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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Patch at left (c. 1950s) contributed by Larry Waterman and Dennis Steenbergen, at right (c. 1965) by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USNS Washoe County (T-LST-1165)
ex
 USS Washoe County (LST-1165) (1955 - 1970)
 USS LST-1165 (1953 - 1955)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Mike - Hotel - Victor
 NMHV
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (2 April 1966) - Presidential Unit Citation - Navy Unit Commendation
Second Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (5-Vietnam)
Third Row - Vietnam Service Medal (12) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (26) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

USS Washoe County (LST-1165) was transferred to Peru and renamed BAP Callao (DT-143)
LST-1156 Terrebonne Parish Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 1 December 1952, at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp, Pascagoula, MS.
  • Launched, 14 July 1953
  • Commissioned USS LST-1165, 30 November 1953, LCDR. Robert R. Davis, USN in command
  • Named USS Washoe County (LST-1165), 1 July 1955
  • During the Vietnam War USS Washoe County (LST-1165) served continuously in country and in contiguous waters, with the exception of overhaul periods, from mid 1965 to late 1970 participating in the following campaigns. (Dates listed do not include underway transit times within the contiguous waters along the Vietnam coast as defined by the US Navy and so specified by the Vietnam Service Medal.)

    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Defense
    10 to 18 July 1965
    13 to 17 August 1965
    28 August to 15 September 1965    		 Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    1 to 8 July 1968
    22 July to 2 September 1968
    24 October to 1 November 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    21 to 26 February 1966
    10 March to 20 May 1966    		 Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI
    2 November to 11 December 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    2 to 7 July 1966
    19 to 24 July 1966
    10 to 14 September 1966
    29 September to 6 October 1966
    16 to 19 October 1966
    6 to 25 January 1967
    15 February to 12 March 1967
    21 to 28 April 1967
    9 to 15 May 1967    		 Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    22 June to 12 August 1969
    13 to 16 September 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    2 to 10 July 1967
    15 to 26 September 1967
    7 October to 3 December 1967    		 Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    3 to 12 November 1969
    19 to 24 November 1969
    19 December 1969 to 17 March 1970
    Tet Counteroffensive
    12 to 19 March 1968
    26 May to 1 April 1968    		 Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    14 May to 30 June 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    2 to 7 April 1968
    20 to 30 June 1968     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    1 July to 5 August 1970
    1 October to 8 October 1970

