USS Clarke County

USS Clarke County (LST-601), originally USS LST-601, was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship built during World War II and in commission from 1944 to 1955 and again in the late 1960s. Named after Clarke Counties in Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, and Virginia, she was the only U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name.

USS Clarke County (LST-601), underway off the coast of South Vietnam, c. 1967.
History
United States
Name	LST-601
Builder	Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, Seneca
Laid down	21 October 1943
Launched	4 March 1944
Sponsored by	Mrs. Celia Counter Finch
Commissioned	25 March 1944
Renamed	USS Clarke County (LST-601), 1 July 1955
Namesake	Clarke County, Alabama Clarke County, Georgia Clarke County, Iowa Clarke County, Mississippi Clarke County, Virginia
Decommissioned	23 November 1955
Recommissioned	28 July 1966
Decommissioned	c. 1970
Honors and awards	One battle star for World War II service Six campaign stars and two Meritorious Unit Commendations for Vietnam War service
Fate	Sold to Indonesian Navy, c. 1979
Indonesia
Name	Teluk Saleh
Namesake	Saleh Bay
Acquired	c. 1979
Identification	Pennant number: 510
Status	placed in reserve, c. 1995–98
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-542-class tank landing ship Teluk Langsa-class tank landing ship
Displacement	1,780 tons standard, 3,640 tons full load
Length	328 ft (99.97 m)
Beam	50 ft (15.24 m)
Draught	Bow 2'-4", stern 7'-6" (unloaded) bow 8'-2", stern 14'-1" (unloaded)
Depth	8' fwd; 14'-4" aft (full load)
Propulsion	Two General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h)
Boats & landing craft carried	Two LCVPs
Troops	140 officers and enlisted men
Complement	8–10 officers, 100–115 enlisted men
Armament	One single 3 in (76 mm)/50 gun mount, eight 40 mm guns, twelve 20 mm guns

Construction and commissioning

USS LST-601 was laid down on 21 October 1943 at Seneca, Illinois, by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company. She was launched on 4 March 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Celia Counter Finch, and commissioned on 25 March 1944.

First period in commission, 1944–1955

During World War II, LST-601 was assigned to the European Theater of Operations and participated in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France in August and September 1944. At the close of World War II, LST-601 remained in active service in Amphibious Force, United States Atlantic Fleet.

LST-601 was renamed USS Clarke County (LST-601) on 1 July 1955. She was decommissioned on 23 November 1955.

Second period in commissiong, late 1960s

Clarke County was recommissioned on 28 July 1966 and performed service in the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1970. 21 November 1967 she struck a sunken landing craft while attempting to beach at Doc Pho, South Vietnam. The ship lost power and went aground parallel to the beach., and required the salvage efforts of fleet tugs USS Abnaki and USS Ute and rescue and salvage ship USS Bolster, USS Mars, USS Alamo. Clarke County was refloated on 1 December 1967.

Awards and honors

LST-601 received one battle star for World War II service. Clarke County received six campaign stars plus two awards of the Meritorious Unit Commendation for Vietnam War service.

Transfer to Indonesia

Clarke County was decommissioned and stricken from the Navy Directory after her Vietnam War service had ended. She was sold to Indonesia for service in the Indonesian Navy as KRI Teluk Saleh (510).

Sources

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• "LST-601 Clarke County". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 27 May 2007.

LST-601, LST-602, and LST-603, at the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia on 10 May 1944.