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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Left patch contributed by Mike Smolinski, right patch by Tommy Trampp

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Saginaw (LST-1188)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from left to right Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation (2)
Second Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Expeditionary Medal (2-Lebanon) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Third Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (4-Lebanon) - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Humanitarian Service Medal (1-Beirut Evacuation, 1-Cuban Resettlement)

USS Saginaw (LST-1188) was transferred to Australia and renamed HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51)
LST-1179 Newport Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 24 May 1969, at National Steel and Shipbuilding Corp, San Diego, CA. Launched, 7 February 1970
  • Commissioned USS Saginaw (LST-1188), 23 January 1971, CDR. G. P. Brown in command
  • Decommissioned and Struck from the Naval Register, 24 August 1994
  • Sold to Australia, 27 September 1994, under the Security Assistance Program
  • Rebuilt as an Amphibious Landing Platform (LPA), renamed Kanimbla
  • HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) entered Royal Australian Naval service in early 2000
  • Decommissioned by the Royal Australian Navy, 24 November 2011
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, date unknown, scrapped at New Orleans, LA. in 2014
    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 ALCO 16-251E main propulsion diesel engines
    two shafts, three engines per shaft, shaft horsepower 15,000
    two controllable reversible pitch propellers, twin rudders
    three ALCO 251-C, 8 cylinder generator sets, 750KW
    one 800 hp variable thrust bowthruster

