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USS Washoe County (LST-1165)
Encyclopedia
USS Washoe County (LST-1165), previously USS LST-1165, was a United States Navy
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...
landing ship tank (LST) in commission from 1953 to 1971, and which then saw non-commissioned Military Sealift Command
Military Sealift Command
The Military Sealift Command is a United States Navy organization that controls most of the replenishment and military transport ships of the Navy. It first came into existence on 9 July 1949 when the Military Sea Transportation Service became solely responsible for the Department of Defense's...
service as USNS Washoe County (T-LST-1165) in 1973.
Construction and commissioning
USS LST-1165 was laid down on 1 December 1952 at PascagoulaPascagoula, Mississippi
Pascagoula is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States. It is the principal city of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, as a part of the Gulfport–Biloxi–Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. The population was 26,200 at the 2000 census...
, 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...
, by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation. She was launched on 14 July 1953, sponsored by Mrs. Ralph K. James, and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 30 November 1953 with Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Robert R. Davis in command.
Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean service
In January 1954, LST-1165 joined the United States Atlantic Fleet and became part of the Atlantic Amphibious Force. After completing training in the vicinity of Hampton RoadsHampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
, 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...
, in early spring 1954, LST-1165 became very active in United States Naval Reserve training and made cruises to Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, 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...
; Boston, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
; New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
; and Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, 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...
.
During 1955, LST--1165 participated in many Atlantic Fleet exercises which took her from Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
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...
. She also took part in the filming of the motion picture "Away All Boats
Away All Boats
Away All Boats is a 1956 American war film produced by Universal Pictures. It was directed by Joseph Pevney and produced by Howard Christie from a screenplay by Ted Sherdeman based on the 1953 novel by Kenneth M. Dodson....
" at Vieques Island, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. On 1 July 1955, USS LST-1165 was renamed USS Washoe County (LST-1165). On 5 November 1955, the ship arrived at Naval Amphibious Base 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 Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
, 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...
, where she spent the remainder of 1955.
Washoe County completed underway preparations at Little Creek on 20 February 1956 and, after a brief stop at Morehead City
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...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, sailed on 25 February 1956 for refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She conducted exercises in the Caribbean until 29 April 1956, when she returned to Miami, Florida. For the next few months, Washoe County worked along the United States East Coast taking part in various operations.
Washoe County departed Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, Virginia, on 27 August 1956 and headed for the Mediterranean and her first tour with the United States Sixth Fleet. She also visited ports in 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...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, 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 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...
before returning to Hampton Roads on 5 February 1957.
The next three months of 1957 found Washoe County operating in the Norfolk area. On 28 March 1957, she headed for the Caribbean and operations at Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, St. Thomas, and Puerto Rico. She returned to Morehead City on 14 April 1957 and spent the remainder of 1957 in local operations in the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
area.
Western Pacific service
Washoe County departed Little Creek on 6 January 1958, stopped briefly at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, then transited the Panama CanalPanama 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...
and arrived at San Diego
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...
, 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...
, on 27 January 1958. She remained there for the next five months. On 10 June 1958, she began supply runs to Seal Beach
Seal Beach, California
-Neighborhoods:Seal Beach encompasses the Leisure World retirement gated community with roughly 9,000 residents. This was the first major planned retirement community of its type in the U.S...
, Port Hueneme
Port Hueneme, California
Port Hueneme is a small beach city in Ventura County, California surrounded by the city of Oxnard and the Pacific Ocean. The name derives from the Spanish spelling of the Chumash wene me, meaning "Resting Place". The area was discovered by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in the mid 16th century...
, and San Nicolas Island
San Nicolas Island
San Nicolas Island is the most remote of California's Channel Islands. It is part of Ventura County. The 14,562 acre island is currently controlled by the United States Navy and is used as a weapons testing and training facility, served by Naval Outlying Field San Nicolas Island...
, California.
Washoe County returned to San Diego on 26 June 1958 for a month's rest before sailing for Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, 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...
