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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Waldo County (LST-1163)


Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2-Cuba, 3-Dominican Republic)



USS Waldo County (LST-1163) was transferred to Peru and renamed BAP Pisco (DT-142)
LST-1156 Terrebonne Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 4 August 1952, at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp, Pascagoula, MS.
  • Launched, 17 May 1953
  • Commissioned USS LST-1163, 17 September 1953, LCDR. Robert H. Steinkellner in command
  • Named USS Waldo County (LST-1163), 1 July 1955
  • Decommissioned, 21 December 1970
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Texas Group, Orange, TX.
  • Placed in service by the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Waldo County (T-LST-1163) (date unknown)
  • Placed out of service, date unknown
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Leased to Peru, 7 August 1984; Renamed Pisco (BAP-142)
  • Sold outright to Peru and struck from the Naval Register, 26 April 1999
  • Current Disposition, active in Peruvian Navy
    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 and Staff 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 Source
    USS Waldo County (LST-1163)
    Waldo County 43k USS Waldo County (LST 1163) underway, circa 1960, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Robert Hurst
    Waldo County 68k USS Waldo County (LST 1163) loading Marines at Morehead City, NC., circa 1963. Photo by Jerry Search
    Waldo County
    1016116305
    181k USS Waldo County (LST 1163) at anchor in 1976, location unknown.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 85022, courtesy of Donald McPherson.
    Tommy Trampp and
    Mike Smolinski<
    Waldo County 140k USS Waldo County (LST-1163) underway in the Caribbean Sea, circa 1970. Reno Sassatelli, ISC(SW/AW) USN, Ret.
    Waldo County 79k USS Waldo County (LST-1163) plaque. Tommy Trampp
    BAP Pisco (DT-142)
    Traverse County 71k BAP Pisco (DT-142), ex-Waldo County (LST-1163) moored outboard of BAP Eten (DT-144), ex-Traverse County (LST-1160) at the Peruvian Naval Base at Calleo, October 2003. Also note BAP Guardian Rios (ARA-123) ex-Pinto (ATF-90} moored at left. Photo by Carlos Race Navy Military of Peru web site

    USS Waldo County (LST-1163)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Steinkellner, Robert Henry, USNR17 September 1953 - 1955
    02LCDR. Ewing, Robert Henry, USN (USNA 1945)1955 - 6 July 1956
    03LCDR. Sanders, Kirk Younger, USN6 July 1956 - 22 July 1958
    04LCDR. Curtis, Donald Putnam, USN (USNA 1945)22 July 1958 - 15 July 1960
    05LCDR. Harris Jr., Eli Paul, USN15 July 1960 - 18 July 1962
    06LCDR. Connally II, Robert Franklin, USN (acting)18 July 1962 - 20 July 1962
    07LT. Rich, Willis Scott, USN (acting)120 July 1962 - 23 August 1962
    08LCDR. Thorndike, Robert Fremont, USN23 August 1962 - 27 July 1964
    09LCDR. Riordan, Edward Joseph, USN27 July 1964 - 13 May 1966
    10LCDR. Mitchell, Kenneth, USN13 May 1966 - 7 May 1968
    11LCDR. Mesimer Jr., Grady Franklin, USN7 May 1968 - 9 January 1970
    12LCDR. Lyon, Frederick Morris, USN9 January 1970 - 21 December 1979
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    The USS LST Ship Memorial
    LST Home Port
    State LST Chapters
    United States LST Association
    Amphibious Squadron (12 CARIB 1-69 February - June 1969) Dependent's Guide
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Tank Landing Ship (LST) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 1 March 2024