History

"From the "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships," 
(1981) Vol. 8, pp.84-86

WALWORTH COUNTY LST 1164

Named for counties in South Dakota and Wisconsin.
LST-1164
Displacement:  2,590 t.
Length:  384'
Beam:  56’
Draft:  17’
Speed:  14 k.
Complement:  160
Troop Capacity:  376
Armament:  6 3”
Class:  LST-1156

Click on the year you were aboard and begin your voyage!

If you have any recollections to add please 
Email Harry Draper.

	LST-1164 was laid down on 22 September 1952 at 
Pascagoula, Miss., by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp.; 
launched on 15 May 1953; sponsored by Mrs. John A. Furr; and 
commissioned on 26 October 1953, Lt. F. Kay in command.

	The new tank landing ship departed Pascagoula on 
20 November 1953, bound for Norfolk, Va.  She conducted 
shakedown in the Chesapeake Bay and became a unit of LST 
Division 23.  The ship arrived at her home port of Little 
Creek, Va., on 3 December 1953.  On 6 April 1954, LST-1164 
departed the amphibious base for a brief stop at the Naval 
Reserve training center at Jacksonville, Fla.  On 19 April, 
the ship took part in simulated atomic warfare strikes and 
returned to Little Creek on 25 May 1954. Recollection

	She spent June participating in amphibious exercises at 
Vieques Island, Puerto Rico.  LST-1164 returned to Little 
Creek on 11 July for voyage repairs in the Norfolk Naval 
Shipyard and towing exercises off Little Creek beach.

	From 3 November 1954 through 24 March 1955, the ship 
participated in various exercises with the Marine Corps and 
the Army in the areas of Camp Pendleton, Va.; Onslow Beach, 
N.C.; and Vieques Island, Puerto Rico.

	On 30 March, the LST entered the Philadelphia Naval 
Shipyard for a four-month overhaul.  During that period, she 
was named WALWORTH COUNTY on 1 July 1955.  She returned to 
Little Creek on 5 August and conducted exercises in the 
Chesapeake Bay.  The ship put to sea on 21 September for 
atomic attack drills along the eastern seaboard; gunnery 
practice in operating areas out of Jacksonville, Fla.; and 
assault beaching runs with men of the 3d Marines and their 
vehicles and combat equipment on the coast of North 
Carolina.  WALWORTH COUNTY returned to Little Creek on 
8 November 1955 and spent the following months in local 
waters with trips to Guantanamo and the Caribbean.Recollection

	WALWORTH COUNTY left Norfolk with a load of ammunition 
on 7 May 1956 and, two weeks later, arrived at the United 
States naval base at Port Lyautey, French Morocco.  Two days 
later, she sailed for Greece and arrived at Piraeus on 
30 May for operations with an amphibious task force of the 
6th Fleet which took her to principal ports of the 
Mediterranean.  WALWORTH COUNTY returned home to Little 
Creek on 26 September and spent the remainder of the year in 
local operating areas.

	On 5 March 1957, the tank landing ship arrived at the 
Naval Base, Coco Solo, Canal Zone.  From there, she took 
survey parties to beaching sites in the Chagres River and 
other places in preparation for Operation "Caribex" which 
tested the mobility of American forces in defending the 
Panama Canal.  She returned to Little Creek from this cruise 
on 16 March and put to sea on 10 April to participate in a 
three-phase operation involving the Marine Corps, the Army, 
and the Air Force.  The exercise--conducted on Vieques 
Island, Fort Lorenzo, Canal Zone, and Rio Hata--terminated 
on 28 April 1957; and WALWORTH COUNTY underwent extended 
upkeep in the New York Naval Shipyard from 14 May through 
11 July.  She returned to Little Creek the following day and 
began local operations which lasted until 14 November 1957.  
At that time, WALWORTH COUNTY undertook exercises with 
amphibious warfare forces that included practice assaults 
with marines on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas, 
Virgin Islands.

	The ship returned to Little Creek on 25 March 1958 but 
a month later headed for Morehead City, N.C.  There, she 
loaded marines and combat cargo in preparation for an 
amphibious training operation to be held in the 
Mediterranean with forces of the United Kingdom and Italy.  
She transited the Strait of Gibraltar on 14 May and visited 
the ports of Izmir, Turkey; Athens, Greece; and Suda Bay, 
Crete.

