USS Bulloch County (LST-509)

LST-509 entering NAB Little Creek, Norfolk, Virginia in the spring of 1951
Career (USA)
Name: USS LST-509
Builder: Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Company, Jeffersonville, Indiana
Laid down: 7 October 1943
Launched: 23 November 1943
Commissioned: 20 January 1944
Decommissioned: 8 April 1970
Renamed: USS Bulloch County (LST-509), 1 July 1955
Honours and
awards:		 1 battle star
Fate: Leased to the Republic of Vietnam, 1970
Career (Republic of Vietnam)
Name: Qui Nhon (HQ-504)
Acquired: 8 April 1970
Fate: sunk after 1988
General characteristics
Class and type:LST-491-class tank landing ship
Displacement:1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light
3,640 long tons (3,698 t) full
Length:328 ft (100 m)
Beam:50 ft (15 m)
Draft:Unloaded :
2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward
7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft
Loaded :
8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward
14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft
Depth:8 ft (2.4 m) forward
14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) aft (full load)
Propulsion:2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed:12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats and landing
craft carried:		2 LCVPs
Troops:Approximately 130 officers and enlisted men
Complement:8-10 officers, 89-100 enlisted men
Armament:• 1 × single 3"/50 caliber gun mount
• 8 × 40 mm guns
• 12 × 20 mm guns

USS Bulloch County (LST-509) was an LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Bulloch County, Georgia, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-509 was laid down on 7 October 1943 at Jeffersonville, Indiana by the Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Company; launched on 23 November 1943; sponsored by Lieutenant (j.g.) Dorothy L. Nims, USCG(W); and commissioned on 20 January 1944 with Lieutenant J. B. Malcom, USNR, in command.

During World War II, LST-509 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Invasion of Normandy in June, 1944. Following the war, LST-509 returned to the United States and was redesignated USS Bulloch County (LST-509) on 1 July 1955.

She was recommissioned in 1966 and served in the Vietnam War until she was transferred to the RVN Navy in April 1970.

She was used primarily for provisioning forward coastal and river, US Marine bases such as Tan My (now Thuan An) and Cuaviet, in "I Corp" or 1 Corp but also bases in the south like Vung Tau, Cam Ranh and Hna Trang.

Other duties included coastal picket and resupply duty in Operation Market Time during which she resupplied and provided off-patrol berthing for PCF crews interdicting Viet Cong communication and supply routs.

The starboard screw and rudder were once damaged by a floating mine in the Cuaviet River. She continued operations on one screw until another could be fitted at Danang. She suffered serious enough storm damage during a typhoon in 1969, during a voyage to Okinawa, to require emergency repairs while beached and more complete repairs in a graving dock at Sasebo, Japan.

On 8 April 1970, the ship was decommissioned and leased to the Republic of Vietnam under the Security Assistance Program for service as Qui Nhon (HQ-504). After 1975, she served in the Vietnam People's Navy with new registration as HQ-505.

In 1988 She was heavy damaged in the Johnson South Reef Skirmish by Chinese 531 ship. The Vietnam People's Navy in an effort to save her, tried to bring her to Cam Ranh Bay for repair but unfortunately on the way she was sunk somewhere south of Great Discovery reef, Spratly area. This ship and his team was granted the title "Vietnam Armed Forces Hero".

LST-509 earned one battle star for World War II service.

References

See also