About this Unit
USS Wood County (LST-1178) was a De Soto County-class tank landing ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1959. Designed to transport troops, vehicles, and equipment directly onto shore, she served primarily with the Atlantic Fleet, participating in amphibious exercises and supporting Marine and Army units. Notably, Wood County took part in the Cuban Missile Crisis quarantine operations in 1962 and later provided logistics support during the Vietnam War era. Decommissioned in 1972, she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1977 and subsequently sold for scrap.
Historical Facts
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Commissioned in 1959:
USS Wood County (LST-1178) was commissioned into the United States Navy on 17 December 1959, serving as a tank landing ship (LST) designed to transport tanks, vehicles, cargo, and troops directly onto shore without docks or piers.
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Named After Multiple Counties:
The ship was named after counties in Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, following the tradition of naming LSTs after U.S. counties.
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DeSoto County-class:
Wood County was a member of the DeSoto County-class LSTs, which were the last class of LSTs designed and built for the U.S. Navy, featuring improved speed and habitability over previous designs.
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Role in Cuban Missile Crisis:
In October 1962, Wood County was called into service during the Cuban Missile Crisis, participating in the naval quarantine operations surrounding Cuba.
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Vietnam War Service:
During the Vietnam War, Wood County deployed to Southeast Asia, where it supported amphibious operations, logistics, and troop movements.
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Support for NASA:
In the 1960s, the Wood County was involved in supporting NASA's space missions, including acting as a recovery ship for unmanned space capsules during test launches off the Florida coast.
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Operation Steel Pike I:
In 1964, Wood County participated in Operation Steel Pike I, the largest amphibious exercise conducted in peacetime, which took place off the coast of Spain.
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Humanitarian Missions:
The ship was involved in humanitarian efforts, including disaster relief and evacuation operations, demonstrating the versatility of LSTs in non-combat roles.
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Decommissioned in 1972:
After over a decade of service, Wood County was decommissioned on 1 November 1972 and subsequently struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1977.
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Final Fate – Sunk as a Target:
In 1979, the USS Wood County met her end as a target ship, being sunk during a weapons test exercise, a common fate for many decommissioned Navy vessels.