	However, the operation was cancelled because of Middle 
East tensions, and WALWORTH COUNTY had the distinction of 
acting as a primary control ship in the initial landing of 
marines at Beirut, Lebanon, on 15 July.  Her operations in 
this area continued until 1 October when she departed Beirut 
and sailed for the United States.  She reached Morehead City 
on 19 October and became a unit of Amphibious Squadron 6.

	From 12 December 1958 to 24 February 1959, WALWORTH 
COUNTY underwent an overhaul in the Charleston Naval 
Shipyard.  The ship conducted local operations and visited 
Guantanamo before sailing for Spain.  She arrived at Rota on 
30 July and commenced her third Mediterranean tour which 
lasted until 9 February 1960.  She returned to Morehead City 
and spent the following months conducting practice landings 
at Onslow Beach, making cruises to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and 
to Bermuda, and completing another tour of duty in the 
Caribbean Sea that included amphibious warfare practice in 
the waters of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.	Recollection

	On 28 October 1960, WALWORTH COUNTY sailed from Little 
Creek with Amphibious Squadron 6 for a fourth Mediterranean 
deployment.  The ship gave effective support to assault 
practice with Marine battalion landing teams at Augusta Bay, 
Sicily; with Greek Raider Teams at Navplion, Greece; and 
with both Amphibious Squadrons 6 and 4 and two Marine 
battalion landing teams at Portoscuso, Sardinia.

	WALWORTH COUNTY returned to Little Creek on 19 May 1961 
and underwent overhaul in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard through 
September 1961.  She spent the remainder of the year in 
amphibious assault training on Onslow Beach and at Camp 
Pendleton where she took part in Army landing assault 
training.

	WALWORTH COUNTY departed Little Creek on 17 January 
1962, embarked marines at Morehead City, and headed for 
Guantanamo Bay to participate in Operation "Springboard 62."  
The ship made calls at several Caribbean ports and then 
disembarked the marines at Morehead City on 1 March.  Four 
days later, she returned to Norfolk where she was placed on 
restricted availability status until 15 May 1962.

	At that time, WALWORTH COUNTY embarked marines of 
"Foxtrot" Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/6 and, on 
1 June, proceeded to tour the entire length of the 
Mediterranean from Alicante, Spain, to Marmaris, Turkey, 
where she operated with combined Turkish and Greek forces.  
After extensive exercises, including seven amphibious 
training assaults on various beaches, she sailed for her 
home port and arrived at Norfolk on 20 October 1962.  The 
next day, she was called upon to participate in the Cuban 
blockade and operated in the Caribbean with the ready 
amphibious group until 4 December when she returned to the 
United States and debarked marines at Morehead City.  
WALWORTH COUNTY arrived at Norfolk the following day and 
spent the remainder of the year in leave and upkeep. Recollection

	During the early part of 1963, WALWORTH COUNTY 
conducted local operations in the Little Creek area.  After 
entering Gibbs Shipyard, Jacksonville, Fla., on 3 April, she 
completed her scheduled yard period and sea trials; then 
headed for Little Creek on 10 June.  The ship took part in 
amphibious refresher training through July and August, 
followed by a three-week period of restricted availability.  
During the remainder of 1963, she participated in local 
operations; visited Rockland, Maine, to obtain tactical data 
for the LST-1156 class; and underwent overhaul. Recollection

	In January 1964, WALWORTH COUNTY got underway for 
Panama where she spent more than four months, making 16 
transits of the canal--including one round trip which she 
completed in less than 23 hours.  Late in May, she returned 
to Little Creek and, after tender availability, took part in 
the "MEBLEX" and midshipman exercises.  Following this, she 
made a call to New York for the World's Fair and returned to 
Little Creek on 11 August.  While in port, WALWORTH COUNTY 
was used in the production of a Bureau of Medicine and 
Surgery mental health movie.  In late August, LST-1164 again 
got underway for a lift to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and 
returned--via Miami, Fla.--on 13 September 1964.

