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The USS York County LST-1175 was laid down on June 4, 1956 at Newport News, Va., by Newport News
Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., and was launched on March 5, in 1957. She was sponsored by
Mrs. William C. France; and commissioned on November 8, 1957 with Lt. Comdr. Warren M. Scofer in command. The York County was fitted out and underwent ready-for-sea trials at Port Everglades, Fl, and conducted shakedown training out of her home port, Little Creek, VA, which she completed on May 17, 1958. She conducted various operations in the Virginia area until July 15 when all training was cancelled due to the crises in Lebanon; and the York County then prepared for extended operations. However, the Lebanon crisis lessened; and the ship proceeded to Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, for amphibious exercises. On August 7th the York County returned to her home port and began preparations for a regularly scheduled deployment to the Mediterranean. She arrived at Gibraltar in late September 1958; then visited Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, and Italy. She returned to Little Creek on 25 March 1959. However, the ship recrossed the Atlantic to hold leading roles in two major amphibious exercises "Tralex 3-59" and "Tralex 4-59" which were conducted off the coast of Spain. In November, York County entered the Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. for maintenance and upkeep. She next departed for the east coast in January, 1960 for her second Mediterranean deployment. Following her arrival back at her home port in June, then the York County participated in "Tralex 1-60" and "Lantphibex 500/61" in the area of Vieques, Puerto Rico. In July, she proceeded to Baltimore for an overhaul by the Maryland Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. Upon emerging from the yard, the ship conducted refresher training before deploying to the Caribbean towards the end of November for training operations with other amphibious ships. She returned to Little Creek in January, 1961. Her next major exercise, "Solant Amity II," started in April of 1961 and and ending Sept 1961 which took the York County 27,000 miles in an effort to establish greater understanding between the peoples of the United States and southern Africa. The York County cruised along both the Atlantic and Indian Ocean coasts of Africa and visited 12 ports in 10 countries and received some 23,000 visitors. The countries visited were Gambia, South Africa, Madagascar, Kenya, Zanzibar, Dahomey, Gabon, the Seychelle Islands, Togo and Trinidad After a short midshipman cruise in early November 1961, the York County headed for the Caribbean where she participated in Exercise "Phiblex 4-61" before returning to Little Creek in January 1962 for leave and upkeep. On February 26th, she conducted a two-week reserve cruise off the coast of Florida. On May 15th, 1962 the York County sailed for the Mediterranean where she conducted practice and demonstration landings and participated in the Navy's "People to People" program. The York County returned home on October 19th after five months at sea, then made a over-night turnaround to take part in the Cuban blockade. She sailed that morning leaving one third the crew who had left on leave the day before. Most watches were on port and starboard until crew members could catch up with the ship. It was not until 5 December 1962 that the ship finally returned to the Little Creek for leave and upkeep, followed by a four-month yard and drydock period in Gibbs Shipyard near downtown Jacksonville, Fl. She then went on a six week shakedown cruise and did selected underway training exercises. In July of 1963, the York County revisited the Caribbean and transported the highly publicized Puerto Rican National Guard from Ponce, Puerto Rico, to Isla de Vieques. While in the West Indies, she also patrolled off Haiti, ready to evacuate American civilians if the civil disorders in that island required such action. Fortunately, tension eased, and York County returned to Little Creek on October 4th, 1963. In the early part of November of ‘63 she paid a visit to Portland, Maine, the preceded for a short trip to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, to transport the men and equipment of the Military Construction Battalion 7 from Davisville, RI and returned to Little Creek in November and finished the year undergoing tender availability and upkeep. For the early part of 1964, York County sailed to Vieques, Puerto Rico, and Onslow Beach, N.C. where she took part in the Naval Academy's Memorial Day ceremonies at Annapolis, MD During June and July, York County received alterations at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Then on August 13th, the ship lifted the 3rd LAAM Battalion to Vieques and reembarked the unit on September 17th for the return passage. Ten days later, she returned to Little Creek and commenced preparations for an overseas exercise. On October 7th, 1964, the York County got underway to join in Operation "Steel Pike I," the largest joint amphibious operation held since World War II. The ship returned home on November 28th, 1964 and operated locally into the following spring. On April 30th 1965, she sailed for the Dominican Republic and transported US Marines and equipment to Port Haina, and conducted surveillance duties during the crisis in that nation before returning to Norfolk on June 7th and remaining in Little Creek for most of the summer. From September until December 1965, the York County was deployed to the Caribbean and participated in numerous amphibious assault exercises and a major fleet exercise, "Phibaswex/Meblex 2-65." She stayed at Little Creek from January 1st, until the 24th of 1966 for leave and upkeep. She then transported general cargo to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, and embarked US Marines and equipment for delivery to Morehead City, NC before returning to Little Creek on February 9th. From February through April 1966, the York County underwent preparations for overhaul and tender availability. Following this, she traveled to New York City for independent ship exercises, returning home on 26 April. In May, the ship hosted the Swedish ambassador and the Inter-Allied Confederation of Reserve Officers. In 