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USS Summit County (LST-1146)
Encyclopedia
USS Summit County (LST-1146) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship
in the United States Navy
. Unlike many of her class, which received only numbers and were disposed of after World War II
, she survived long enough to be named. On 1 July 1955, all LSTs still in commission were named for US counties or parishes; LST-1146 was given the name Summit County, after counties in Colorado
, Ohio
and Utah
. She was decommissioned in 1969 and placed in reserve. She was sold to Ecuador and renamed BAE Hualcopo (T-55). Although she suffered a major fire in July 1998, she was still in service with the Ecuadorian Navy
under her current pennant number of TR-61.
, by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Co.; launched
on 11 May 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Margaret L. Hecht, Jr.; and commissioned
on 30 May 1945, Lt. Warren A. Cushing, Jr., in command.
Following World War II
, LST-1146 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-November 1945. After occupation duty, LST-1146 operated off the west coast of the United States for the next five years, principally occupied with resupply missions for Alaskan ports. During the Korean War, her resupply efforts were shifted to Korean ports. On 1 July 1955, she was redesignated Summit County (LST-1146) after counties in Colorado, Ohio, and Utah. From 1965 into 1969, Summit County saw extensive service in the Vietnam
theater. She was transferred to the United States Maritime Administration in December 1969 and assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California. Summit County was sold to Ecuador
on 14 February 1977.
LST-1146 earned one battle star for the Korean War and three battle stars for the Vietnam War..
under the terms of the Security Assistance Program. She was renamed BAE Hualcopo (T-55), but later successively assigned pennant numbers T-61 and TR-61. Hualcopo suffered a major fire in July 1998 and, as a result, is in poor condition and perhaps non-operational. Nevertheless, , she remained in service with the Ecuadorian Navy.
Tank landing ship
Landing Ship, Tank was the military designation for naval vessels created during World War II to support amphibious operations by carrying significant quantities of vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto an unimproved shore....
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. Unlike many of her class, which received only numbers and were disposed of after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, she survived long enough to be named. On 1 July 1955, all LSTs still in commission were named for US counties or parishes; LST-1146 was given the name Summit County, after counties in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. She was decommissioned in 1969 and placed in reserve. She was sold to Ecuador and renamed BAE Hualcopo (T-55). Although she suffered a major fire in July 1998, she was still in service with the Ecuadorian Navy
Ecuadorian Navy
The Ecuadorian Navy is responsible for the surveillance and protection of national maritime territory and has a personnel of 7,258 men to protect a coastline of 2,237 km which reaches far into the Pacific Ocean...
under her current pennant number of TR-61.
U.S. Navy career
LST-1146 was laid down on 10 February 1945 at Seneca, IllinoisSeneca, Illinois
Seneca is a village in LaSalle and Grundy counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 2,371 at the 2010 census.The LaSalle County portion of Seneca is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area, while the small portion that lies in Grundy County is part of the...
, by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Co.; launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 11 May 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Margaret L. Hecht, Jr.; and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 30 May 1945, Lt. Warren A. Cushing, Jr., in command.
Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, LST-1146 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-November 1945. After occupation duty, LST-1146 operated off the west coast of the United States for the next five years, principally occupied with resupply missions for Alaskan ports. During the Korean War, her resupply efforts were shifted to Korean ports. On 1 July 1955, she was redesignated Summit County (LST-1146) after counties in Colorado, Ohio, and Utah. From 1965 into 1969, Summit County saw extensive service in the Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
theater. She was transferred to the United States Maritime Administration in December 1969 and assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California. Summit County was sold to Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
on 14 February 1977.
LST-1146 earned one battle star for the Korean War and three battle stars for the Vietnam War..
Ecuadorian Navy career
On 14 February 1977 Summit County was sold to EcuadorEcuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
under the terms of the Security Assistance Program. She was renamed BAE Hualcopo (T-55), but later successively assigned pennant numbers T-61 and TR-61. Hualcopo suffered a major fire in July 1998 and, as a result, is in poor condition and perhaps non-operational. Nevertheless, , she remained in service with the Ecuadorian Navy.