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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Jennings County (LST-846)
ex
 USS LST-846 (1945 - 1955)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Kilo - India
 NIKI
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons






Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (5-Vietnam)
Second Row - Presidential Unit Citation (2) - Navy Unit Commendation (2) - China Service Medal (extended)
Third Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Fourth Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Korean Service Medal (1)
Fifth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (9) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (6) United Nations Service Medal
Sixth Row - Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
LST-542 Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 27 October 1944, at American Bridge Co., Ambridge, PA.
  • Launched, 12 December 1944
  • Commissioned USS LST-846, 9 January 1945, LT. Samuel C. Williams Jr., USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS LST-846 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LST Flotilla Thirty-One, CAPT. H. S. Covington USN (23);
     LST Group Ninety-Three CDR. E. R. Sperry USN (23);
     LST Division One Hundred Eighty-Five
  • Following World War II USS LST-846 was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    2 to 11 September 194530 September 1946 to 23 June 1947
    6 to 29 October 194510 July to 4 September 1947
    9 to 26 May 194610 October 1947 to 14 May 1948
    10 July to 4 September 194729 September to 31 October 1948
    20 September to 9 October 194712 November 1948 to 30 April 1949
    1 to 8 November 1948 
    1 to 3 May 1949 

  • Decommissioned, 14 October 1949, at Astoria, OR.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned, 3 November 1950, LT. Marion V. Reeder in command
  • During the Korean War USS LST-846 participated in the following campaign:

    Korean War
    Campaign and Dates
    Second Korean Winter
    9 to 12 September 1951
    13 to 22 October 1951

  • Named USS Jennings County (LST-846), 1 July 1955
  • Decommissioned, 7 December 1955, at San Diego
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned, 11 June 1966, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, LT L. M. Patella USN in command
  • During the Vietnam War USS Jennings County (LST-846) served continuously in country and in contiguous waters, with the exception of overhaul periods, from late 1966 to mid 1970 participating in the following campaigns. (Dates listed do not include underway transit times within the contiguous waters along the Vietnam coast as defined by the US Navy and so specified by the Vietnam Service Medal.)

    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    7 November to 31 December 1966
    11 March to 31 May 1967     		Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    9 June to 14 September 1969
    14 to 31 October 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    1 June to 26 August 1967
    12 October 1967 to 29 January 1968     		Vietnam Winter-Spring 1969
    1 November 1969 to 1 April 1970
    Tet Counteroffensive
    30 January to 1 April 1968     		Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    1 to 30 June 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    2 to 14 April 1968
    26 April to 9 June 1968     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    30 June to 12 August 1970
    Tet 69/Counteroffensive
    1 May to 8 June 1969     		 