, on 23 July 1958. The ship returned to San Diego on 20 August 1958 and spent the rest of 1958 in operations off the California coast.
During the early months of 1959, Washoe County was at San Diego preparing for an upcoming Western Pacific (WestPac) deployment. She set course for 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...
on 15 April 1959 and arrived at Sasebo
Sasebo
Sasebo or may refer to:* Sasebo, Nagasaki, a city in Japan and a base of the Imperial Japanese Navy in the city, later of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force* United States Fleet Activities Sasebo, a post-WWII United States Navy Base in the city...
, Japan, on 7 May 1959. Except for a visit to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
during June 1959, Washoe County operated between Okinawa and Japan into the autumn of 1959. She returned to San Diego on 26 November 1959 and conducted local operations in waters off the California coast through the end of the year.
During the first half of 1960, Washoe County conducted various operations along the United States West Coast, including Operation Swan Dive off Cape Pendleton; Operation Bay Island off Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
, Washington, with the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
; and Operation Shark Bite at San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, California, with United States Marine Corps reservists
United States Marine Corps Reserve
The Marine Forces Reserve is the reserve force of the United States Marine Corps. It is the largest command in the U.S...
.
On 1 July 1960, Washoe Countys home port was changed to Yokosuka, Japan. One month later, she sailed for the Western Pacific; she stopped at Pearl Harbor, then arrived at Iwakuni, Japan, on 3 September 1960. She spent September and October 1960 carrying United States Marine Corps
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...
troops and vehicles with stops in Naha and Buckner Bay, Okinawa, and Numazu, Japan. Washoe County completed a restricted availability on 17 October 1960 and, after a visit to Hong Kong, took part in Operation Packboard off Okinawa from 11 November 1960 to 19 November 1960. On 7 December 1960, she commenced an overhaul at Yokosuka which lasted into 1957.
Washoe County finished her yard work on 8 February 1961 and began training. She then made a visit to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and remained there until 22 March 1961. The months of April and May were occupied with operations off Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
in the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
, and she returned to Japan late in the spring for local operations. From 2 August 1961 to 14 August 1961, Washoe County participated in Operation Sharp Edge off 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...
. The ship ended 1961 by taking part in Operation Fiesta at San Jose
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro
San Jose is a 1st class municipality in the province of Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 111,009 people in 22,464 households. According to the 2007 census, the population increased to 118,807 people....
, Mindoro
Mindoro
Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.-History:...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, commemorating the 17th anniversary of the landing of United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
forces in the Philippine Islands in 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...
.
On 17 February 1962, Washoe County began her participation in the large-scale Southeast Asia Treaty Organization
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization was an international organization for collective defense in Southeast Asia created by the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty, or Manila Pact, signed in September 1954 in Manila, Philippines. The formal institution of SEATO was established on 19 February...
(SEATO) Exercise Tulungan in the Philippine area which lasted through 20 April 1962. She then devoted the remainder of 1962 to visiting the ports of Keelung
Keelung
Keelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
; Subic Bay
Subic Bay
Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S...
, the Philippines; Hong Kong; and Beppu and Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, Japan. During July and August 1962, she joined in Operation Seven Seas off Korea. On 8 December 1962, she entered the shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
at Yokosuka for an overhaul.
She devoted the major portion of 1963 to routine operations and training and from 12 June 1963 to 30 June 1963 participated in her only operation of the year, Operation Flagpole. On 30 September 1963, Washoe County rescued 15 men from the foundering Japanese fishing vessel
Fishing vessel
A fishing vessel is a boat or ship used to catch fish in the sea, or on a lake or river. Many different kinds of vessels are used in commercial, artisanal and recreational fishing....
, Shoyo Maru No. 10, near Miyako Jima.
The year 1964 began with Washoe County moored at Yokohama. From 3 January 1964 to 27 January 1964, she underwent upkeep at Yokosuka. An administrative inspection of the ship held on 3 February 1964 was followed by preparations for the upcoming Exercise Back Pack which she conducted from 26 February 1964 to 16 March 1964.
