About this Unit
USS Litchfield County (LST-901) was a tank landing ship of the LST-542 class, commissioned by the United States Navy in January 1945. She served in the Pacific Theater during the final stages of World War II, transporting troops, vehicles, and supplies to forward areas. After the war, LST-901 participated in occupation duties in the Far East before being decommissioned in 1946. Reactivated for the Korean War and later service, she was renamed USS Litchfield County in 1955 and continued to serve until her decommissioning in 1969.
Historical Facts
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Commissioning and Construction: USS Litchfield County (LST-901) was laid down on 5 October 1944 at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard and commissioned on 24 December 1944.
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World War II Service: LST-901 participated in cargo and troop transport missions in the Pacific during the final months of World War II, supporting Allied operations in the region.
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Occupation Duties in the Far East: After Japan’s surrender, the ship was involved in occupation duties, transporting personnel and equipment to Japan and other locations in the Far East.
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Decommissioning and Recommissioning: She was first decommissioned in 1946, but was recommissioned in 1950 due to the outbreak of the Korean War and the increased need for amphibious vessels.
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Name Assignment: On 1 July 1955, the ship was officially named USS Litchfield County, after a county in northwestern Connecticut, reflecting a postwar tradition of naming certain LSTs after U.S. counties.
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Vietnam War Service: LST-901 saw extensive service during the Vietnam War, providing crucial support for logistic operations, including the transport of troops, vehicles, and supplies to various ports in South Vietnam.
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Brown-Water Navy Operations: The ship participated in "brown-water navy" operations, navigating rivers and coastal waters under threat, and supporting amphibious assaults and supply missions.
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Operation Market Time: Litchfield County was involved in Operation Market Time, the U.S. Navy's effort to stop the flow of supplies by sea to the Viet Cong, contributing to coastal surveillance and interdiction efforts.
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Transfer to the Republic of Vietnam Navy: In 1971, USS Litchfield County was transferred to South Vietnam, where she served as RVNS Huong Giang (HQ-404) until the fall of South Vietnam in 1975.
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Legacy and Honors: For her service, USS Litchfield County received several battle stars and campaign ribbons, reflecting her significant contributions throughout three major conflicts: World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