  • Severely damaged by an on board fire in 1970
  • Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 26 September 1970, at Naval Station Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines
  • USS LST-846 earned one battle star for the Korean War and nine campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Sold for service as an ore barge for a mining company
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement
    1,625 t.(lt)
    4,080 t.(fl) (sea-going draft w/1675 ton load)
    2,366 t. (beaching displacement)
    Length 328' o.a.
    Beam 50'
    Draft
    light 2' 4" fwd, 7' 6" aft
    sea-going 8' 3" fwd, 14' 1" aft
    landing 3' 11" fwd, 9' 10" aft (landing w/500 ton load)
    limiting 11' 2"
    maximum navigation 14' 1"
    Speed 11.6 kts. (trial)
    Endurance 24,000 miles @ 9kts. while displacing 3960 tons
    Complement
    13 officers
    104 enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    16 officers
    147 enlisted
    Boats 2 LCVP
    Cargo Capacity (varied with mission - payloads between 1600 and 1900 tons)
    Typical loads
    One Landing Craft Tank (LCT), tanks, wheeled and tracked vehicles, artillery, construction equipment and military supplies. A ramp or elevator forward allowed vehicles access to tank deck from main deck
    Additional capacity included sectional pontoons carried on each side of vessel amidships, to either build Rhino Barges or use as causeways. Married to the bow ramp, the causeways would enabled payloads to be delivered ashore from deeper water or where a beachhead would not allow the vessel to be grounded forward after ballasting
    Armament (varied with availability when each vessel was outfitted. Retro-fitting was accomplished throughout WWII. The ultimate armament design for United States vessels was
    2 - Twin 40MM gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors
    4 - Single 40MM gun mounts
    12 single 20MM gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 4,300 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two General Motors 12-567A, 900hp Diesel engines
    single Falk Main Reduction Gears
    three Diesel-drive 100Kw 230V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    two propellers, 1,700shp
    twin rudders
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS LST-846
    Chimon 91k USS LST-846 and USS LST-1102 moored in an anchorage at either Shanghai or Tsingtao, China in 1946 Paul Webb for his father ENS. Ronald H. Webb, USNR USS LST-1102
    Jennings County 30k USS LST-846 entering Haiphong harbor, French-Indochina, circa 1946-49. André Pilon
    Jennings County 41k USS LST-846 at anchor, Hong Kong, BCC, 30 September 1948. LST Home Port web site
    Jennings County 179k USS LST-846 under way, circa early 1950s, location unknown.
    US National Archives Photo # USN 1046021, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    USS Jennings County (LST-846)
    Jennings County 408k USS Jennings County (LST-846) recommissioning ceremony at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 11 June 1966.
    Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, file LST 846 73443-6-66 TH    		 Darryl Baker
    Jennings County 591k USS Jennings County (LST-846) recommissioning ceremony at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 11 June 1966. From left to right: LT L. L. Thomas, Executive Officer; Capt. L. V. Forde; Capt. N. C. Nash; LCDR C. Pitts, (CHC) and LT L. M. Patella, Commanding Officer.
    File name; LST 846 73442-6-1966.    		 Darryl Baker
    Jennings County 547k Captain Normal C. Nash gives the commissioning address at the recommissioning ceremony of USS Jennings County (LST-846) at Mare Island on June 11, 1966. Note that Capt. Nask is wearing a Silver Star awarded to him for action as the plotting officer aboard the USS Tunny (SS-282) on her 5th War Patrol from February 27 to April 11, 1944.
    Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, file LST 846 73443-6-66 TH    		 Darryl Baker
    Jennings County 620k LT Lawrence M. Patella (left) Commanding Officer of the USS Jennings County (LST-846) and LT L. L. Thomas, Executive Officer, at the ship's commissioning ceremonies at Mare Island on June 11, 1966.
    Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, file LST 846 73443-6-66 TH    		 Darryl Baker
    Jennings County 50k USS Jennings County (LST-846) at anchor, off South Vietnam, date unknown. CAPT. Edward C. Ruff USN Ret.
    Jennings County 47k USS Jennings County (LST-846) at anchor, off South Vietnam, date unknown.
    US Navy photo from Varamar Arts.    		 Tommy Trampp
    Jennings County 102k USS Jennings County (LST-846) 40mm gun mount. Photo by Bernie Brendt YNCM USN Ret USS Jennings County 1969-70.
    Jennings County 129k USS Jennings County (LST-846) at anchor, near Ha Tien, South Vietnam, circa 1969-1970 with Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three (HAL-3) helicopters. Photo by Bernie Brendt YNCM USN Ret USS Jennings County 1969-70.
    Jennings County 370k
    Jennings County 361k View of Tank Deck of USS Jennings County (LST-846) while at anchor, near Ha Tien, South Vietnam, circa 1969-1970. Photo by Bernie Brendt YNCM USN Ret USS Jennings County 1969-70.
    Jennings County 155k USS Jennings County (LST-846) tank deck with a PBR and Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three (HAL-3) helicopters on deck while at anchor, near Ha Tien, South Vietnam, circa 1969-1970. Photo by Bernie Brendt YNCM USN Ret USS Jennings County 1969-70.
    Jennings County 402k A USS Jennings County (LST-846) crew member showers on the tank deck after the fire aboard ship in 1970 that ended the Jennings County's active service Photo by Bernie Brendt YNCM USN Ret USS Jennings County 1969-70.
    Jennings County 480k USS Jennings County (LST-846) entering dry dock at Saigon for repairs, circa 1969-70. Photo by Bernie Brendt YNCM USN Ret USS Jennings County 1969-70.
    Jennings County 338k YN2 Brendt (left) and shipmate on the bridge of USS Jennings County (LST-846), circa 1969-70. Photo by Bernie Brendt YNCM USN Ret USS Jennings County 1969-70.
    USS LST-846 / USS Jennings County (LST-846)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    History of USS Jennings County (LST-846)- Mobile Riverine Force Association
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Williams Jr., Samuel Charles USNR9 January 1945 - December 1945
    03LT. Hildreth, George E. USNRDecember 1945 - 19 March 1946
    03LT. Tracy, Vern Willard USN19 March 1946 - 1947
    04LTjg. Gilmour, Robert USN1947 - 1947
    05LT. Little, Tomboy USN1947 - May 1948
    06LT. Harbert, Rex USNMay 1948 - 14 October 1949
     Decommissioned14 October 1949 - 3 November 1950
    06LT. Reeder, Marion Vincent USNR3 November 1950 - ?
    07LT. Martin, Orvis Alden USN1953 - 1954
    08LT. Kalmbach, William Wallace USN1954 - 1 December 1955
     Decommissioned7 December 1955 - 11 June 1966
    09LT. Patella, Lawrence Michael USN11 June 1966 - 25 October 1967
    10LT. Poe, William Henry USN25 October - 16 September 1968
    11LCDR. Van Horne III, Alfred Lee USN16 September 1968 - 8 August 1969
    12LCDR. Neese, John Frederick USN8 August 1969 - 16 March 1970
    13LCDR. Yarber, Gene USN16 March 1970 - 25 September 1970
    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
    USS Jennings County 1966 Recommissioning Program
    The USS LST Ship Memorial
    Mobile Riverine Force Association
    Brownwater Navy in Vietnam Web Book
    LST Homeport
    State LST Chapters
    United States LST Association
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 28 April 2017