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| USN LST-542 Class Tank Landing Ship 1,625 Tons (light) 4,080 Tons (full) 328' x 50' x 2' 4" 1 x 3"/50 deck gun 8 x 40mm AA guns 12 x 20mm guns  USN October 18, 1966  USN September 1969  Google Earth December 30, 2016 |
Ship History Built by Mission Valley Bridge and Iron Company in Evansville, IN. Laid down September 19, 1944 as LST-542 Class Tank Landing Ship. Launched October 27, 1944 as USS LST-1110 sponsored by sponsored by Mrs. Hugh Robertson. Commissioned November 22, 1944 in the U.S. Navy (USN) at New Orleans with Lt. Carl J. Rudine, USNR in command. On December 2, 1944 departs for a 13 day shakedown cruise off St. Andrew Bay, Florida then returns to New Orleans. On December 16, 1944 damaged to a 40mm gun tub when USS Griggs (APA-110) accidentally collided then proceeds to Pendleton shipyards. On December 26, 1944 fueled at Avendale and the next day loads ammunition then departs bound for the Panama Canal and two days later is joined by LST 822 and LST 835. Wartime History Assigned to LST Flotilla 23, LST Group 67, LST Division 134. In late January 1945 embarked DUKWs on the tank deck and LCT 1377 on the main deck and USN passengers including 37 sailors and 5 officers then departs San Francisco bound for Pearl Harbor as part of Task Unit 06.12.6 convoy with USS LST 835 and USS Terebinth (AN-59) . On February 7, 1945 enters Pearl Harbor berth Tare 6 and disembarks the passengers. Loaded with a cargo of DUKWs and three LCTs on tank deck plus three LCVPs and one LCM with spare parts on the main deck. On February 23, 1945 departs Pearl Harbor as part of Task Unit 13.11.5 with LST 835 and LST 821 bound for Eniwetok Atoll. On March 7, 1945 anchors at Eniwetok Atoll anchorage Able, berth R7. On March 13, 1945 departs Eniwetok Atoll bound for Guam as part of Task Unit 96.3.14, convoy Eniwetok-Guam #67. On March 18, 1945 enters Apra Harbor berth 2 and two days later beached at North Pier to deliver the cargo of DUKWs and loads ammunition. The next day moored at berth C-3. On March 29, 1945 tank deck loaded with cargo for U.S. Army 460th Signal Heavy Construction Battalion, 1st echelon and 2nd echelon then beached for loading military cargo. On July 13, 1945 departs Iwo Jima with LST-775 escorted by USS Lamson (DD-367) bound for Saipan. On July 22, 1945 departs Saipan as part of convoy SOK 23 bound for Okinawa. On July 28, 1945 anchors in Chimu Bay in berth 83. On August 1, 1945 put to sea to ride out a typhoon and returns two days later. On August 4, 1945 unloads cargo and loads freshwater, delayed for several days due to rough seas and bad weather. On August 8, 1945 moves to the entrance of Nakagusuku Bay (Buckner Bay) then joins Convoy OKS #19 bound for Saipan and arrives six days later. Postwar On September 3, 1945 departs with Convoy #17 bound for Leyte arriving six days later. On September 11, 1945 departs bound for San Fernando with three other LSTs and arrives four days later. The same day beached at San Fabian to load equipment and personnel from U.S. Army 436th Signal Heavy Construction Battalion for two days. On September 17, 1945 departs as part of a convoy of Task Unit 54.25.2 bound for Wakayama in Japan. Assigned to the Far East occupation service. Her first tour was between September 20, 1945–October 5, 1945. Her second tour was between October 20, 1945–November 9, 1945. Her third tour was between November 18, 1945–December 6, 1945. On December 11, 1945 departs for the United States. Decommissioned and placed into reserve status on July 8, 1946 at Vancouver, WA then laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group. On July 1, 1955 renamed USS Harnett County (LST-821) named for Harnett County, North Carolina. On August 20, 1966 recommissioned at Mare Navy Yard with Lt. J. P. W. Decker in command and modified to serve as a floating base for UH-1B Seawolf gunships with a helicopter landing pad, patrol boat (PBR) mooring facilities and modern communication systems. On October 18, 1966 after the conversion photographed in the new configuration off San Diego. On January 12, 1967 redesignated as Patrol Craft Tender 821 (AGP-821). During the Vietnam War, assigned to the Mobile Riverine Force and was anchored in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam as a floating base for helicopter gunships and patrol boats. On October 12, 1970 decommissioned in Guam then transfered to Republic of Vietnam Navy and renamed RVNS My Tho (HQ-800) under the Security Assistance Program. Afterwards, returned to Vietnam and continued to serve as part of the Mobile Riverine Force until April 1975. During the fall of Saigon, loaded with refugees and joined a flotilla bound for the Philippines were the refugees were disembarked at Subic Bay. In exchange for accepting the refugees, the ships in the flotilla were transfered to the Philippines but remained moored in Subic Bay for nearly a year before transfered. On April 5, 1976 acquired by the Philippine Navy (Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas) as BRP Dumagat (AL-57) named for Dumagat on Panay. Shortly afterwards, renamed to BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) after the the Sierra Madre Range on Luzon and used as an amphibious transport. During 1999, BRP Sierra Madre was intentionally run aground at the northwest corner of the Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin) in the South China Sea to maintain the Philippines territorial claim of the shoal. Since then, a detachment of Marines have been continuously stationed aboard to defend the ship. The Chinese coast guard frequently patrols the area and attempts to prevent the resupply of these Filipino marines. Awards LST-821 earned one battle start for her World War II service. USS Harnett County earned eleven campaign stars, two Presidential Unit Citations, and three Navy Unit Commendations for Vietnam War service. References NARA USS LST 821 War Diary November 1944 pages 1-4 NARA USS LST 821 War Diary February 1945 pages 1-4 NARA USS LST 821 War Diary March 1945 pages 1-6 NARA USS LST 821 War Diary April 1945 NARA USS LST 821 War Diary May 1945 NARA USS LST 821 War Diary June 1945 NARA USS LST 821 War Diary July 1945 NARA USS LST 821 War Diary August 1945 NARA USS LST 821 War Diary September 1945 NARA USS LST 821 War Diary October 1945 Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - LST-821 Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - United States Pacific Fleet Organization 1 May 1945 (LST 821) Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Harnett County Navy Source - LST-1110 Navy Historical Center - USS San Bernardino County (LST-1110), 1945-1958 New York Times "A Game of Shark and Minnow" by Jeff Himmelman October 27, 2013 AP "Old US ship home to Filipinos in China standoff" March 31, 2014 USNI "The Measure of the Sierra Madre" by Jon Hoppe February 2022 The Economist "A rotting warship becomes a flashpoint for Sino-American rivalry" August 10, 2023 Contribute
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