USS Coconino County: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Tank landing ship of the US Navy}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}

{{Infobox ship career

|Ship country=United States

{{Infobox ship career

|Ship honors=*1 [[battle star]] (World War II)

*6 [[campaign star]]s and 2 [[Meritorious Unit Commendation]]s (Vietnam)

{{Infobox ship career

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|Ship country=South Vietnam

|Ship motto=

|Ship notes=

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{{Infobox ship career

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|Ship country= Socialist Republic of Vietnam

|Ship flag= {{flagicon|VNM|naval}}

|Ship name=

|Ship namesake=

|Ship acquired= 30 April 1975

|Ship commissioned=

|Ship decommissioned=

|Ship in service=

|Ship out of service=

|Ship renamed=

|Ship reclassified=

|Ship struck=

|Ship reinstated=

|Ship homeport=

|Ship motto=

|Ship identification=Hull symbol: HQ-503

|Ship nickname=

|Ship honors=

|Ship fate= Active in service as of 2003

|Ship displacement=*{{convert|1780|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} light

*{{convert|3640|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} full

|Ship draft=*''Unloaded'' :

*{{convert|2|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}} forward

*{{convert|7|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} aft

*''Loaded'' :

*{{convert|8|ft|2|in|m|abbr=on}} forward

*{{convert|14|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on}} aft

|Ship boats=2 [[LCVP (United States)|LCVP]]s

|Ship complement=8–10 officers, 100–115 enlisted sailors

|Ship armament=*1 × single [[3-inch/50-caliber gun]] mount

*8 × [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40 mm guns]]

*12 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm]] guns

'''USS ''Coconino County'' (LST-603)''', originally '''USS ''LST-603''''', was a [[United States Navy]] {{sclass|LST-542|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.

LST 603 featured in a WW2 movie the LST story produced by the coast guard.<ref>{{Citation |title=LST STORY - Landing Ship Tanks 8023a |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTSqhCdgwrI |access-date=2023-10-18 |language=en}}</ref>

''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 [[Ship commissioning|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 [[Ship commissioning|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==

In [[South Vietnam]]ese 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 Vietnam]]ese around the time of the [[fall of Saigon]], the ship was placed in service with the [[Vietnam People's Navy|Vietnamese People's Navy]]

''LST-603'' received one [[battle star]] for World War II service, and ''Coconino County'' received six [[campaign star]]s and two awards of the [[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] for Vietnam War service.{{-}}

{{Reflist}}

* {{cite web|title=''LST-603''|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l21/lst-603.htm|access-date=29 May 2007}}

|url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160603.htm|access-date=29 May 2007}}

{{LST-542 class tank landing ship|600|state=collapsed}}

{{MARCOM ships Prairie Shipyard, Seneca Illinois}}

[[Category:Ships built in Seneca, Illinois]]