USS Harlan County (LST-1196)

I was on my first class cruise. I met the ship in Naples, we sailed to Greece and did an amphibious exercise and returned to Naples.  I went to Rome and Capri on liberty.

USS HARLAN COUNTY was the 18th NEWPORT - class Tank Landing Ship and was last homeported at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va.  HARLAN COUNTY was decommissioned on April 14, 1995, and was leased to the Spanish Navy the same day. Since then, HARLAN COUNTY is serving with the Spanish Navy as SPS PIZARRO (L 42).


General Characteristics:        Awarded: July 15, 1966

                                            Keel laid: November 7, 1970

                                            Launched: July 24, 1971

                                            Commissioned: April 8, 1972

                                            Decommissioned: April 14, 1995

                                            Builder: National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, Calif.

                                            Propulsion system: 6 diesels; 16,000 horsepower; bow thruster

                                            Propellers: two and one bow thruster screw

                                            Length: 522 feet (159 meters)

                                            Length over derrick arms: 561 feet (171 meters)

                                            Beam: 70 feet (21.2 meters)

                                            Draft: 17,4 feet (5.3 meters)

                                            Displacement: approx. 8500 tons

                                            Speed: 20 knots

                                            Aircraft: helicopter platform only

                                            Armament: one 20mm Phalanx CIWS, 4 3-inch/.50-caliber guns

                                            Crew: 14 officers, 210 enlisted and approx. 350 embarked troops


Harlan County (LST-1196) was named after counties in Kentucky and Nebraska.

Chip Eckles on the beach in Capri

Return to Top Level Work Highlights Page
Return Home