Newport class tank landing ships are an improved class of American tank landing ship (LST), intended to provide substantial advantages over their World War II-era predecessors. Of the twenty completed, four were sunk as targets, four were retained as inactive reserves and the rest were sold to foreign navies.

Class description

The Newport class has higher speeds and trimmer lines than the LSTs of World War II. The vessels have two huge derricks used to extend and retract a bow ramp. The ramp has a 75-ton capacity.

The Newport class is the first amphibious ship to be fitted with an internal side propulsion unit located below the waterline near the bow. The bow thruster allows the bow to be pushed from side to side while the stern remains nearly stationary.

This class of LST also has a stern gate. It allows them to load and launch amphibious assault vehicles, and permits sterngate marriages with Landing Craft Utility (LCU) units.

Units

Ship Name	Hull No.	Builder	Commission– Decommission	Fate	Link
Newport	LST-1179	Philadelphia Naval Shipyard	1969-1992	Sold to Mexican Navy as Papaloapan (ARM A-411)
Manitowoc	LST-1180	Philadelphia Naval Shipyard	1970-1993	Sold to Republic of China Navy as ChongHe (LST-232)
Sumter	LST-1181	Philadelphia Naval Shipyard	1970-1993	Sold to Republic of China Navy as ChongPing (LST-233)
Fresno	LST-1182	National Steel & SB	1969-1993	Proposed for transfer to the Peruvian Navy from inactive reserve
Peoria	LST-1183	National Steel & SB	1970-1994	Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 7/12/2004
Frederick	LST-1184	National Steel & SB	1970-2002	Sold to Mexican Navy as Usumacinta (ARM A-412), 11/22/2002
Schenectady	LST-1185	National Steel & SB	1970-1993	Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 11/23/2004
Cayuga	LST-1186	National Steel & SB	1970-1994	Sold to Brazilian Navy as ''NDCC Mattoso Maia (G-28)
Tuscaloosa	LST-1187	National Steel & SB	1970-1993	Inactive reserve, 2/18/1994
Saginaw	LST-1188	National Steel & SB	1971-1994	Sold to Royal Australian Navy to as HMAS Kanimbla
San Bernardino	LST-1189	National Steel & SB	1971-1995	Sold to Chilean Navy to as Valdivia (LST 93)
Boulder	LST-1190	National Steel & SB	1971-1994	Inactive reserve, 2/28/1994
Racine	LST-1191	National Steel & SB	1971-1993	Proposed for transfer to the Peruvian Navy from inactive reserve
Spartanburg County	LST-1192	National Steel & SB	1971-1994	Sold to Royal Malaysian Navy as KD Sri Indera Pura (A-1505)
Fairfax County	LST-1193	National Steel & SB	1971-1994	Sold to Royal Australian Navy as HMAS Manoora
La Moure County	LST-1194	National Steel & SB	1971-2000	Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 7/10/2001
Barbour County	LST-1195	National Steel & SB	1972-1992	Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 4/06/2004
Harlan County	LST-1196	National Steel & SB	1972-1995	Sold to Spanish Navy as Pizarro (L-42)
Barnstable County	LST-1197	National Steel & SB	1972-1994	Sold to Spanish Navy as Hernán Cortés (L-41)
Bristol County	LST-1198	National Steel & SB	1972-1994	Sold to Moroccan Navy as Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah (407)

Image gallery

See also

• Kanimbla class landing platform amphibious

References