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-1161 Vernon County

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Bravo - Tango - Bravo
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (3) [21 November 1966, 9 to 12 June 1968, 25 June 1969]
Second Row - Presidential Unit Citation - Navy Unit Commendation (3)- Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (3)
Third Row - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (3-1963, 1964, 1965) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (10-Vietnam, 4-Quemoy-Matsu 1-Laos)
Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (15) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (11) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal


USS Vernon County (LST-1161) was transferred to Venezuela, renamed ARBV Amazonas T-21
LST-1156 Terrebonne Parish Class Landing Ship Tank
  • Laid down, 14 April 1952, at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, MS.
  • Launched, 25 November 1952
  • Commissioned USS LST-1161, 18 May 1953, LCDR. D. E. Sutherlin in command
  • Named Vernon County (LST 1161), 1 July 1955
  • During the Vietnam War Vernon County participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Defense
    16 to 27 August 1965
    30 October to 14 November 1965
    15 to 17 December     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VI
    19 to 31 January 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    18 January to 5 February 1966
    19 to 25 February 1966
    2 to 17 April 1966
    25 to 30 April 1966
    6 to 24 May 1966    		 Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    12 to 15 July 1969
    2 to 13 August 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase II
    29 July to 2 August 1966
    30 September to 23 November 1966    		 Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    22 November 1969 to 27January 1970
    18 to 22 February 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase III
    14 June to 27 August 1967
    19 December 1967 to 29 January 1968    		 Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VII
    21 to 25 February 1971
    7 to 9 April 1971
    27 to 28 May 1971
    Tet Counteroffensive
    30 January to 4 February 1968    		 Consolidation I
    4 September to 3 November 1971
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase IV
    19 May to 23 June 1968    		 Consolidation II
    23 January to 7 March 1972
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase V
    13 August to 21 October 1968    		 Vietnam Ceasefire
    28 April to 25 May 1972
    5 to 30 October 1972
    10 to 11 November 1972
    18 to 26 November1972

  • Decommissioned, 14 June 1973
  • Transferred, on loan, to Venezuela, 29 June 1973, renamed ARBV Amazonas (T-21)
  • Sold outright to Venezuela, 1 December 1977
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 December 1977
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • Vernon County (LST-1161) earned the Presidential Unit Citation, three Navy Unit Commendations, three Meritorious Unit Commendations and 14 campaign stars for her Vietnam service
    Specifications
    Displacement 2,590 t.(lt) , 5,800 t.(fl)
    Length 384'
    Beam 55'
    Draft 17'
    Speed 14 kts.
    Complement ships company and staff officers 16, ships company enlisted 189
    Troop Accommodations 15 officers, 380 enlisted
    Boats three LCVP, one LCPL
    Armament three twin 3"/50 gun mounts, five single 20mm gun mounts
    Propulsion four GM 16-278A diesel engines, 6000shp, two controllable pitch propellers
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Vernon County (LST-1161)
    Vernon County 16k Vernon County (LST-1161) painted white to reflect the sun, date and place unknown. LST Home Port web site
    Vernon County 17k Vernon County (LST-1161) painted white to reflect the sun, date and place unknown. LST Home Port web site
    Vernon County 74k Vernon County (LST-1161) offloading Marines and equipment at Chu Lai, South Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Dick Lindenauer.
    Washoe County 289k Vernon County (LST-1161) (foreground) and Washoe County (LST- 1165) (background) beached at the base of Mt Fuji, Japan, May 1969. Bob Morrison EN2 USS Washoe County
    ARBV Amazonas (T-21)
    Vernon County 43k Ex-Vernon County (LST-1161) in Venezuelan service as ARBV Amazonas (T-21) moored pierside at Pearl Harbor, September 1973. Photo by Darrell Baty
    View the Vernon County (LST-1161)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Vernon County LST 1161
    Mobile Riverine Force Association
    LST Homeport
    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.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 24 August 2007