Washoe County lifted ammunition from Sasebo to Numazu, Japan, from 10 April 1964 to 17 April 1964. The ship participated in Operation Ligtas from 29 May 1964 to 8 June 1964, then sailed to Hong Kong for a port visit. She spent July 1964 undergoing another physical security inspection plus sea trials.
Vietnam War service
During August and September 1964, Washoe County conducted special operations in the South China SeaSouth China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
off the coast of Vietnam. Following routine operations and training, Washoe County visited Beppu, Japan, from 2 December 1964 to 4 December 1964 and, after a force medical inspection and an operational readiness inspection, spent the rest of 1964 at Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
.
Washoe County spent the first three quarters of 1965 making shuttle trips between Okinawa, Japan, and Vietnam in support of American forces in Vietnam. The loads she carried during the year included Marine Corps, Naval Beach Group, Naval Beach Jumper, and Amphibious Construction Battalion equipment and personnel. Most of the year's last quarter was devoted to a yard overhaul at Yokosuka which began on 16 September 1965 and ended on 10 December 1965. On 27 December 1965, the ship commenced refresher training which continued into 1966.
The ship departed Yokosuka loaded with pontoon
Pontoon (boat)
A pontoon is a flotation device with buoyancy sufficient to float itself as well as a heavy load. A pontoon boat is a flattish boat that relies on pontoons to float. Pontoons may be used on boats, rafts, barges, docks, floatplanes or seaplanes. Pontoons may support a platform, creating a raft. A...
barge sections destined for Danang, 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...
. Following a short stop in Okinawa, the ship arrived at Danang on 22 February 1966. She then proceeded to Chu Lai
Chu Lai
Chu Lai is a sea port, urban and industrial area in Dung Quat Bay, Núi Thành district, Quang Nam province of Vietnam. The city is served by Chu Lai Airport.-Vietnam War:...
and discharged the remainder of the 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:...
.
After hauling cargo to Danang, Chu Lai, Camranh Bay, and Phan Rang, Washoe County joined with an amphibious ready group whose mission was to conduct an amphibious raid, Operation Jackstay against Viet Cong southeast of Saigon. She served in a pioneering role as an advance base providing gunfire support, arms, ammunition, rations, and water to assault boat groups.
Washoe County returned to Yokosuka on 28 May 1966 for a brief period of repairs and rehabilitation. On the 18 June 1966, the ship sailed for Okinawa to reload supplies, then made a visit to Hong Kong before resuming her duties as a cargo carrier along the Vietnamese coast.
In mid-August, she steamed through the Inland Sea of Japan and Shimonoseki Strait on her way to Korea. After a week of training with the Republic of Korea Navy
Republic of Korea Navy
The Republic of Korea Navy or the ROK Navy is the branch of the South Korean armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations and amphibious landing operations. The ROK Navy includes the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, which is a quasi-autonomous organization...
, Washoe County returned to Iwakuni, Japan, and embarked Marines and cargo. Before returning to Yokosuka at the end of October 1966, the ship made two more lifts to Vietnam, carrying cargo to Chu Lai and Qui Nhon
Qui Nhon
Qui Nhơn , also Quy Nhơn, is a coastal city in Binh Dinh province in central Vietnam. It is composed of 16 wards and five communes with a total of 286 km². Quy Nhon is the capital of Bình Định province. As of 2009 its population was 280,900. Historically, the commercial activities of the city...
and returning equipment from Danang to Naha, Okinawa.
The year 1967 began with Washoe County in the port of Naha, Okinawa, loading cargo. She spent the month of January engaged in shuttle runs carrying cargo and personnel along the South Vietnamese coast and Okinawa and then enjoyed a rest and recreation visit to Hong Kong. The ship spent most of February 1967 conducting intracoastal logistic support lifts along the South Vietnam coast. On 20 February 1967, Washoe County participated in Operation De Soto, in which material was offloaded by Marine helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s operating off the ship's main deck. The operation was concluded on 8 March 1967, and the tank landing ship underwent an upkeep period lasting from 20 March 1967 to 11 April 1967.
