About this Unit
USS *Tuscaloosa* (LST-1187) was a Newport-class tank landing ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1970. Designed to support amphibious operations, she featured a unique bow ramp for rapid offloading of vehicles and cargo directly onto shore. Throughout her service, *Tuscaloosa* participated in numerous training exercises, humanitarian missions, and deployments in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, playing a vital support role during the Vietnam War and later Cold War operations. She was decommissioned in 1994 and subsequently struck from the Naval Vessel Register.
Historical Facts
• Commissioning and Class: USS Tuscaloosa (LST-1187) was a Newport-class tank landing ship, commissioned on 24 September 1970, designed for rapid deployment of tanks, vehicles, and troops directly onto shore.
• Innovative Bow Design: Unlike traditional LSTs with bow doors, Tuscaloosa featured a 112-foot aluminum ramp over the bow, supported by two derrick arms, enabling faster offloading on beaches and piers.
• Vietnam War Service: Shortly after commissioning, Tuscaloosa supported U.S. operations during the Vietnam War, transporting Marines, vehicles, and supplies to South Vietnam.
• Operation Frequent Wind: In April 1975, Tuscaloosa participated in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of American and South Vietnamese personnel from Saigon as North Vietnamese forces closed in.
• Cold War Deployments: Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Tuscaloosa regularly deployed to the Western Pacific as part of Seventh Fleet, supporting U.S. presence during tense periods of the Cold War.
• Humanitarian Missions: The ship was involved in humanitarian operations, including the rescue of Vietnamese boat people fleeing the aftermath of the war in Southeast Asia.
• Amphibious Exercises: Tuscaloosa took part in numerous joint amphibious exercises with allied nations, enhancing interoperability and readiness for large-scale amphibious assaults.
• Namesake: She was the second U.S. Navy ship named after Tuscaloosa, Alabama, honoring the city’s support for the military and its historical significance.
• Decommissioning: After over 23 years of service, Tuscaloosa was decommissioned on 18 February 1994, marking the end of an era for Newport-class LSTs in the U.S. Navy.
• Final Fate: In 2014, the ex-USS Tuscaloosa was sunk as a target during a live-fire exercise (SINKEX), serving one last time to help train and prepare modern naval forces.
