About this Unit
USS Barbour County (LST-1195) was a Newport-class tank landing ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1972. Designed to transport tanks, heavy vehicles, and troops directly onto shore, she played a vital role in amphibious operations and training exercises throughout her service. Throughout the Cold War and into the 1990s, Barbour County participated in numerous deployments, including operations in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. After over two decades of service, the ship was decommissioned in 1992 and later sunk as a target during a training exercise.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS Barbour County (LST-1195) was named after counties in Alabama and West Virginia, honoring the tradition of naming tank landing ships (LSTs) after U.S. counties.
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Class and Type: She was a Newport-class tank landing ship, a class designed to provide greater speed and flexibility than earlier LSTs, featuring a unique bow ramp on pontoons for vehicle offloading.
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Commissioning Date: USS Barbour County was commissioned on 3 March 1972 at the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego, California.
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Vietnam War Service: Shortly after commissioning, she was deployed to support operations during the final phases of the Vietnam War, showcasing her amphibious capabilities.
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Operation Frequent Wind: In April 1975, Barbour County took part in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon, aiding in the rescue of thousands of U.S. and Vietnamese citizens.
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Humanitarian Missions: The ship was involved in several humanitarian missions, including rescuing Vietnamese "boat people" fleeing the aftermath of the war.
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RIMPAC Exercises: Barbour County participated in multiple RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) multinational naval exercises, demonstrating interoperability with allied navies and showcasing U.S. amphibious capabilities.
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Gulf War Support: During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, she provided logistical and transport support, highlighting her versatility in both peacetime and conflict.
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Decommissioning: The ship was decommissioned on 30 March 1992 after two decades of service and was subsequently struck from the Naval Vessel Register.
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Final Fate: After decommissioning, Barbour County was sunk as a target during a training exercise in 2004, continuing to serve by providing valuable training experience for present-day sailors.