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Saginaw (LST-1188)
    Saginaw 66k USS Saginaw (LST-1188) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, November 1971.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Saginaw 409k USS Saginaw (LST-1188) entering the port of Genoa, Italy, 2 August 1972. Photo by Carlo Martinelli
    Saginaw 145k USS Saginaw (LST-1188) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, June 1973.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Saginaw 151k USS Saginaw (LST-1188) off loading a tank from her bow ramp, date and location unknown..
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, June 1973.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Saginaw 80k USS Saginaw (LST-1188) at anchor while conducting amphibious operations, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, June 1973.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Saginaw 37k USS Saginaw (LST-1188) underway, circa 1977 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    Saginaw 72k USS Saginaw (LST-1188) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr.
    Saginaw 381k USS Saginaw (LST-1188) and an unidentified Newport class LST in Philippine waters during her 1977 WestPac tour.
    Photo by Dave Seigar.    		 Derick S. Hartshorn
    Saginaw
    1016118832    		 318k USS Saginaw (LST-1188) underway off Norfolk, VA., date unknown.
    ©Nobe Smith    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Saginaw 87k USS Saginaw (LST-1188) off loading Marines and equipment at Beirut Lebanon, 1982 James D. Case
    Saginaw 113k USS Saginaw (LST-1188) off loading Marines and equipment at Beirut Lebanon, 1982 James D. Case
    Saginaw
    1016118833    		 202k USS Saginaw (LST-1188) underway, in the Mediterranean Sea, 24 June 1982. Saginaw, part of Task Group 6, was taking part in the transfer of U.S. and third nation personnel from Juniyah, Lebanon, to Larnaca, Cyprus.
    U.S. DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DN-SN-82-08218, a U.S Navy photo now in the collections of DefenseImagery.    		 Robert Hurst
    Saginaw 53k USS Saginaw (LST-1188) underway on to Potomac River after an open house at the Government Services Administration pier, Alexandria, VA., 5 April 1987.
    Defense Imagery photo # DN-ST-87-05477 a US Navy by Don S. Montgomery, now in the collections of Defense Imagery    		 Robert Hurst
    Saginaw
    1016118834    		 181k USS Saginaw (LST-1188) underway near Fort Story, VA., 11 December 1987.
    U.S. DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DM-ST-88-07889, a U.S Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Vincent E. Aldridge now in the collections of DefenseImagery.    		 Robert Hurst
    Saginaw and Fairfax County 66k USS Saginaw (LST-1188) and USS Fairfax County (LST-1193) moored pierside at NAB Little Creek VA., September 1994, prior to transfer to the Australia. US Navy Photo
    Saginaw 138k USS Saginaw (LST-1188) Master At Arms Badge. Robert M. Cieri
    HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51)
    Saginaw 10k HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) ship's crest. Orlando Gallardo, Jr.
    Saginaw 48k Ex-USS Saginaw (LST-1188) in Australian service as HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) coming alongside a replenishment ship, during Operation "Ocean Protector," February 2001. Note: the "Romeo" flag flying from her port yardarm. Australian Navy web site
    Saginaw 166k Three US Navy F/A-18s fly over HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Saginaw
    1016118810
    		 66k HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) leaving Port Jackson (Sydney Harbor) Australia for Operation Falconer, the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Photos by Benedict Spearritt. Robert Hurst
    Saginaw
    1016118836    		 121k
    Saginaw 416k HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) at her moorings at Darwin, Australia in July 2006.
    Photo by Stephen Barnett.    		 Robert Hurst
    Saginaw 44k HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) sailors work to hoist an landing craft (LCM8) back onto the ship following ship-to-shore operations for exercise Talisman Sabre 2007 in Shoalwater Bay, Australia, 22 June 2007.
    US Navy photo #070622-N-4124C-008 by MC2 Adam R. Cole.    		 Robert Hurst
    Saginaw
    1016118837    		 130k Sailors from HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) preparing to board a suspicious merchant vessel during boarding drills, in Shoalwater Bay, central Queensland, Aus., 23 June 2007.
    US Navy photo by MC2 Adam R. Cole.    		 Robert Hurst
    Saginaw
    1016118830    		 326k HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) performing a ceremonial fleet entry into Sydney Harbour. The ocean-side cliffs of South Head are in the background.
    Taken, 13 March 2009, by Saberwyn (real name unknown) and Benedict Spearritt    		 Robert Hurst
    Saginaw 391k HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) approaching Garden Island in Sydney Harbor with a tug alongside, 13 March 2009. Photo by Glenn Towler
    Saginaw 274k HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) and HMAS Farncomb (SSG-74) anchored in Sydney Harbor following a ceremonial fleet entry in March 2009. Robert Hurst
    Saginaw 203k Left to right; HMAS Success (OR-304), HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) and HMAS Manoora (LPA-52) [ex-USS Fairfax County (LST-1193)] in Sydney Harbour alongside at Garden Island, 22 January 2010.
    Photo by Nick-D    		 Robert Hurst
    Saginaw
    1016118835    		 139k Bow view of HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) tied up at the Garden Island Naval Base in Sydney Harbour, 10 April 2010.
    Photo by Saberwyn (real name unknown)    		 Robert Hurst
    Saginaw 1009k The amphibious landing platform HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) arrives at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to participate in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 exercise, a biennial, multinational exercise designed to strengthen regional partnerships and improve interoperability.
    US Navy photo # 100628-O-8247S-075 PEARL HARBOR (June 28, 2010), a Royal Australian Navy photo by ABIS Dove Smithett.    		 Robert Hurst
    Saginaw 966k The amphibious landing platform HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) moors alongside the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to participate in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 exercise.
    US Navy photo # 100628-O-8247S-008 PEARL HARBOR (June 28, 2010), a Royal Australian Navy photo by ABIS Dove Smithett.    		 Robert Hurst
    Guadalupe 420k USNS Guadalupe (T-AO-200) refuels the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) left, and the Royal Australian Navy amphibious ship HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51), right during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 exercises. RIMPAC is a biennial, multinational exercise designed to strengthen regional partnerships and improve multinational interoperability
    US Navy photo # 100713-N-7058E-449 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 13, 2010) by LT. Ed Early.    		 Robert Hurst
    Saginaw 375k A Royal Australian Navy Sea King helicopter lands on the aft flight deck of the Royal Australian Navy amphibious ship HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51), 13 July, 2010 during the at-sea phase of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 exercises.
    US Navy photo #100713-N-7058E-050 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 13, 2010) by LT. Ed Early.    		 Robert Hurst
    Saginaw 170k HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) returns to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after participating in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 exercises.
    US Navy photo #100730-N-6854D-103 PEARL HARBOR (July 30, 2010) by MC2 Jon Dasbach.    		 Robert Hurst
    Saginaw 124k Ex-HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) [ex-USS Saginaw (LST-1188)] and ex-ex-HMAS Manoora (LPA-52) [ex-USS Fairfax County (LST-1193)] while in tow at Gulfport MS. en-route to the breakers yard at New Orleans in October 2013.
    Photo by CAPT. Spider Favre.    		 Ron Reeves
    Saginaw 248k Ex-HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) being broken up for scrap at New Orleans, 6 February 2014. Orlando Gallardo, Jr.
    Saginaw 264k
    Saginaw 398k

    For more photos and information about USS Saginaw, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
  • USS Saginaw (LST 1188)
  • The USS LST Ship Memorial
  • LST Home Port
  • State LST Chapters
  • United States LST Association
  • Change of Command Program, 16 August 1990
    • Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Brown, George Pirme23 January 1971 - 31 August 1972
    02CDR. Moore, David Winston31 August 1972 - 1 February 1974
    03CDR. McLaughlin, Bruce Campbell1 February 1974 - 28 May 1976
    04CDR. Harris, Richard Adams, USN (USNA 1953) 28 May 1976 - 19 June 1978
    05CDR. Brierley, Roc Michael19 June 1978 - 3 May 1980
    06CDR. McGuire, Thomas Patrick3 May 1980 - 15 May 1982
    07CDR. Johnson Sr., Kenneth Humphrey15 May 1982 - 19 September 1984
    08CDR. Fagan, Patrick Michael19 September 1984 - 19 September1986
    09CDR. Bugarin Jr., Temotio Espina19 September 1986 - 14 December 1988
    10CDR. Howard, John Finley14 December 1988 - 16 August 1990
    11CDR. Kessler Jr., Paul Kenderson16 August 1990 - 7 July 1992
    12CDR. Luck, Charles William7 July 1992 - 28 June 1994
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Tank Landing Ship (LST) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 25 August 2023

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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