Originally laid down as LST-819 by the Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Company of Evansville, Indiana on 12 September 1944; launched on 21 October; sponsored by Mrs. William M. Gilmore; and commissioned on 14 November 1944.
Following shakedown off Florida, LST-819 loaded cargo, then departed New Orleans on 18 December for the Pacific. After brief stops at San Diego and Pearl Harbor, the tank landing ship arrived Tulagi on 23 February 1945. During the next month she shuttled cargo throughout the Pacific, then ammunition for the Okinawa invasion. Arriving on 2 April, one day after the initial landing, LST-819 prepared to unload her cargo under heavy enemy air attack. Remaining off the island for the next three weeks, she assisted in the effort as the Japanese made an attempt to stop the American thrust toward Japan. For the rest of the war she continued transport and cargo operations in the vicinity of Okinawa. After V-J Day, she operated with the occupation forces in Okinawa and Japan, then sailed for the United States in mid-November, arriving San Francisco on 6 January 1946. Later that month she sailed to Astoria, Oregon, was decommissioned there and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet.
LST-819 received one battle star for World War II service.
Korean Waredit
During the Korean War build-up LST-819 recommissioned at Astoria on 8 September 1950. Following training she departed San Diego three months later, arriving at Yokosuka on 17 January 1951. Two weeks later she steamed to Pusan where she embarked Army personnel for transport to Inchon, arriving there on 19 February. From February to June LST-819 carried troops and vehicles from Japan to Korean ports, then on 8 June departed for the United States. After six months at San Diego LST-819 returned for her second tour in the Far East, arriving at Yokosuka on 15 February 1952. She resumed cargo runs to the war zone and harbor entrance patrol until late October when she steamed back to the United States.
After the Korean War LST-819 made another cruise to the Far East from August 1953 to June 1954 where she resumed her cargo operations under more peaceful conditions. She returned to San Diego on 17 July and operated along the West Coast until she decommissioned on 24 June 1955. While in reserve at San Diego LST-819 was renamed USS Hampshire County (LST-819) on 1 July 1955.
Hampshire County was recommissioned at Tod Shipyard in San Padro, CA, in 1966, for service in the Vietnam War. By 9 September she had completed shakedown training and on 24 September left Del Mar, California for Da Nang, South Vietnam, arriving on 8 November. After debarking marines and cargo there, she returned to Guam, anchoring on 19 December. Hampshire County then participated in "Operation Market Time." After that she continued into 1967 in her important combat support missions.
On one mission, returning to Guam from Viet Nam, the ship encountered a hurricane. The crew found a crack forming amidship, growing in size and threatening the ship's survival. The crew performed Damage Repair by welding I-beams and other iron to the deck to prevent the crack from widening, potentially allowing the ship to break in two. The ship continued to Guam after the encounter, going into drydock for repairs (first hand account of electrician's mate aboard in the storm). Rumors floated that had the repairs not been completed, the ship would have sunken with all hands.
Decommissioned on 19 December 1970, Hampshire County was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 April 1975. Sold by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service in 1975 she was converted for commercial use, acquired by Landing System Technology Pte. Ltd., of Singapore and renamed LST 2. The ship was then acquired by Maritime & Commercial Co. Argonaftis S.A. of Greece on 30 June 1978, and renamed Petrola 142. Laid up on 24 February 1983, the ship was eventually sold. She arrived at Aliağa, Turkey, for scrapping on 22 December 1995.
