Name USS LST-821 Commissioned 14 November 1944 Construction started 19 September 1944 Length 100 m | Laid down 19 September 1944 Decommissioned March 1946 Launched 27 October 1944 | |
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Builder Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana Renamed USS Harnett County (LST-821), 1 July 1955 | ||
The USS LST-821, renamed the USS Harnett County (LST-821), USS Harnett County (AGP-821), My Tho HQ-800 (Vietnam) and finally LT 57 Sierra Madre (Philippine Navy) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Harnett County, North Carolina and was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. She served the US Navy in World War II and the Vietnam War. She was transferred to South Vietnam's Republic of Vietnam Navy, which named her RVNS My Tho (HQ-800).
Contents
- US Service history
- RVN and Philippine service history
- Involvement in the Spratley Islands dispute
- References
After the Vietnam War, Harnett County was transferred to the Philippine Navy, which named her BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57). In 1999 the Philippine government deliberately had her run aground on Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands to serve as an outpost of the Philippine Marine Corps to assert Philippine sovereignty in the country's dispute with China over the ownership of the Spratly Islands. She still serves that function.
US Service history
USS LST-821 was laid down on 19 September 1944 at Evansville, Indiana by the Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Company; launched on 27 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Hugh Robertson, Sr.; and commissioned on 14 November 1944 with Lieutenant C. J. Rudine, USNR, in command.
During World War II, LST-821 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto from April through June 1945. Following the War, she performed occupation duty in the Far East until early December 1945. LST-821 returned to the United States and was decommissioned in March 1946 and assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet. On 1 July 1955 all remaining LSTs were given names of U.S. counties; LST-821 was named USS Harnett County (LST-821).
Recommissioned on 20 August 1966, Harnett County saw extensive service in the Vietnam War, participating in the following campaigns:
She was redesignated a Patrol Craft Tender, USS Harnett County (AGP-821) in the spring of 1970, but then was decommissioned 12 October 1970 at Guam.
LST-821 earned one battle star for World War II service. Additionally, Harnett County earned nine battle stars, two awards of the Presidential Unit Citation, and three awards of the Navy Unit Commendation for the Vietnam War.
RVN and Philippine service history
The US transferred Harnett County to the Republic of South Vietnam under the Security Assistance Program on 12 October 1970 and renamed RVNS My Tho (HQ-800). My Tho was one of the flotilla of thirty-five Republic of Vietnam Navy ships that sailed for Subic Bay after the fall of Saigon in April 1975.
She was transferred to the Philippines on 5 April 1976, which named her BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57).
Involvement in the Spratley Islands dispute
In 1999, the Philippine Navy intentionally ran her aground on the Ayungin Shoal in order to maintain the Philippine's territorial claim in the area. Since then a detachment of Filipino marines have been stationed on board the Sierra Madre to provide a continual military presence at the site. The Chinese coast guard frequently patrols the area and attempts to prevent the resupply of these Filipino marines. In 2013, the New York Times reported on the life of the handful of marines stationed on board the Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal and the vessel's role in the geopolitics of the South China Sea. One may infer from the article that Sierra Madre will never sail again, however she has gained importance due to her role as an outpost in the Spratly Islands dispute. The List of ships of the Philippine Navy no longer carries her as being in commission, however she has not officially been decommissioned either.
On 11 March 2014, the Philippine government protested to the Chinese chargé d'affaires in Manilla that the Chinese Coast Guard had on 9 March prevented two civilian vessels hired by the Philippine Navy from exchanging personnel on and delivering supplies to the Sierra Madre. This was the first time that Chinese forces had interfered with resupply. On 13 March the Philippines conducted an aerial resupply mission to the marines on Sierra Madre. Then on 1 April 2014, the Philippine Navy succeeded in getting a fishing boat with resupply and replacement marines past the Chinese blockade and to the vessel.
In September 2014, Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, reporting for the BBC, visited the Sierra Madre, which remains blockaded by the Chinese coastguard and supplies for the garrison of 11 Filipino marines are dropped by air. The ship is described as in a poor condition, "The ship’s sides are peppered with massive holes. Waves slosh through them right into the ship’s hold."
In July 2015, Philippine Navy spokesman Colonel Edgardo Arevalo said that they are currently doing a maintenance repair on the ship to ensure the vessel's minimum habitability.