From 15 April 1967 to 2 June 1967, Washoe County made shuttle runs with cargo and troops to Chi Lung, Taiwan; Danang and Chu Lai, South Vietnam; Naha, Okinawa; Yokosuka, Japan; and Inchon, South Korea. The ship then returned to Yokosuka for upkeep from 7 June 1967 to 22 June 1967, during which time Washoe County became the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
for Landing Squadron 9.
The crew enjoyed liberty at Hong Kong from 11 July 1967 to 16 July 1967; then debarked the commodore and his staff at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, and took Army personnel to Pusan, Korea, before returning to Yokosuka on 3 August 1967 for upkeep which was completed on 7 September 1967. In mid-September, the ship arrived at Danang and participated in three major Operation Fortress Sentry, Operation Formation Leader, and Operation Badger Hunt, from 14 September 1967 to 2 December 1967.
Washoe County retired to Subic Bay on 5 December 1967 and soon sailed to Okinawa for training exercises with Marines. She returned to Yokosuka on 18 December 1967 for upkeep which lasted into 1968.
On 1 March 1968, Washoe County sailed for Danang, South Vietnam, in company with USS Terrell County (LST-1157)
USS Terrell County (LST-1157)
USS Terrell County , originally USS LST-1157, was a built for the United States Navy in 1952. Named for Terrell County, Texas, and Terrell County, Georgia, she was the only U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name...
and USS Westchester County (LST-1167)
USS Westchester County (LST-1167)
The USS Westchester County was a built for the United States Navy at the tail end of the Korean War. Named for Westchester County, New York, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.-1950s:...
, carrying causeway sections to be used at Wunder Beach, South Vietnam. The sections were splashed and moved into place on 17 March 1968. While engaged in the causeway installation, Washoe Countys port shaft was damaged; and she underwent repairs at Subic Bay from 21 March 1968 to 25 March 1968. She then returned to Vietnam, but further problems with the port shaft developed, necessitating more extensive repairs at Subic Bay which lasted until 29 April 1968. The ship then successfully completed sea trials and got underway for Japan and arrived at Yokosuka on 5 May 1968.
Washoe County underwent upkeep at Yokosuka which was not finished until early June 1968. On the 3 June 1968, she began loading Marine equipment at Naha, and she delivered it at Subic Bay on 8 June 1968. Following a visit to Hong Kong from 14 June 1968 to 19 June 1968, she headed for South Vietnam. En route on 20 June 1968, Washoe County embarked two injured personnel from the American freighter
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
SS John C. after that ship had run aground on the north reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
of the Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
The Paracel Islands, also called Xisha Islands in Chinese and Hoàng Sa Islands in Vietnamese, is a group of islands under the administration of Hainan Province, The People's Republic of China. Vietnam and the Republic of China also claim sovereignty of these islands...
.
The next day, Washoe County returned to Danang and resumed duties with the amphibious ready group. With the exception of upkeep from 10 July 1968 to 20 July 1968, the ship served in the combat zone continuously through July and much of August. On 24 August 1968, Washoe County headed for her home port and arrived at Yokosuka on 12 September 1968.
Washoe County began her last deployment of 1968 off the coast of South Vietnam at the Ca Mau Peninsula
Ca Mau Peninsula
peninsula makes up the southern tip of Vietnam. It is in Ca Mau province, and lies between the Gulf of Thailand to the west and the South China Sea to the east....
for Operation Market Time
Operation Market Time
Operation Market Time was the United States Navy’s effort to stop troops and supplies from flowing by sea from North Vietnam to South Vietnam during the Vietnam War...
