USS Coconino County

USS Coconino County (LST-603), originally USS LST-603, was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II and in commission from 1944 to 1955 and from 1966 to 1969. Named after Coconino County, Arizona, she was the only U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name.

History
United States
Name	USS LST-603
Builder	Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, Seneca, Illinois
Laid down	5 November 1943
Launched	14 March 1944
Commissioned	5 April 1944
Decommissioned	12 May 1955
Recommissioned	8 June 1966
Decommissioned	1969
Renamed	USS Coconino County (LST-603), 1 July 1955
Honors and awards	1 battle star (World War II) 6 campaign stars and 2 Meritorious Unit Commendations (Vietnam)
Fate	Transferred to South Vietnam, 4 April 1969
South Vietnam
Name	RVNS Vung Tau (HQ-503)
Acquired	4 April 1969
Fate	Unknown
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Acquired	30 April 1975
Identification	Hull symbol: HQ-503
Fate	Active in service as of 2003
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement	1,780 long tons (1,809 t) light 3,640 long tons (3,698 t) full
Length	328 ft (100 m)
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Unloaded : 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) aft
Propulsion	2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 LCVPs
Troops	approx. 140 officers and enlisted
Complement	8–10 officers, 100–115 enlisted sailors
Armament	1 × single 3-inch/50-caliber gun mount 8 × 40 mm guns 12 × 20 mm guns

LST 603 featured in a WW2 movie the LST story produced by the coast guard.

Construction and commission

LST-603 was laid down on 5 November 1943 at Seneca, Illinois, by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company. Her Ship naming and launching was on 14 March 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Etla N. Hobart, and commissioned on 5 April 1944.

First period in commission, 1944–1955

During World War II, LST-603 was assigned to the European Theater of Operations. She participated in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France, in August and September 1944.

Following the war, she served in the Amphibious Force, United States Atlantic Fleet, including one deployment to the Mediterranean in 1950. She was decommissioned on 12 May 1955. On 1 July 1955, while out of commission, she was renamed USS Coconino County (LST-603).

Second period in commission, 1966–1969

Coconino County was recommissioned on 8 June 1966 for Vietnam War service, and operated in the Vietnam theater from 1966 until she was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam Navy on 4 April 1969.

South Vietnamese service

In South Vietnamese service, she served as RVNS "Vung Tau" (HQ-503). South Vietnam collapsed in April 1975, where she was taken over by the Vietnam People's Navy and continues to be used as a training vessel.

Capture by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam

Captured by the North Vietnamese around the time of the fall of Saigon, the ship was placed in service with the Vietnamese People's Navy

Awards and honors

LST-603 received one battle star for World War II service, and Coconino County received six campaign stars and two awards of the Meritorious Unit Commendation for Vietnam War service.

See also

• List of United States Navy LSTs

References

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

• "LST-603". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 29 May 2007.
• "LST-603 Coconino County". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 29 May 2007.