Name USS Grant County Laid down 15 March 1956 Decommissioned 15 January 1973 Launched 12 October 1956 | Namesake Grant County Commissioned 17 December 1957 Construction started 15 March 1956 Length 136 m | |
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Builder Avondale Marine Ways, Inc., Avondale, Louisiana | ||
USS Grant County (LST-1174) was a De Soto County-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during the late 1950s. Named after counties in fifteen states, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
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Grant County was laid down by Avondale Marine Ways, Inc. of Avondale, Louisiana 15 March 1956; launched 12 October 1956; sponsored by Mrs. John Martin Higgins; and commissioned 17 December 1957 with Lieutenant Commander R. B. Nichols in command.
1958–1964
After shakedown, Grant County performed amphibious exercises along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean throughout 1958. From 1958 to 1962 the LST excelled in training and experimental amphibious operations in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and on two occasions the Mediterranean. Following operations with Marines at Camp Pendleton in October, 1962 Grant County was dispatched to Florida for assignment during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Her constant training paid dividends, for the show of strength displayed by the Navy averted an atomic catastrophe, and once again left undisputed America's claim to superiority of the sea. When the crisis eased, Grant County resumed her training, and remained on alert in the event of another flare-up.
1965–1966
In May, 1965 the Communist threat to the Western Hemisphere struck again, this time in the Dominican Republic. President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered marines to the Caribbean island to protect American interests and help stabilize the government. When the situation showed signs of diminishing, Grant County departed Little Creek, Virginia 1 June for the Caribbean. She embarked Marines and Seabees stationed in the Dominican Republic and returned them to the United States. On 3 October she sailed for another Mediterranean deployment and participated in amphibious exercises before returning home 31 March 1966. During the next four months Grant County participated in intermittent amphibious exercises along the Atlantic Coast and in the Caribbean. During August she made two runs to the Dominican Republic to return troops and equipment to the United States. She continued shuttle runs along the East Coast until 1 December when she began a three-month overhaul.
1967–1972
In March, 1967 she resumed training and readiness operations with amphibious forces, and ranged the seas from the Virginia Capes to the Caribbean and the Mediterranean while maintaining the efficiency and readiness of her crew and equipment.
Decommissioning and sale
Decommissioned on 15 January 1973, Grant County was transferred to the Brazilian Navy that same date where she served as Duque de Caxias (G-26). Struck from the Naval Vessel Register 30 December 1977, she was sold to Brazil under the Security Assistance Program 1 February 1980. Decommissioned by the Brazilian Navy on 8 February 2000, her final fate is unknown.