USS Clearwater County (LST-602)

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Career
LST-601, LST-602, and LST-603, at the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia on 10 May 1944.
Laid down:	23 October 1943
Launched:	9 March 1944
Commissioned:	31 March 1944
Decommissioned:	Unknown
Fate:	Unknown
Struck:	1 May 1972
General characteristics
Displacement:	1,780 tons (light), 3,640 tons (full)
Length:	328 ft 0 in
Beam:	50 ft 0 in
Draft:	Bow 2'-4", stern 7'-6" (unloaded) bow 8'-2", stern 14'-1" (unloaded)
Propulsion:	Two General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed:	12 knots
Depth:	8' fwd; 14'-4" aft (full load)
Complement:	8-10 officers, 100-115 enlisted men
Troop capacity:	140 officers and enlisted men
Boats:	Two LCVPs
Armament:	One single 3"/50 gun mount, eight 40mm guns, twelve 20mm guns

The USS Clearwater County (LST-602) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in Idaho and Minnesota, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-602 was laid down on 23 October 1943 at Seneca, Illinois by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company; launched on 9 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Adele R. Ziehm; and commissioned on 31 March 1944 with Ensign John H. Mehus, USNR, in command. During World War II, LST-602 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the invasion of southern France in August and September, 1944. In 1946 she was decommissioned and, as a result of hostilities in Korea, the ship was recalled to active service in 1950 and performed service in the Korean Theater from 26 November 1951 to 25 July 1952 and from 19 July 1953 to 26 February 1954 and participated in the following campaigns: Second Korean Winter (22 December 1951 to 14 January 1952, 22 February to 11 March 1952, and 20 to 28 March 1952) and Korea, Summer-Fall 1953 (27 July 1953). On 1 July 1955 she was redesignated USS Clearwater County (LST-602). The tank landing ship was operated by the United States Air Force from September, 1957 to September, 1969 when she was transferred to the temporary custody of the Maritime Administration. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 May 1972 and sold to Mexico on 30 May 1972 where she served as Manzanillo (IA-02). Her final fate is unknown.

LST-602 earned one battle star for World War II service and two battle stars for Korean War service.

[edit] References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

LST-602. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved on May 29, 2007.
LST-602 Clearwater County. Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved on May 29, 2007.