About this Unit
USS Traverse County (LST-1160) was a Terrebonne Parish-class tank landing ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1953. Designed for amphibious operations, she transported troops, vehicles, and equipment to support U.S. military operations worldwide. Traverse County participated in numerous training exercises and deployments, notably supporting NATO operations in the Mediterranean and providing logistical support during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After decades of service, she was decommissioned in 1970 and later transferred to the Venezuelan Navy.
Historical Facts
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Commissioned in 1953: USS Traverse County (LST-1160) was commissioned on 29 July 1953, serving as a tank landing ship in the United States Navy.
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Named after a Michigan County: The ship was named for Traverse County, Michigan, following the tradition of naming LSTs after U.S. counties.
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Korean War Era Service: Though commissioned after the Korean War armistice, Traverse County was part of the post-war fleet readiness, supporting US interests in Asia and the Pacific.
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Cuban Missile Crisis: USS Traverse County participated in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis quarantine, acting as part of the naval blockade to prevent Soviet missiles from reaching Cuba.
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Vietnam War Support: The ship provided critical logistics and troop transport support during the Vietnam War, ferrying soldiers and supplies to Southeast Asia.
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Humanitarian Missions: Traverse County was involved in several humanitarian operations, including disaster relief and medical support in the Caribbean and Central America.
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Amphibious Exercises: The vessel participated in numerous amphibious landing exercises, training U.S. Marines and other allied forces in beach assault tactics.
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Decommissioned in 1970: After nearly two decades of service, USS Traverse County was decommissioned on 1 September 1970 and struck from the Navy list the same day.
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Transferred to Venezuela: In 1972, the ship was transferred to the Venezuelan Navy, where it served as Guayana (T-61), continuing its active duty in a new navy.
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Legacy and Honors: USS Traverse County earned several commendations for its service, and its legacy is preserved in naval history as a representative of the post-WWII LSTs.
