propulsion Plant Examination, and INSURV inspection, before seeing duty in both Operation Desert Shield, and Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf. In September 1990, Saginaw left Little Creek, VA. en route to the Persian Gulf, and entered the Gulf area on 14 Sept, as part of the amphibious force in the area. During her stay, she visited ports in Oman, and the United Arab Emirates before the commencement of the ground war. During the hostilities, Saginaw participated in several practice landings just south of Kuwait City
Kuwait City
-Suburbs:Although the districts below are not usually recognized as suburbs, the following is a list of a few areas surrounding Kuwait city:Al-Salam ""السلام"" -Economy:...
, Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
.
Saginaw left the Persian Gulf after cessation of hostilities on March 24, 1991. After which, she entered dry-dock for much needed repairs. In the spring of 1991, it was decided that most of the U.S. LSTs were no longer needed by the Navy, and were to be decommissioned and sold to other countries.
In March 1992, the next six month Mediterranean Deployment commenced, and Saginaw as part of MARG 2-92 with a full crew of approx 14 officers and 210 enlisted, plus several platoons of US Marines with Humvees, Amtraks, Amphibious assault vehicles, etc. The ship participated in numerous amphibious training exercises with forces from Spain, France, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and others while also conducting operations in the Adriatic supporting US involvement in the former Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. After deployment the ship entered into an expedited turn around of industrial work, training, inspections and pre-deployment preparations. Saginaw completed a successful Supply Management Inspection and INSURV inspection. This training also included a Damage Control Training deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and a complete Amphibious Refresher Training period off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina. Late in this aggressive work up period, on the eve of the Operational Propulsion Plant Examination, the decision to sell the ship to the Australians in a "hot-ship" transfer was approved. The ready crew and ship were told to stand down from deployment preparations and begin training a full Australian crew in LST operations and maintenance. After several months of much Congressional and State Department activity, the ship was decommissioned in Little Creek, Virginia on 29 August 1994 and at the same ceremony transferred to the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
. In Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the ship was converted into an Amphibious Troop Transport to meet the needs of the Australian Navy's mission.
Fate
Saginaw was sold to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
for use as a transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
, and was re-named . The ship is now too rusty to be seaworthy, and is likely to be scrapped. http://www.smh.com.au/national/neglect-of-amphibious-fleet-triggers-defence-inquiry-20110215-1av7r.html