"LST-819 Hampshire County". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
External linksedit
Mobile Riverine Force Association 9 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine
October 28, 2023
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This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations June 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message USS Hampshire County LST 819 was an LST 542 class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II Named for counties in Massachusetts and West Virginia she was the only U S Naval vessel to bear the name HistoryUnited StatesNameUSS Hampshire County LST 819 NamesakeHampshire County Massachusetts Hampshire County West VirginiaBuilderMissouri Valley Bridge amp Iron Company Evansville IndianaLaid down12 September 1944Launched21 October 1944Commissioned7 November 1944DecommissionedJanuary 1946Recommissioned8 September 1950Decommissioned24 June 1955RenamedUSS Hampshire County LST 819 1 July 1955Recommissioned9 July 1966Decommissioned19 December 1970Stricken5 April 1975MottoPossumus Quae DebmusHonors andawards1 battle star World War II 4 battle stars Korea 10 campaign stars Presidential Unit Citation and Navy Unit Commendation Vietnam FateConverted for commercial use and sold 5 April 1975BadgeSingaporeNameLST 2OwnerLanding System Technology Pte Ltd SingaporeAcquired5 April 1975In service1975Out of service1978FateSold 1978United States GreeceNamePetrola 142OwnerMaritime amp Commercial Co Argonaftis S A GreeceAcquired1978In service1980Out of service1983IdentificationIMO number 7629881FateScrapped 1995General characteristicsClass and typeLST 542 class tank landing shipDisplacement1 625 long tons 1 651 t light 4 080 long tons 4 145 t fullLength328 ft 100 m Beam50 ft 15 m DraftUnloaded 2 ft 4 in 0 71 m forward 7 ft 6 in 2 29 m aft Loaded 8 ft 2 in 2 49 m forward 14 ft 1 in 4 29 m aftPropulsion2 General Motors 12 567 diesel engines two shafts twin ruddersSpeed12 knots 22 km h 14 mph Boats amp landing craft carriedTwo or six LCVPsComplement7 officers 104 enlisted menArmament8 40 mm guns 12 20 mm gunsOriginally laid down as LST 819 by the Missouri Valley Bridge amp Iron Company of Evansville Indiana on 12 September 1944 launched on 21 October sponsored by Mrs William M Gilmore and commissioned on 14 November 1944 Contents 1 World War II 2 Korean War 3 Vietnam War 4 Decommissioning and sale 5 References 6 External linksWorld War II editFollowing shakedown off Florida LST 819 loaded cargo then departed New Orleans on 18 December for the Pacific After brief stops at San Diego and Pearl Harbor the tank landing ship arrived Tulagi on 23 February 1945 During the next month she shuttled cargo throughout the Pacific then ammunition for the Okinawa invasion Arriving on 2 April one day after the initial landing LST 819 prepared to unload her cargo under heavy enemy air attack Remaining off the island for the next three weeks she assisted in the effort as the Japanese made an attempt to stop the American thrust toward Japan For the rest of the war she continued transport and cargo operations in the vicinity of Okinawa After V J Day she operated with the occupation forces in Okinawa and Japan then sailed for the United States in mid November arriving San Francisco on 6 January 1946 Later that month she sailed to Astoria Oregon was decommissioned there and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet LST 819 received one battle star for World War II service Korean War editDuring the Korean War build up LST 819 recommissioned at Astoria on 8 September 1950 Following training she departed San Diego three months later arriving at Yokosuka on 17 January 1951 Two weeks later she steamed to Pusan where she embarked Army personnel for transport to Inchon arriving there on 19 February From February to June LST 819 carried troops and vehicles from Japan to Korean ports then on 8 June departed for the United States After six months at San Diego LST 819 returned for her second tour in the Far East arriving at Yokosuka on 15 February 1952 She resumed cargo runs to the war zone and harbor entrance patrol until late October when she steamed back to the United States After the Korean War LST 819 made another cruise to the Far East from August 1953 to June 1954 where she resumed her cargo operations under more peaceful conditions She returned to San Diego on 17 July and operated along the West Coast until she decommissioned on 24 June 1955 While in reserve at San Diego LST 819 was renamed USS Hampshire County LST 819 on 1 July 1955 LST 819 received four battle stars for Korean War service Vietnam War editHampshire County was recommissioned at Tod Shipyard in San Padro CA in 1966 for service in the Vietnam War By 9 September she had completed shakedown training and on 24 September left Del Mar California for Da Nang South Vietnam arriving on 8 November After debarking marines and cargo there she returned to Guam anchoring on 19 December Hampshire County then participated in Operation Market Time After that she continued into 1967 in her important combat support missions On one mission returning to Guam from Viet Nam the ship encountered a hurricane The crew found a crack forming amidship growing in size and threatening the ship s survival The crew performed Damage Repair by welding I beams and other iron to the deck to prevent the crack from widening potentially allowing the ship to break in two The ship continued to Guam after the encounter going into drydock for repairs first hand account of electrician s mate aboard in the storm Rumors floated that had the repairs not been completed the ship would have sunken with all hands Hampshire County received the Combat Action Ribbon Presidential Unit Citation Navy Unit Commendation RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm RVN Civil Action Medal First Class with Palm RVN Campaign Medal with 60 s device and the Vietnam Service Medal with 10 battle stars The Hampshire County was awarded 10 battle stars during her Vietnam deployment Decommissioning and sale editDecommissioned on 19 December 1970 Hampshire County was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 April 1975 Sold by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service in 1975 she was converted for commercial use acquired by Landing System Technology Pte Ltd of Singapore and renamed LST 2 The ship was then acquired by Maritime amp Commercial Co Argonaftis S A of Greece on 30 June 1978 and renamed Petrola 142 Laid up on 24 February 1983 the ship was eventually sold She arrived at Aliaga Turkey for scrapping on 22 December 1995 References editThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here LST 819 Hampshire County Amphibious Photo Archive Retrieved 17 July 2007 External links editMobile Riverine Force Association Archived 9 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Hampshire County amp oldid 1172734618, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
