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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Wexford County (LST-1168)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Romeo - Hotel - Alpha
 NRHA
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (3) - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - National Defense Service Medal
Bottom Row - Vietnam Service Medal (5) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medial

USS Wexford County (LST-1168) also served as the Spanish Naval vessel Martin Alvarez (L-12)
LST-1156 Terrebonne Parish Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 27 February 1952, at Christy Corp., Sturgeon Bay, WI.
  • Launched, 28 November 1953
  • Commissioned USS LST-1168, 15 June 1954
  • named USS Wexford County (LST-1168), 1 July 1955
  • During the Vietnam War USS Wexford County participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Defense
    10 to 30 September 1965
    31 October to 4 November 1965     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    4 April to 7 May 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    15 December 1967 to 4 January 1968
    16 to 29 January 1968     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    19 to 29 July 1970
    8 to 9- August 1970
    6 to 11 November 1970
    Tet Counteroffensive
    30 January to 15 March 1968     		 

  • Decommissioned, 29 October 1971
  • Sold to Spain, 29 October 1971, through the Security Assistance Program; Renamed Martin Alvarez (L-12) (Martin Alvarez was named after an 18th Century Spanish naval hero; she was the second Spanish warship of US origin to bear the name: the first one was a small gunboat acquired in 1878)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 November 1976
  • Decommissioned and struck from the Spanish Naval Register in 1995
  • Final Disposition, scrapped (date unknown)
  • USS Wexford County earned one Meritorious Unit Commendation and five battle stars for 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
    Enlisted 189
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 15
    Enlisted 380
    Boats
    three LCVPs
    one LCPL
    Armament
    three twin 3"/50 cal gun mounts
    five single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion
    four General Motors 16-278A Diesel engines
    two controllable pitch propellers, 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Wexford County (LST-1168)
    Wexford County 57k USS Wexford County (LST-1168), date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Steve & Linda Snyder
    Wexford County 67k USS Wexford County (LST-1168), date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Steve & Linda Snyder
    Wexford County 27k USS Wexford County (LST-1168), at Naval Station San Diego, circa June 1968 Steve & Linda Snyder
    Wexford County 104k USS Wexford County (LST-1168) looking forward from the bridge. She is underway in heavy seas with a deck load of vehicles, date and place unknown. Dan Callahan
    Wexford County 58k USS Wexford County (LST-1168) in dry dock, date and location unknown. Dan Callahan
    Jerome County 91k From left to right USS Wexford County (LST-1168), USS Jerome County (LST-848), USS Polk County (LST-1084) and two unidentified LSTs conducting landing practice off San Diego, circa the 1960s.
    Photograph received from USS Polk County, 1969.
    US Navy photo # NH 68713 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Martin Alvarez (L-12)
    Namesake - Martín Álvarez Montemolín. Born in Badajoz in 1766. Died in a hospital in Brest, 23 February 1801. A Grenadier in the Spanish Navy.
    Wexford County 61k Ex-Wexford County (LST-1168) underway in Spanish service as Martin Alvarez (L-12), Alboran Sea, March 1985 Photo by Ignacio Lopez, ex member Armada Espanola
    Ronquil 71k Ex-Ronquil (SS-396), in Spanish naval service. Named after the Spanish submarine pioneer, Isaac Peral (S-32) is seen at Barcelona, Spain, 22 January 1983. Partially visible is Martin Alvarez (L-12). Photo by Fabio Peña
    Wexford County 68k Martin Alvarez (L-12), at Barcelona, Spain. 22 January 1983. The aerial view provides a good view of the upper deck, which was used for vehicle storage, helicopter operations and VERTREP. The partially visible submarine was Isaac Peral (S 32). Photo by Fabio Peña
    Wexford County 66k Martin Alvarez (L-12), at Barcelona, Spain. 23 January 1983. Photo by Fabio Peña
    Wexford County 93k Martin Alvarez (L-12), at Barcelona, Spain. 23 January 1983. Photo by Fabio Peña
    Wexford County 89k Martin Alvarez (L-12), at Barcelona, Spain. 23 January 1983. Photo by Fabio Peña
    View the USS Wexford County (LST-1168)
    DANFS history entry located on the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    The USS LST Ship Memorial
    USS Wexford County
    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
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 12 February 2010