USS Tallahatchie County (LST-1154)

The USS "Tallahatchie County" (LST-1154) was the second of only two "Talbot County"-class tank landing ships (LSTs) built for the United States Navy just after World War II. Named after Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-1154 was laid down on 4 August 1945 at the Boston Navy Yard; launched on 19 July 1946; sponsored by Mrs. Wilder D. Baker; and commissioned on 24 May 1949 with Commander Courtland T. Babcock in command. From her commissioning until 1962, LST-1154 alternated assignments for the Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet along the east coast of the United States with assignment to the 6th Fleet during periodic deployments to the Mediterranean. She was redesignated USS "Tallahatchie County" (LST-1154) on 1 July 1955, and converted to an Advance Aviation Base Ship (one of two ships of the steam-powered "LST-1153"-class). Her aft superstructure was extended forward and her forecastle built up; electronic antennas and a heavy king post were mounted amidships. As an AVB, "Tallahatchie County" was designed to provide command and logistic facilities to a squadron of antisubmarine patrol planes operating from an improvised land base. Squadron equipment was carried in mobile vans, transported in "Tallahatchie County's" tank deck, and landed over her bow ramp. The ship was redesignated USS "Tallahatchie County" (AVB-2) on 3 February 1962.

For the remainder of her career, "Tallahatchie County" provided support to aviation units in the Mediterranean. She was decommissioned on 15 June 1970 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on that same day. "Tallahatchie County" was sold for scrapping to "Contieri Navali Santa Maria" of Genoa, Italy in July, 1970.

References

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* cite web|title=LST-1154 / AVB-2 "Tallahatchie County"|work=Amphibious Photo Archive
url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/161154.htm|accessdate=June 19|accessyear=2007

External links

* [http://www.hullnumber.com/LST-1154 LST-1154 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com]

ee also

* USS "Talbot County" (LST-1153)
* List of United States Navy LSTs