USS Monmouth County

	USS Monmouth County (LST-1032) beached at Vung Tau, South Vietnam, c.1968
History
United States
Name	USS LST-1032
Builder	Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts
Laid down	9 June 1944
Launched	9 July 1944
Commissioned	1 August 1944
Decommissioned	14 October 1955
Renamed	USS Monmouth County (LST-1032), 1 July 1955
Recommissioned	28 May 1963
Decommissioned	12 August 1970
Stricken	12 August 1970
Honors and; awards	4 battle stars (World War II)
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 11 September 1971
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement	1,625 long tons (1,651 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	8-10 officers, 89-100 enlisted men
Complement	Approximately 130 officers and enlisted men
Armament	8 × 40 mm guns*12 × 20 mm guns

USS Monmouth County (LST-1032) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after Monmouth County, New Jersey, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

Originally laid down as LST-1032 on 9 June 1944 by the Boston Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts; the ship was launched on 9 July 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Jennie M. Kneeland, and commissioned on 1 August 1944.

Service history

World War II, 1944–1945

Following shakedown, LST-1032 departed New York on 8 September 1944 for the west coast, arriving at San Diego on 4 October. Continuing on to Hawaii, she embarked troops there and sailed on 23 January 1945 to take part in the assault on Iwo Jima. While debarking Marines there, on 20 February, an enemy shell struck her bow, killing one marine and wounding nine. Despite this, rough seas, and stiff Japanese opposition, she completed debarking her troops and supplies on the 22nd, and proceeded to Saipan.

She next sailed from Saipan to take part in the Okinawa invasion, arriving off that island on 1 April. Discharging her cargo and men, she departed for Saipan, returning to Okinawa on 30 May with more supplies. LST-1032 then steamed to the Philippines, arriving San Pedro Bay on 15 June. Until Japan's surrender, she ferried troops and munitions among the Philippines, with two additional runs to Okinawa. She carried occupation troops to the Japanese home islands until 19 November, when she sailed for the United States, arriving San Francisco on 30 December.

Atlantic Fleet, 1946–1955

Sailing to the east coast, LST-1032 anchored off Little Creek, Virginia on 15 April 1946 and joined the Amphibious Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, with which she operated for the next nine years. She joined expeditions to Greenland in 1951 and 1952, and took part in training exercises in the Caribbean. LST-1032 was named USS Monmouth County (LST-1032) on 1 July 1955. The ship was decommissioned on 14 October 1955, and berthed in the Florida Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet until August 1961 when she transferred to the Philadelphia Group.

Vietnam, 1963–1970

Monmouth County recommissioned on 28 May 1963 as a unit of Reserve LST Squadron 2, based at Little Creek. She was placed into full commission on 21 December 1965, participating in the occupation of the Dominican Republic.

In 1966 Monmouth County sailed for South Vietnam. Assigned to the Service Force, Pacific Fleet, she operated between the Demilitarized Zone and the Mekong Delta, carrying foodstuffs, ammunition, and construction equipment. Following a visit to the Republic of China in February 1967 she returned to Vietnamese waters for three additional tours between 1968 and March 1970.

Decommissioning and sale

Decommissioned at Vallejo, California and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 12 August 1970, ex-Monmouth County was sold for scrapping to Zidell Explorations, Inc. of Portland, Oregon on 11 September 1971.

Awards

LST-1032 received either two (Navsource) or four (DANFS) battle stars for World War II service. USS Monmouth County earned 11 Campaign Stars for Vietnam service.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
Photo gallery of Monmouth County at NavSource Naval History