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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Newport (LST-1179)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Lima - Mike - Whiskey NLMW

USS Newport (LST-1179) was transferred to Mexico, renamed ARM Sonora (A-4)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon
Bottom Row - Navy Expeditionary Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Humanitarian Service Medal

LST-1179 Newport Class Tank Landing Ship:

Laid down, 1 November 1966, at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, PA.

Launched, 3 February 1968

Commissioned USS Newport (LST-1179), 7 June 1969, CDR. Derwin T. Lamb in command

Decommissioned, 1 October 1992

Laid up in the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF) Portsmouth, VA., maintenance category C

Struck from the Naval Register, 13 July 2001

Transferred, cash sale to Mexico, 23 May 2001, under terms of the Military Assistance Program, renamed ARM Sonora (A-4)

Named changed to ARM Papaloapan (A-411) in the fall of 2001

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Newport was the lead ship of a twenty ship class of tank landing ships which replaced the traditional bow door design LST. Two derrick arms support a thirty-ton, 112-foot bow ramp for the unloading of tanks and other vehicles ashore, additionally, amphibious vehicles can be launched from the tank deck via the ship's stern gate and the ship's flight deck can accommodate most Navy helicopter types.

Specifications:
Displacement 5,190 t.(lt), 8,550 t.(fl)
Length 522' 3" (ovl)
Beam 69' 9 1/2" (max)
Draft max forward (fl) 13' 6", max aft (fl) 16' 3" 15'
Speed 27 kts. max.

Complement

14 Officers

15 CPO

226 Other Enlisted

Troop Accommodations

18 Officers

21 SNCO

268 Other Enlisted

Boats

three 36' LCVPs

one 36' LCPL

Aircraft

flight deck one spot

Armament

As Built

two twin 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts

Upgraded

two 25mm chain guns

six .50 cal machine guns

one 20mm Phalanx (CIWS)