, sealing off the coastline of South Vietnam and adjacent waterways from communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
infiltration. From 27 October 1968 to 9 December 1968, she functioned as an emergency helicopter landing pad in evacuating eight U.S. Navy and United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
personnel wounded in action and the body of one Coast Guardsman who had been killed in action ashore. She also dispensed fuel, food, water, and ammunition to 134 patrol boat
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
s and fired 42 naval gunfire support missions.
Washoe County arrived back at Yokosuka on 19 December 1968 and spent the end of 1968 there.
Washoe County began 1969 preparing for the cyclical yard overhaul period which commenced on 19 January 1969 and continued through 10 April 1969. From 20 April 1969 to 6 June 1969, she conducted refresher training and amphibious refresher training. On 12 June 1969, Washoe County got underway for the first deployment of the year as a support ship for Operation Seafloat/Tran Hung Dao III in the Ca Mau Peninsula of South Vietnam. Seafloat was a floating advanced tactical support base primarily for psychological warfare missions conducted in the Cua Lon River
Cửa Lớn River
The Cửa Lớn River is a river of Vietnam. It flows through Ca Mau Province for 58 kilometres....
at the southernmost tip of South Vietnam. During this period, Washoe County served as a helicopter platform and provided logistics and communications support.
On 10 August 1969, after 46 days on station, Washoe County sailed via Subic Bay to Hong Kong for a two-week assignment as station ship. She got underway on 4 September 1969 for Yokosuka but was diverted by a trip from Okinawa to Danang and finally arrived at her home port on 23 September 1969. She remained there until 9 October 1969 when she transported a detachment of Marines and equipment from Okinawa to Numazu, Japan.
Departing Japan on 28 October 1969, Washoe County participated in Operation Keystone Cardinal, a major troop redeployment lift from Vietnam. During November, Washoe County steamed more than 7,000 nautical miles (12,964 kilometers) bringing troops and equipment from Vietnam to Okinawa before returning to Yokosuka on 3 December 1969 for annual inspections and the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
holiday season.
Washoe County took station as a Seafloat support vessel from 20 January 1970 to 12 March 1970 and again from 17 May 1970 to 2 August 1970. Between these two deployments, Washoe County served as station ship in Hong Kong from 18 March 1970 to 27 March 1970.
On 12 August 1970, Washoe County arrived at Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan, to enjoy four days at the World's Fair
World's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
, Expo 70. From 19 August 1970 to 19 September 1970, she underwent upkeep at Yokosuka and then made a visit to Hong Kong.
After stopping at Chu Lai, Vietnam, and Subic Bay, the Philippines, to load cargo on board, Washoe County headed for the California coast, via Pearl Harbor, arriving at San Diego on 10 November 1970. She offloaded Marine cargo at Camp Pendleton on 13 November 1970, then made a port visit to San Francisco.
Washoe County earned a Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation is a senior unit award granted to military units which have performed an extremely meritorious or heroic act, usually in the face of an armed enemy...
, a Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Unit Commendation
The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944...
, a Meritorious Unit Commendation
Meritorious Unit Commendation
The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
, and twelve campaign stars for Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
service. The campaign stars were for:
- Vietnam Defense 10 July 1965-18 July 1965, 13 August 1965-17 August 1965, and 28 August 1965-15 September 1965
- Vietnamese Counteroffensive 21 February 1966-26 February 1966 and 10 March 1966-20 May 1966
- Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase II 2 July 1966-7 July 1966, 19 July 1966-24 July 1966, 10 September 1966-14 September 1966, 29 September 1966-6 October 1966, 16 October 1966-19 October 1966, 6 January 1967-25 January 1967, 15 February 1967-12 March 1967, 21 April 1967-28 April 1967, and 9 May 1967-15 May 1967
- Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase III 2 July 1967-10 July 1967, 15 September 1967-26 September 1967, and 7 October 1967-3 December 1967
- Tet Counteroffensive 12 March 1968-19 March 1968 and 26 May 1968-1 April 1968
- Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase IV 2 April 1968-7 April 1968 and 20 June 1968-30 June 1968
- Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase V 1 July 1968-8 July 1968, 22 July 1968-2 September 1968, and 24 October 1968-1 November 1968
- Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase VI 2 November 1968-11 December 1968
- Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 22 June 1969-12 August 1969 and 13 September 1969-16 September 1969
- Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 3 November 1969-12 November 1969, 19 November 1969-24 November 1969, and 19 December 1969-17 March 1970
- Sanctuary Counteroffensive 14 May 1970-30 June 1970
- Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase VII 1 July 1970-5 August 1970 and 1 October 1970-8 October 1970
Decommissioning
On 24 November 1970, Washoe County arrived at BremertonBremerton, 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...