1966 the York County received an overhaul in two parts. The first was accomplished at the Key Highway floating drydock of Bethlehem Steel Corp., Baltimore, MD, and the second part was completed in September at Horne Bros Shipyard, Newport News, Va. October 13th, 1966, the ship reloaded ammunition and received refresher training out of Little Creek until November, then during the remainder of the month, the ship received new cryptographic equipment and was refueled prior to deployment. York County sailed for the West Indies in the later part of November and conducted amphibious exercises and training in the Caribbean for five months. She returned to Little Creek, VA, on May 6, 1967 and underwent tender availability. In June of 1967, the ship successfully passed a nuclear technical proficiency inspection and acted as a setting for a training film. She again transported a Marine Corps engineering company from Morehead City to Vieques Island and back. From July 5th to the 21st , the York County participated in the anti-submarine exercise "Plumb Bob III." During August, she supported LVT training for US Marine Corps reservists and provided control ship duty for drones. In September and October of 1967, she was on restricted availability and standby duty, ready to support NASA operations. Then on October 31st, she got underway for the middle of the Atlantic where she served as a recovery ship for the Apollo IV space shot. On December 15th, 1967 she underwent tender availability which lasted through the end of the year. On January 17, 1968 the York County got underway from Little Creek; stopped briefly at Morehead City, NC then headed for the Caribbean. While in the West Indies, she visited Vieques, Puerto Rico; Kingston, Jamaica; and St. Croix, Virgin Islands. The ship returned to Little Creek on February 15th, resumed operations in the Virginia capes area, and took part in the Apollo VI recovery training exercises. In June of 1968, York County departed for Onslow Beach, N.C., for exercises in waters off Puerto Rico. During the cruise she visited Vieques Island, Puerto Rico; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; St. Croix, Virgin Islands; and San Juan and Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. The York County arrived back at Little Creek on 3 August and conducted various exercises and operations in the Virginia area into autumn. In October 1968, the York County got underway for a deployment to the Caribbean which lasted until February 1969. She returned to Little Creek on the 19th of that month and began a period in port which lasted into May. On the12th, the ship began another brief Caribbean cruise to take part in Exercise "Exotic Dancer." After stops at Ponce and Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, and St. Croix, Virgin Islands, she participated in a simulated blockade in her part of the exercise. She returned home via San Juan, Roosevelt Roads, and Ponce, Puerto Rico, and reached Little Creek on June 9th. But for a special amphibious exercise at Onslow Beach, N.C., from the 23rd to the 28th, the ship spent the remainder of June and most of July at Little Creek. On July 22nd, the York County departed Little Creek; crossed the Atlantic joining the Mediterranean Ready Amphibious Force. After making several successful landings throughout the Mediterranean and enjoying liberty in many ports, the York County returned to Little Creek on December 12th,1969. On January 20th, 1970 the York County entered Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Company's yard for an overhaul, and by August 10th, the ship was ready for sea where she conducted various exercises in the South Carolina operating area. Then, from September 2nd to the 17th, she prepared for a deployment with the 6th Fleet. On September 18th she sailed for the Mediterranean, and she transited the Strait of Gibraltar on September 29th. On October 9th, the York County conducted exercise "Deep Express" at Alexandroupolis, Greece, and visited several ports in Greece and Spain before returning to Little Creek on November 17th. The ship finished out the year of 1970 at Little Creek undergoing tender availability. On January 18th, 1971, the ship got underway for Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, to participate in the "Firex" exercises. She continued to operate in the Caribbean until 22 February when she arrived at Miami for two days of liberty. the ship returned to Little Creek on 27 February and immediately went alongside Amphion (AR-13) for tender availability which lasted until March 17, 1971. After completing fire-fighting training in Philadelphia, the York County remained at Little Creek until April 25th except for loading ammunition and gasoline at Craney Island, Va. During this time, the crew prepared the ship for Exercise "Exotic Dancer," which commenced on April 26, 1971 and lasted through the month of May of 1971. Upon her return home, she operated in the Virginia coastal area and getting ready for a month-long cruise in the Caribbean. The York County returned to Virginia on August 6th for tender availability followed by training exercises. On September 9th, the ship was again deployed to the Caribbean and returned to Little Creek on October 28th where she spent the rest of 1971. She spent most of January 1972 preparing for an upcoming Caribbean and eastern Pacific cruise. On the last day of the month, York County got underway for the Canal Zone. She left Cristobal on February 8th and, for the first time in her history, transited the Panama Canal and entered the Pacific. Following her operations off the coast of Panama, the York County re-entered the Atlantic, then proceeded to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where she spent two days. She then sailed to the Bahamas to onload dredging equipment at Andros Island before returning to Little Creek on March 20, 1972. She remained at Little Creek until April 12, 1972 when she sailed for Wilmington, N.C., for the annual Azalea Festival. From April 18th to May 8th 1972, the ship remained in port at Little Creek; and on 9 May, she got underway for Exercise "Exotic Dancer V," returning to her home port on May 24th, 1972. The York County was then decommissioned July 17, 1972 and transferred to the Italian government. She served the Italian Navy as Nave Caorle (L-9891) into 1979.” |