Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

LST-601 Clarke County

LST-542 Class Tank Landing Ship: Laid down, 21 October 1943, by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., Seneca, IL; Launched, 4 March 1944; Commissioned USS LST-601, 25 March 1944. During World War II, LST-601 was assigned to the European theater and participated in the invasion of southern France, August and September 1944; After WWII LST-601 was assigned to Amphibious Force, US Atlantic Fleet; Renamed USS Clarke County (LST 601), 1 July 1955; Decommissioned, 23 November 1955; Recommissioned, 28 July 1966. Clarke County performed service in the Vietnam theater during the period 1967 to 1970. Decommissioned, (date unknown); Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown); Final disposition, fate unknown; LST-601 received one battle star for World War II service and as Clarke County (LST-601), six battle stars plus two awards of the Meritorious Unit Commendation for Vietnam service.

Specifications: Displacement 1,780 t.(lt), 3,640 t.(fl); Length 328'; Beam 50'; Draft unloaded, bow 2' 4" stern 7' 6", loaded bow 8' 2" stern 14' 1"; Speed 12k.; Complement 8-10 Officers, 100-115 Enlisted; Troop Capacity, approx. 140 officers and enlisted; Boats, two LCVP; Armament; one single 3"/50 gun mount, eight 40mm guns, twelve 20mm guns; Propulsion, two General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders.

Size	Image Description	Source
77k	From left to right, *LST 601, LST-602and LST-603*, at the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, VA., 10 May 1944.	The Library of Virginia US Army Signal Corps Photograph Collection
18k	*LST-1019* and *LST-601*, Naples, Italy, 1945.	LST Homeport Web Site
20k	*LST-1019* and *LST-601*, Naples, Italy, 1945.	LST Homeport Web Site
28k	LST-601, Monte Carlo, France, 1945.	LST Homeport Web Site
57k	Clarke County (LST-601), underway of the coast of South Vietnam, circa 1967. US Navy photo	Bill Stute DC3 USN
45k	Clarke County (LST-601), beached in Cau Viet River, Republic of South Vietnam, 1967.	Photo by Bill Stute DC3 USN
49k	Clarke County (LST-601), unloading tanks while beached in Cau Viet River, Republic of South Vietnam, 1967.	Photo by Bill Stute DC3 USN

There is no DANFS history available for LST-601 at the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site, the main archive for the DANFS Online Project.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
LST Home Port
State LST Chapters
United States LST Association

Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To the Amphibious Ship Type Index

Back To The Tank Landing Ship (LST) Photo Index

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.