Suffolk County Class?
According to one Naval history
communication I received,
the only ship in the 1171
class was the DeSoto County.
The 1172 was cancelled early
in construction, and the 1173 is
another class of LST, a step
beyond the 1171. They are very
similar, however, and a corrected
title would be the 1171/1173 Class.
Page updated on May 23, 2002
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Research has led to Jane's Fighting Ships, 1971-72 which called this class of LST the Suffolk Class. Why, since the Suffok County was the third T, numbered 1173. Actually, it became the second as the contract for the 1172 was not awarded. The Suffolk was launchd on Sept. 5, 1956 by the Boston Navy Yard six months before the DeSoto County was launched, Feb. 28, 1957 at Avondale in New Orleans. Also launching prior to the DeSoto was the Grant County LST 1174 at Avondale on Oct. 12, 1956. Shortly thereafter, the rest of the class was launched.
Jane's description of this class
Commissioning
Four ships were decommissioned on July 1, 1972 and
placed in the fleet reserve. The Graham County was converted to a
gunship support ship (AGP 1176). Two ships, the DeSoto and the York,
were transferred to the Italian Navy.
In the Stats Complement - 184 (10 officers, 174 men)
6 Nordburg diesel engines, 2 shafts, controllable pitch
From Jane's 1984-85 There is a conflict here, as at first the indication
is that three Super T's are still in service,
The Wood County was to be converted to a support ship
for the "Pegasus"
Further Design information
Jane's '84-85 Also Reported on foreign service Brazil - Duque De Caxais G-26 Formerly
Grant County LST 1174
Now fitted with Stulcken Heavy Lift Gear Brazil also has Garcia D'Avila G-28 Formerly
Outagamie County LST 1073
Italy - 2 DeSoto Class LSTs
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