About this Unit
USS Whitfield County (LST-1169) was a Terrebonne Parish-class tank landing ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1954. The vessel was primarily tasked with transporting tanks, vehicles, cargo, and troops to support amphibious operations, serving extensively in the Pacific. During the Vietnam War, Whitfield County played a significant role in logistical support, delivering supplies and providing direct assistance during riverine and coastal operations. She was decommissioned in 1971 and later transferred to the Greek Navy, where she served as Kos (L-116) before being retired.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS Whitfield County (LST-1169) was named after Whitfield County, Georgia, reflecting the Navy tradition of naming tank landing ships after counties in the United States.
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Commissioned in the Cold War: The ship was commissioned on 29 July 1954, during the Cold War, and was part of the post-World War II modernization of the U.S. Navy’s amphibious fleet.
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De Soto County-class: It was a De Soto County-class tank landing ship (LST), a class designed to improve upon the World War II LSTs with new features like a bow thruster for improved maneuvering and greater speed.
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Vietnam War Service: USS Whitfield County played a significant role in the Vietnam War, providing logistical support, transporting troops, vehicles, and supplies, and participating in riverine and coastal operations.
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“Brown Water Navy” Operations: The ship operated in the Mekong Delta and was involved in several “brown water” missions, supporting riverine warfare and delivering essential cargo directly to combat zones.
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Multiple Battle Stars: For her service in Vietnam, Whitfield County earned seven battle stars, recognizing her involvement in numerous combat operations and campaigns.
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Unusual Cargo: The ship was known to carry a wide variety of cargo during her career, including tanks, trucks, construction equipment, and even Vietnamese refugees during evacuation operations.
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International Service: After being decommissioned from U.S. service in 1971, the ship was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam Navy and renamed RVNS Nha Trang (HQ-505).
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Escape and New Life: Following the fall of South Vietnam in 1975, the ship escaped to the Philippines, where it was later commissioned into the Philippine Navy as BRP Bataan (LT-85).
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Long Service Life: Across three navies and several major conflicts, USS Whitfield County (LST-1169) served for over 40 years, making her one of the most storied LSTs of her class.