  • Decommissioned, 25 November 1970, and placed in service by the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Washoe County (T-LST-1165)
  • Placed out of service, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register and transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 1 November 1973, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • USS Washoe County (LST 1165) earned a Presidential Unit Citation, a Navy Unit Commendation, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and twelve campaign stars for Vietnam service
  • Sold to Peru, 26 April 1999, under the Security Assistance Program, renamed BAP Callao (DT-143)
  • Final Disposition, sunk as a target, 30 September 2021, during Exercise UNITAS 2021
    Specifications:
    Displacement 2,590 t.(lt) 5,800 t.(fl)
    Length 384'
    Beam 55'
    Draft 17'
    Speed 14 kts.
    Complement Ships Company and Staff Officers 16, Enlisted 189
    Troop Accommodations 15 officers, 380 enlisted
    Boats three LCVP, one LCPL
    Armament three twin 3"/50 gun mounts, five single 20mm gun mounts
    Propulsion four GM 16-278A diesel engines, 6000shp, two controllable pitch propellers
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Washoe County (LST-1165)
    Washoe County 66k USS Washoe County (LST-1165) beached, in Japan, date unknown. Alan Sandoval
    Washoe County 118k USS Washoe County (LST-1165) moored to a ramp, date and location unknown. .
    Washoe County 29k USS Washoe County (LST-1165), date and location unknown. LST Home Port web site
    Washoe County 84k USS Washoe County (LST-1165) at anchor in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, date unknown. Adam Hamner for his uncle M.O. Hamner
    Washoe County
    10161165115    		 132k USS Washoe County (LST-1165) nested at Annapolis, Maryland, 7 June 1957, with two additional Terrebonne Parish Class Tank Landing Ships.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 84888, courtesy of William H. Davis, 1976    		 Mike Smolinski
    Washoe County 85k USS Washoe County (LST-1165) change of command ceremony, 31 January 1958. Left to right; LCDR Lloyd C. Moreland Jr., outgoing commanding officer, center LCDR Edward H. Heuer incoming commanding officer, and left, LTjg. Charles E. (Chuck) Pollard, Executive Officer. Dennis A. Steenbergen EN3 USS Washoe County May 1966- March 1968, Courtesy Mike Pllard son of Lt. Chuck Pollard USS Washoe County.
    Washoe County 56k USS Washoe County (LST-1165) moored at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, circa summer (June) 1959, while loading 2nd Light Support Co. , 3rd. Marine Div. FMF equipment and personnel for transport to the Mount Fuji area in support of war games. Edward J. Breault
    Washoe County 55k USS Washoe County (LST-1165) moored at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, circa summer (June) 1959, while loading 2nd Light Support Co. , 3rd. Marine Div. FMF equipment and personnel for transport to the Mount Fuji area in support of war games. Edward J. Breault
    Washoe County 152k USS Washoe County (LST-1165) and USS Windham County (LST-1170) beached at Pohang, South Korea, 11 August 1962.
    Photo taken from USS Washtenaw County (LST-1166)    		 Photo by Robert Haley, Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
    Washtenaw County 70k USS Washtenaw County (LST-1166) (foreground) and USS Washoe County (LST-1165) (background) beached at Pohang, South Korea during Operation "Seven Seas", circa late July-early August 1962. Photo by Dan Liker. Dennis A. Steenbergen EN3 USS Washoe County 1966-1968, Courtesy PFC Dan Liker, A-Troop, 2nd Recon Squadron, 10th Cavalry, 7th Infantry Division
    Washoe County 69k USS Washoe County (LST-1165) beached at Pohang, South Korea during Operation "Seven Seas", circa late July-early August 1962. Photo by Dan Liker. Dennis A. Steenbergen EN3 USS Washoe County 1966-1968, Courtesy PFC Dan Liker, A-Troop, 2nd Recon Squadron, 10th Cavalry, 7th Infantry Division
    Washoe County 289k USS Washoe County (LST-1165) (background) and USS Vernon County (LST- 1161) (foreground) beached at what appears to be Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan in October 1969. Bob Morrison EN2 USS Washoe County
    Washoe County 224k USS Washoe County (LST-1165) while on station off the coast of Vietnam, providing gun fire support with 3" 50 cal. Cau Mau Peninsula, June 1969. Bob Morrison EN2 USS Washoe County
    Washoe County 179k From left to right; USS Washoe County (LST-1165), USS Washtenaw County (LST-1166) and USS Windham County (LST-1170) moored at Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan, January 1970. Bob Morrison EN2 USS Washoe County
    Washoe County 282k USS Washoe County (LST-1165) while on station off the coast of Vietnam with a Navy "Seawolf" helicopter on deck, January 1970. Bob Morrison EN2 USS Washoe County
    Washoe County 251k A CH-46 "Sea Knight" helicopter takes off from USS Washoe County (LST-1165) while on station during Vietnam Operation "Seafloat/Tran Hung Doa III," February 1970. Bob Morrison EN2 USS Washoe County
    Washoe County 239k USS Washoe County (LST-1165)'s LCVPs loaded with supplies for a run up the Cua Lon River to "Seafloat" (Floating Mobile Advanced Tactical Support Base (MATSB), South Vietnam, February 1970. Bob Morrison EN2 USS Washoe County
    Washoe County 183k Sunset USS Washoe County (LST-1165) on station off the coast of Vietnam, February 1970. Bob Morrison EN2 USS Washoe County
    Washoe County 165k USS Washoe County (LST-1165) at anchor the harbor at Hong Kong BCC, March 1970. Bob Morrison EN2 USS Washoe County
    Washoe County 167k USS Washoe County (LST-1165) underway, date and location unknown. Ed Zajkowski
    Washoe County
    10161165116    		 137k USS Washoe County (LST-1165) underway off San Diego, California, 11 November 1970.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 84889, courtesy of William H. Davis, 1976    		 Mike Smolinski
    Washoe County 1059k Paintings by Robert L. Morrison of USS Washoe County (LST-1165). Robert L. Morrison Ed.D
    Washoe County 1859k
    BAP Callao (DT-143)
    Washoe County 21k Ex-USS Washoe County (LST-1165), seen here in Peruvian Naval service (Marina de Guerra del Peru) as BAP Callao (DT-143) Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    Washoe County 130k BAP Callao (DT-143) moored pierside at Callao, Peru during a Naval Expo, October 2003. Photo by Carlos Race Navy Military of Peru web site
    Washoe County 103k BAP Callao (DT-143) Salinas, Peru, 4 July 2004. A Peruvian amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) approaches the shore after launching from the Peruvian tank landing ship BAP Callao (DT-143), during the largest amphibious assault exercise in Latin America, UNITAS 45-04. Eleven partner nations from the U.S. and Latin America came together for the largest multilateral exercise in the Southern Hemisphere. Held since 1959, UNITAS aims to unite military forces throughout the Americas with bilateral and multilateral shipboard, amphibious and in-port exercises and operations. UNITAS improves operational readiness and interoperability of U.S. and South American naval, coast guard, and marine forces while promoting friendship, professionalism and understanding among participants.
    US Navy photo # 040704-N-1464F-008 JOC Dave Fliesen.    		 US Navy News Stand
    Traverse County 205k Stern view of BAP Callao (DT-143) moored outboard of BAP Eten (DT-144), ex-USS Traverse County (LST-1160), probably, at the Peruvian Naval Base at Callao in 2007. ©2007 HALCON_24
    Washoe County
    10161165117    		 289k Ex-BAP Callao (DT-143) sunk as a target, 30 September 2021, during Exercise UNITAS 2021. Dave Shirlaw

    For more photos and information about USS Washoe County, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • Mobile Riverine Force Association - History of USS Washoe County (LST-1165)
  • Photo Collection of Rich Krebs USS Washoe County circa 1966
  • USS Washoe LST-1165 Association
  • Mobile River Force Association
    • Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Davis, Robert Roscoe, USN30 November 1953 - 18 May 1955
    02LCDR. Hirsch, Stanley Marvin, USN (USNA 1945)18 May 1955 - 1 June 1957
    03LCDR. Moreland Jr., Lloyd C.1 June 1957 - 31 January 1958
    04LCDR. Heuer, Edward Herman31 January 1958 - 11 July 1959
    05LCDR. Leach Jr., David Clark11 July 1959 - 15 September 1961
    06LT. Walker, Eugene Russell, USN (USNA 1955)15 September 1961 - 8 November 1961
    07LCDR. Smith, Winfield Spencer, USN (USNA 1947)8 November 1961 - 30 November 1963
    08LCDR. Olsen, Willard R.30 November 1963 - 10 December 1965
    09LCDR. Hoffman, Mal L.10 December 1965 - 11 April 1966
    10LCDR. Bess, George Delbert 11 April 1966 - 25 November 1966
    11LCDR. Gandy, John David25 November 1966 - August 1968
    12LCDR. Smith, Vernon Charles :RADMAugust 1968 - February 1970
    13LCDR. Wright, Arthur St.Clair, USN (USNA 1957)February 1970 - 25 November 1970
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    Last Updated 8 October 2021