USS Sumter (LST-1181)

USS Sumter (LST-1181) was the third ship of the twenty ship Newport-class tank landing ship, which replaced the traditional bow door design LST. Two derrick arms support a 30 short ton capacity, 112 ft long bow ramp for the unloading of tanks and other vehicles ashore, additionally, amphibious vehicles can be launched from the tank deck via the ship's stern gate and the ship's flight deck can accommodate most Navy helicopter types. A between-decks ramp allows easy access from the tank deck to the main deck to off-load all equipment from the bow.

History
The third Sumter was laid down on 14 November 1967 by the Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, Pa.; launched on 13 December 1969; sponsored by Mrs. Strom Thurmond; and commissioned on 20 June 1970, Comdr. James C. Hayes in command.

Sumter fitted out at Philadelphia and then held sea trials in the Virginia Capes area. On 21 August, she got underway for the Panama Canal, via Norfolk, Virginia, Charleston, South Carolina, and Montego Bay, Jamaica. The canal was transited on 7 September 1970; and the LST continued to Long Beach, her homeport, after a port call at Acapulco, Mexico. She operated along the California coast until 30 April 1971 when she deployed to the 7th Fleet in the western Pacific.

Sumter returned to Long Beach on 18 June. In July and August she made a cruise to British Columbia and then resumed local operations from her home port. She had a restricted availability period at the Todd Shipyard, San Pedro, from 21 November 1971 until 7 January 1972 when she returned to sea for refresher training. The ship continued local operations until she again deployed to the western Pacific, on 31 March, for a tour that did not end until 6 December 1972 when she returned to Long Beach for an upkeep period.

Sumter sailed from Long Beach, on 6 January 1973, for the east coast of the United States. The canal was transited on 19 January; and she arrived at Little Creek, Virginia, her new home port, on the 29th.

The following six months were spent in periods of upkeep and independent steaming cruises. On 29 August, Sumter sailed to Morehead City, N.C., where she embarked marines, and then steamed east to join the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean. She called at ports in Spain, Turkey, Sardinia, Italy, Crete, and Greece before returning to Little Creek on 10 December 1973.

On 12 February 1974, Sumter sailed to Morehead City to onload marines for exercises in the Caribbean and returned to Little Creek on 8 March. In April she made a voyage to Boston and, the following month, held additional exercises in the Caribbean before returning to her homeport on 3 July.

Sumter stood out of Little Creek, on 16 August 1974, en route to the Mediterranean and her second tour with the 6th Fleet. In January 1975, the LST was still serving with that fleet.

17 August 1986 Sumter Sortied to Embark Marines in Morehead City to begin the first phase of Deployment Northern Wedding 1986. This under Commander Stephen H. Ries. On 28 August crossed the Arctic Circle en route to the Norwegian Fjords. This cruise continued with visits or transits of Norway, Scotland, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, England, Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Eastern Mediterranean, Sicily, Italy, France and Spain.

Fate
Decommissioned 30 September 1993 and leased to the Republic of China Navy as Chung Ping (LST-233). Disposed of through the Security Assistance Program (SAP), transferred, cash sale, ex-US fleet hull foreign military sale case number assigned, 29 September 2000. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register, 23 July 2002.

Specifications

 * Years from Commission to Decommission: 23.3
 * Age (since delivery) (At time of disposal): 30.1 years
 * Age (since launch)(At time of disposal): 30.8 years
 * Hull Material: Steel hull, aluminum superstructure
 * Number of Engines: 6, 3 per shaft
 * Number of Propulsion Shafts: 2 with controllable reversible pitch propellers
 * Shaft Horsepower 8,000 per shaft
 * Steering Twin Rudders and one 800 hp variable thrust Bowthruster mounted perpendicular
 * Electrical Generation 3 - EMD 12 Cylinder 645 E-2 Generator sets, 1200 kW
 * Armament as built 2 - twin 3"/50 gun mounts
 * Boats 2 - 36' LCPL