	WALWORTH COUNTY spent a short period in the yard before 
getting underway on 5 October for "Steel Pike I," the 
largest amphibious exercise since World War II.  Besides 
carrying out her role in the operation, she called at Rota, 
Spain, and the Canary Islands before returning home on 
28 November.  WALWORTH COUNTY spent the Christmas and New 
Year holidays undergoing tender availability.

	In early February 1965, LST-1164 sailed for Vieques and 
took liberty in the Virgin Islands and at San Juan and 
Ponce, Puerto Rico.  She arrived back at Little Creek on 
8 March and then participated in exercises to train Army 
personnel in amphibious warfare.  Following these training 
exercises, the ship conducted local operations and made 
preparations for an upcoming deployment. 

	Having completed all preparations, WALWORTH COUNTY got 
underway with Amphibious Squadron (PhibRon) 6 on 24 January 
1966.  She proceeded to Bermuda as an escort for 
minesweepers when the squadron was recalled.  After spending 
one week in Bermuda, she returned to Little Creek.  On 
6 March, the ship got underway for her sixth Mediterranean 
tour.  There, she joined in a combined NATO exercise and 
other amphibious assault operations.  On 1 July, she became 
a part of PhibRon 8.  WALWORTH COUNTY returned to the United 
States on 2 August, underwent a period of training and 
upkeep, and then spent the final weeks of August on a 
midshipman cruise and taking on board dependents of the crew 
for a day at sea.

	On 1 September 1966, WALWORTH COUNTY got underway for 
Guantanamo Bay with marines embarked.  After a short stay, 
she returned to her home port where she underwent training 
and upkeep.  On 26 September, she headed for the Boston 
operating area with civilian technicians and representatives 
from the Naval Ordnance Testing Laboratory.  The ship 
traveled to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., to unload testing 
equipment before returning to Little Creek.  On 18 October, 
WALWORTH COUNTY underwent a period of tender availability.  
Late in November, she participated in an exercise off 
Vieques and put into San Juan, Puerto Rico, for repairs.  On 
15 December, the LST got underway for Little Creek and spent 
the Christmas holidays at home. 		Recollection

	The New Year, 1967, found WALWORTH COUNTY in the 
Norfolk Naval Shipyard for repairs to her propellers, but 
she returned to Little Creek on 20 March.  After a short 
trip to New York, the ship got underway on 8 April and 
headed for the Caribbean to participate in the joint 
services exercise, "Clove Hitch III."  She returned to 
Little Creek on 4 May and spent a month undergoing 
maintenance and post-repair training.        Recollection

	September and October were devoted to a goodwill tour 
off Deal Island, Maryland, and Operation "JCOC 37," an 
amphibious assault off Onslow Beach, N.C.  From 27 October 
to 10 November 1967, WALWORTH COUNTY was deployed to the 
Caribbean.  On the ship's return to Little Creek, she began 
an overhaul and then prepared for an upcoming Mediterranean 
tour.

	On 3 January 1968, WALWORTH COUNTY got underway for 
Morehead City, where she embarked marines and loaded 
equipment.  On 6 January, she rendezvoused with five 
minesweepers and began the voyage across the North Atlantic 
for her seventh Mediterranean cruise.              Recollection
She reached Rota, Spain, on 3 February and began a series of 
"Phiblex" exercises which took her to Sardinia and Corsica.  
Her crew enjoyed leave at Toulon, France; La Spezia and Naples, 
Italy; and Rota, Spain.  On 27 April 1968, WALWORTH COUNTY 
took part in Operation "Dawn Patrol" involving 40 ships of 
five nations.  The exercises were completed on 12 May at 
Timbakion, Crete.  The ship then sailed for Rota, Spain, and 
steamed across the North Atlantic.  WALWORTH COUNTY arrived 
at Morehead City, N.C., on 8 June 1968 and proceeded to 
Little Creek where she arrived the next day.		Recollection 

	After a month of maintenance, WALWORTH COUNTY 
participated in a riverine exercise in the James 
River--which taught the fundamentals of river warfare and 
lessons learned in Vietnam--from 9 to 19 July.  The ship 
then spent the remainder of July and most of August 
undergoing a tender availability.

