LST 1179 CLASS
Here are photos submitted by Paul E. Zimarowski, Sr, Interior Communications Electrician. they include pictures of cruises in September 1970, and April and later in 1971. The cruises were to the Caribbean including GITMO. There are photos of vehicles using the bow ramp, landing craft swimming from the stern, and helo ops. There are also some great pictures of a storm that rivals the one the Lorain County was in returning from the Cuban missle crisis.
USS TUSCALOOSA (LST 1187) This is a link to this fine site.
Here are some pictures of the Newport Class from 'The Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet, 13th Edition'. The 20 ships in this class were the last of the 'Big T's' and were commissioned between 1969 to 1972. The first 14 ships had city names and the last 6 had the traditional County names. They were 'drive through' and could load amphibian tractors or other vehicles at either end. They usually did not beach but primarily used causeways. Their unusual bow design gave them a speed of 20 knots. The ships had 19,000 square feet of parking area not including the helicopter landing area and could carry 385 troops. They had Arco diesels with 16,500 bhp and two shafts. They displaced 8,342 tons full load and were 562 feet long, including the derrick arms.
The Boulder (LST 1190) at Portsmouth, England showing the ship's stern gate and stern anchor.