, Washington, and, on 25 November 1970, her status changed to "in commission, in reserve." On 25 March 1971, the ship was decommissioned
Ship decommissioning
To decommission a ship is to terminate her career in service in the armed forces of her nation. A somber occasion, it has little of the elaborate ceremony of ship commissioning, but carries significant tradition....
.
Military Sealift Command service
Washoe County was reactivated in January 1973 to serve as a cargo shipCargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
in a non-commissioned status with a civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
crew with the Military Sealift Command
Military Sealift Command
The Military Sealift Command is a United States Navy organization that controls most of the replenishment and military transport ships of the Navy. It first came into existence on 9 July 1949 when the Military Sea Transportation Service became solely responsible for the Department of Defense's...
in January 1973, being designated the United States Naval Ship
United States Naval Ship
United States Naval Ship or USNS is the prefix designation given to non-commissioned ships that are property of the United States Navy.-Overview:...
USNS Washoe County (T-LST-1165). This service continued until she was stricken from the Navy List
Navy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
on 1 November 1973. At that time, she was transferred to the Maritime Administration for layup in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
National Defense Reserve Fleet
The National Defense Reserve Fleet consists of "mothballed" ships, mostly merchant vessels, that can be activated within 20 to 120 days to provide shipping for the United States of America during national emergencies, either military or non-military, such as commercial shipping crises.The NDRF is...
at Suisun Bay
Suisun Bay
Suisun Bay is a shallow tidal estuary at in northern California, USA. It lies at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, forming the entrance to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, an inverted river delta...
, Benecia, California.
Transfer to Peru
On 7 August 1984, Washoe County and three of her sister ships -- USS Traverse County (LST-1160)USS Traverse County (LST-1160)
USS Traverse County , previously USS LST-1160, was a United States Navy landing ship tank in commission from 1953 to 1970, and which then saw non-commissioned Military Sealift Command service as USNS Traverse County from 1972 to 1973.-Construction and commissioning:USS LST-1160 was laid down on...
, USS Waldo County (LST-1163)
USS Waldo County (LST-1163)
USS Waldo County , previously USS LST-1163, was a United States Navy landing ship tank in commission from 1953 to 1970, and which then saw non-commissioned Military Sealift Command service as USNS Waldo County from 1972 to 1973.-Construction and commissioning:Waldo County was laid down as USS...
, and USS Walworth County (LST-1164)
USS Walworth County (LST-1164)
USS Walworth County , previously USS LST-1164, was a United States Navy landing ship tank in commission from 1953 to 1971, and which then saw non-commissioned Military Sealift Command service as USNS Walworth County from 1972 to 1973.-Construction and commissioning:Walworth County was laid down...
-- were leased to Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, and Washoe County was commissioned into service in the Peruvian Navy
Peruvian Navy
The Peruvian Navy is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with surveillance, patrol and defense on lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean up to 200 nautical miles from the Peruvian littoral...
as BAP Callao (DT-143) on 4 March 1985. Peru renewed the lease on all four ships in August 1989 and August 1994, and the United States sold all four outright to Peru under the Security Assistance Program on 26 April 1999; all four were struck from the U.S. Naval Register on the day of the sale.