	The landing ship got underway on 23 September 1968 for 
a SOUTHCOM deployment as a member of LST Division 41.  After 
a trip to the Canal Zone, she got underway on 9 October for 
a visit to Jamaica.  Upon reaching Montego Bay, WALWORTH 
COUNTY was called back to Panama when an uprising overthrew 
the Panamanian government.  She arrived in the Canal Zone on 
14 October and, the next day, transited the canal to the 
Pacific.  She remained at the Rodman Naval Station until 
8 November 1968.

	Loaded with Operation "Handclasp" material, WALWORTH 
COUNTY got underway for Equador that day and arrived at 
Guayaquil on 9 November 1968.  She returned to Rodman on 
17 November and--except for four amphibious landings and a 
round-trip transit of the canal--remained there until 
9 January 1969.

	From 1 March to 16 May, LST-1164 underwent upkeep at 
the Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Corp., in Berkley, Va.  
The ship then began a period of upkeep at her home port.  On 
21 July, she started amphibious refresher training and then 
prepared for movement overseas.  From 15 September through 
25 November, the ship operated in the Caribbean Ready Group.

	Upon her return to Little Creek, the tank landing ship 
began another period of leave and upkeep.  Then, she 
conducted a training exercise from 12 to 16 January 1970.  
On 30 January, the ship began a month of tender availability 
by repair ship VULCAN (AR-5) which was moored at the Norfolk 
Navy Base.  This work lasted until 20 February when WALWORTH 
COUNTY returned to Little Creek.

	Following several months of local operations, WALWORTH 
COUNTY sailed independently on 8 July 1970 for South 
America.  Her mission was primarily one of good will.  She 
delivered earthquake relief supplies to Peruvian ports and 
carried Project "Handclasp" material to Ecuador.  For the 
remainder of the deployment, LST-1164 carried out many and 
varied missions, ranging from being a home for Smithsonian 
scientists performing marine biology research to acting as a 
ferry-boat for United States exhibits to a regional fair at 
Bocas del Toro, Panama.  During her three-month deployment, 
WALWORTH COUNTY steamed over 9,000 miles, and she received a 
letter of commendation from Admiral C. D. Nace, Commander, 
United States Naval Forces, Southern Command and Commandant, 
15th Naval District.  After a final transit of the Panama 
Canal, WALWORTH COUNTY headed homeward, arriving back at 
Little Creek on 23 October 1970.

	Following the post-deployment leave periods, WALWORTH 
COUNTY commenced preparations for inactivation.  On 
4 January 1971, operational and administrative control of 
the ship was shifted from Amphibious Force, United States 
Atlantic Fleet to the Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, 
Norfolk.

	After three months of work by her crew, LST-1164 was 
decommissioned in April 1971.  The ship was subsequently 
towed to Orange, Tex., where she arrived on 14 April 1971.  
She was dry-docked on 11 May for the underwater phase of 
inactivation with the topside phase scheduled to commence 
upon completion of the Drydock phase.

	In May of 1972, WALWORTH COUNTY was scheduled for 
transfer to the Maritime Administration and lay-up at Suisun 
Bay, Calif.; but she served with the Military Sealift 
Command from May 1972 until stricken from the Navy list on 
1 November 1973.  On 19 June 1974, she was turned over to 
the Maritime Administration and berthed at Suisun Bay, 
Calif.

	As of April 1979, WALWORTH COUNTY was still with the 
National Defense Reserve Fleet.

	[Decommissioned on 2 April 1971, WALWORTH COUNTY was 
leased to Peru, 7 August 1984.  Commissioned into the 
Peruvian Navy on 4 March 1985 as PAITA (ADT-141), the lease 
was extended by grant aid in August 1989 and again in August 
1994.  Sold outright to Peru on 26 April 1999, LST-1164 was 
stricken from the US Naval Vessel Register the same day.]

“Jane’s Fighting Ships, 1999-2000,” p.519
Internet Web Sites:
	Naval Vessel Register
		www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/LST1164.htm
	United States Naval & Maritime Museum
		www.uss-salem.org/worldnav/americas/peru.htm#3

Transcribed by Michael Hansen
mhansen2@home.com