Barbour County (LST 1195) - Naval Cruise Book

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uss Barbour County LST-1195 22 August 1987 - 17 February 1988 The USS BARBOUR COUNTY ' S keel was laid on 15 August 1970 at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego, California. Launched and Christened on 15 May 1971, BARBOUR COUNTY was placed in commission on 3 February 1972 at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Long Beach, California and assigned to Amphibious Squadron Seven, an integral part of the modern, 20 knot amphibious force of the United States Pacific Fleet. She is the first ship to bear the name of Barbour County, Alabama. Although a radical departure from LSTs of old in design, BARBOUR COUNTY ' S primary mission remains the same, to land wheeled and tracked vehicles on a hostile beach during amphibious operations. This is done in one of many ways including: beaching the ship and driving the vehicles off via the bow ramp; making up to the end of a floating causeway and then lowering the bow ramp to it; making up landing craft to the stern gate to transfer vehicles for the landing craft to transport to the beach; and launch- ing amphibious vehicles over the stern gate while at anchor or underway. The large flight deck is capable of landing all helicopters currently in the Navy Marine Corps inventory. Remote operation of the six V-16 diesel main engines and the two controllable pitch propellers from the pilot house provides more efficient engine operation and eliminates many watchstander requirements. In addition to these and many other technical innova- tions, BARBOUR COUNTY is fully air conditioned and has roomy quarters for over 200 crew members and over 300 embarked Marines as well as a recreation room, library and soda fountain.

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