 USS Harnett County (AGP-821) in South Vietnamese waters, c. 1967–1970. Atop her flight deck is a Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw helicopter (left) and a Navy Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three (HAL-3) "Seawolf" UH-1B Huey gunship.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS LST-821 |
| Builder | Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana |
| Laid down | 19 September 1944 |
| Launched | 27 October 1944 |
| Commissioned | 14 November 1944 |
| Decommissioned | March 1946 |
| Renamed | USS Harnett County (LST-821), 1 July 1955 |
| Namesake | Harnett County, North Carolina |
| Recommissioned | 20 August 1966 |
| Decommissioned | 12 October 1970 |
| Reclassified | AGP-821, 1970 |
| Honors and awards |
|
| Fate | Transferred to South Vietnam, 12 October 1970 |
 South Vietnam | |
| Name | RVNS My Tho |
| Namesake | Mỹ Tho |
| Acquired | 12 October 1970 |
| Identification | HQ-800 |
| Fate | Transferred to the Philippines, 5 April 1976 |
 Philippines | |
| Name | BRP Sierra Madre |
| Namesake | Sierra Madre |
| Acquired | 5 April 1976 |
| Identification | LT-57 |
| Fate |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | LST-542-class tank landing ship |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 328 ft (100 m) |
| Beam | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Draft |
|
| Propulsion | 2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders |
| Speed | 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 2 LCVPs |
| Troops | 16 officers, 147 enlisted men |
| Complement | 7 officers, 104 enlisted men |
| Armament |
|
BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) is an LST-542-class tank landing ship that is an active duty[2] commissioned vessel under the Philippine Navy.[3][4]
Originally known as USS LST-821, it was renamed to USS Harnett County (LST-821/AGP-281), built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Harnett County, North Carolina and was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. She served the United States Navy in World War II and the Vietnam War. She was transferred to South Vietnam's Republic of Vietnam Navy, which named her RVNS My Tho (HQ-800).
After the Vietnam War, Harnett County was transferred to the Philippine Navy, which named her BRP Sierra Madre. In 1999, the Philippine government deliberately had her run aground on Ayungin Shoal in the Spratly Islands to serve as an outpost of the Philippine Marine Corps to affirm the Philippines' exclusive economic zone amid its dispute with China over the Spratly Islands, and she still serves such function as of 2024[update].
- ^ "BRP Sierra Madre remains as PHL outpost in Ayungin Shoal despite sorry state". GMA Online. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ Mogato, Manuel (14 July 2015). "Exclusive: Philippines reinforcing rusting ship on Spratly reef outpost – sources". Reuters. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ Elemia, Camille (11 November 2023). "How a Decaying Warship Beached on a Tiny Shoal Provoked China's Ire". The New York Times.
- ^ Jackson, Will (10 August 2023). "Why a dilapidated wreck has become a flashpoint for conflict between China and the Philippines". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.