Propulsion

six 16 cylinder Electro Motive Engines (EMD 645 E-5) diesel engines

two shafts, three engines per shaft, shaft horsepower 15,000

two controllable reversible pitch propellers, twin rudders

three EMD 12 Cylinder 645 E-2 Generator sets, 1200 KW

one 800 hp variable thrust bowthruster

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Newport (LST-1179)
	88k	Artist sketch of *USS Newport* (LST-1179)**. Photo from "All Hands" magazine, November 1969.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
	224k	Joint Launching and Christening, of Newport (LST-1179), and New Orleans (LPH-11), 3 February 1968, at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Newport (LST-1179) is in the foreground. US Navy photos	Ron Reeves Dale Hargrave
	335k		Ron Reeves Dale Hargrave
	159k	Newport (LST-1179) dry docked at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in 1968 prior to commissioning. US Navy photo.	Robert Hurst
	186k	Newport (LST-1179) fitting out at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, PA., after launching, in 1969. US Navy photo.	Robert Hurst
	218k	Newport (LST-1179) prior to commissioning at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, early June 1969. US Navy photos.	Ron Reeves
	267k
	122k
	122k
	120k
	162k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** moored at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, 7 June 1969, the day she was commissioned. AP Wirephoto.	Tommy Trampp
1016117951	70k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** at sea, date and location unknown. Warsearchers.com	Tommy Trampp
1016117954	122k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** moored at Naval Station Newport, R.I., 1970. U.S. Navy photo from the USS Newport (LST-1179) 1969-1970 cruise book	Robert Hurst
1016117958	199k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** underway at Naval Station Newport, R.I., 1970	Robert Hurst
	116k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** beached while a tank backs up towards the ship's bow ramp, date and location unknown. Photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1970.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
	144k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** beached while a tank comes down the ship's bow ramp, date and location unknown. Photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1970.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
	167k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** beached as a truck tests traction on the bow ramp, date and location unknown. Photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1970.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
	123k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** at anchor, date and location unknown. Photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1970.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
	92k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** prepares to test her ability to marry up to a causeway, date and location unknown. Photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1970.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
	130k	A Marine LVT prepares to enter *USS Newport* (LST-1179)** via her stern gate, date and location unknown. Photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1970.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
	236k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** off loading trucks, date and location unknown.. Photo from "All Hands" magazine, May 1972.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
1016117955 Component # 925-9198	173k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179) moored at Amsterdam, Netherlands. Newport** was part of an American Fleet visit, 29 September 1972. Photo by W. Punt for Fotocollectie Anefo. access # 2.24.01.05. Component numbers: 925-9189 and 925-9186. These images are from the Nationaal Archief the Dutch National Archives, donated in the context of a partnership program.	Robert Hurst
1016117956 Component # 925-9186	183k		Robert Hurst
	46k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179) under way as seen from USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7)**, date and location unknown.	© Richard Leonhardt
	48k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** moored pierside at Barcelona, Spain, 11 November 1976, (unfortunately partially hidden by the merchantman alongside). Note the pontoon causeway secured aft. The clearly visible opening in the superstructure permitted vehicles to shift between the tank deck (forward) and the helicopter deck (aft).	Photo by Fabio Peña
	92k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** under way, date and location unknown.. Photo from "All Hands" magazine, November 1978.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
	67k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179) and USS Spartanburg County (LST-1192)** moored at Marseille, France, date unknown.	Photo by Philippe Gonzales
	1422k	A U.S. Marine truck is unloaded from *USS Newport* (LST-1179)** during Valiant Blitz, 1 January 1981. Valiant Blitz is the amphibious assault landing phase of exercise Team Spirit '82. Defense Imagery photo # DN-ST-82-05309 (1 January 1982), a US Navy photo by PH1 Felimon Barbante now in the collections of Defense Imagery.mil	Robert M. Cieri
1016117957	205k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** outboud to sea from Naval Station Rota, Spain, 13 February 1982, after a port visit. U.S. National Archives and Recoreds Administraiton at College Park National Archives Identifier: 6349676	Robert Hurst
	132k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** under way, date and location unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	56k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** beached while lowering her bow ramp during landing exercises, date and location unknown.	Robert Hurst
	65k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** underway, date and location unknown.	Robert Hurst
1016117953	219k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179) off Onslow Beach, Camp Lejeune, N.C., 1 June 1985, during Exercise Solid Shield '85. To the left is the Utility Landing Craft LCU 1664**. USMC photo by SGT T.K. Burch, National Archives at College Park - Still Pictures donation to the Digital Public Library of America, DPLA identifier: 87848d107b7a6aba76be9186bee113e8 National Archives Identifier: 6403481.	Robert Hurst
	206k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** underway, February 1987 with Amphibious Squadron Four (PhibRon 4) and Marine Amphibious Ready Group (MARG 2-87), *26th MAU* embarked off the coast of Spain. Note: Floating causeway sections used to transport equipment from ship to shore secured to *Newport*'s aft quarter.	photo by Tom LaLumiere ex SGT USMC
	172k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** underway, February 1987 with Amphibious Squadron Four (PhibRon 4) and Marine Amphibious Ready Group (MARG 2-87), *26th MAU* embarked off the coast of Spain.	Photo by Tom LaLumiere ex SGT USMC
	89k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** underway in the Gulf of Teulada, Sardinia, March 1987 during Exercise Sardinia-87	Photo by Ignacio Lopez ex member Aramada Espanola
	301k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** moored at Rapallo (Genoa), Italy, 8 March 1987	Photos by Carlo Martinelli
	300k		Photos by Carlo Martinelli
	70k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179) under way in the Mediterranean Sea in 1989. Photo taken from USS Spartanburg County (LST-1192)**.	Photo by Ward Creech SK2 USN USS Spartanburg County 1988-91
	85k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** under way, date and location unknown..	Robert Hurst
	37k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** at anchor, date and location unknown. From Veramar Arts Canvas Print.	Tommy Trampp
	271k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** at anchor, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	Tommy Trampp
1016117952	449k	*USS Newport* (LST-1179)** underway off Norfolk, VA., date unknown. ©Nobe Smith	Nicholas Tiberio
1016119017	188k	Ex-*USS Newport* (LST-1179) Ex-USS Manitowoc (LST-1180) Ex-USS Sumter (LST-1181) Ex-USS Boulder (LST-1190) and Ex-USS El Paso (LKA-117), Ex-USS Charleston (LKA-113)*, laid up in reserve in the Norfolk Naval Ship, 8 October 1994. U.S. DefenseImagery photo # DN-SC-95-01401* a U.S. Navy photo by Don S. Montgomery	Robert Hurst
ARM Papaloapan (A-411)
	1580k	Ex-*USS Newport* (LST-1179 in the Republic of Mexico Naval service as ARM Papaloapan (A-411)** getting underway, date and location unknown.	Jose Castro
	61k	*ARM Papaloapan* (A-411)** under way, date and location unknown.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	2861k	*ARM Papaloapan* (A-411)** moored pierside, date and location unknown.	Jose Castro
	3290k	*ARM Papaloapan* (A-411)** moored pierside, date and location unknown.	Jose Castro
	106k	*ARM Papaloapan* (A-411)** at anchor off the coast of Mississippi preparing to assist with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts along the Gulf Coast, 9 September 2005. US Navy photo # 050909-N-8154G-18 PHAN Jeremy L. Grisham.	Robert Hurst
	2955k	*ARM Papaloapan* (A-411)** under way in harbor with assistance of a tug, date and location unknown.	Jose Castro
	1420k	*ARM Papaloapan* (A-411)** getting under way in January 2010 to assist with relief and humanitarian efforts for Operation Unified Response after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti Jan. 12, 2010.	Jose Castro
	299k	*ARM Papaloapan* (A-411)** moored pierside at JEB Little Creek, VA., 7 October 2019, for a routine visit.	Photos by Dan Woodall
	209k		Photos by Dan Woodall

For more photos and information about USS Newport see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
USS Newport Memorabilia
Initial Cruise 1969-70
The USS LST Ship Memorial
LST Homeport
State LST Chapters
United States LST Association

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. Lamb, Derwin Taylor	7 June 1969 - 8 September 1970
02	CDR. Saubers, Walter Frank	8 September 1970 - 12 January 1972
03	CDR. White, Ervin Eugene	12 January 1972 - 27 July 1973
04	CDR. Starrin, Roy Edward	27 July 1973 - 16 June 1975
05	CDR. Delpercio Jr., Michael N.	16 June 1975 - 27 July 1977
06	CDR. Fred, Robert Henry	27 July 1977 - 25 August 1979
07	CDR. Naldrett Sr., William John, USN	25 August 1979 - 16 October 1981
08	CDR. Maxwell, James Allen	16 October 1981 - 17 January 1982
09	CDR. Johnson, Robert Cecil, USN (Photo as CAPT.)	17 January 1982 - 11 February 1982
10	CDR. Howick, James Francis	11 February 1982 - 28 January 1983
11	CDR. Heidt, John Harry	28 January 1983 - 22 February 1983
12	CDR. Howick, James Francis	22 February1983 - 18 June 1984
13	CDR. Petruska III, Andrew Michael	18 June 1984 - 31 July 1986
14	CDR. Graner, William Ross	31 July 1986 - 1 October 1988
15	CDR. Kok, Timothy Alan, USN (USNA 1970)	1 October 1988 - 7 February1991
16	CDR. Ungvarski, William Joseph, USN (USNA 1973)	7 February 1991 - 30 September 1992


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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Last Updated 23 February 2024