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USS Fairfax County (LST 1193)

USS FAIRFAX COUNTY was the 15^th NEWPORT - class Tank Landing Ship. Both decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list on August 17, 1994, the FAIRFAX COUNTY was subsequently sold to Australia where she was recommissioned as MANOORA.

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS FAIRFAX COUNTY. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

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Accidents aboard USS FAIRFAX COUNTY:

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USS FAIRFAX COUNTY History:

USS FAIRFAX COUNTY was built by National Steel and Shipbuilding Company at San Diego, California. Her keel was laid on March 28, 1970, she was launched on December 19, 1970, and she was sponsored by Mrs. Virginia Knowles O'Grady, wife of Vice Admiral James W. O'Grady. FAIRFAX COUNTY was commissioned on October 16, 1971, with Commander John F. Neese as her first commanding officer.

Following commissioning, FAIRFAX COUNTY completed shakedown training and proceeded to her new home port at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia. During the first months of 1972, she underwent inspections and trained in amphibious assaults, beaching operations and boat-group tactics. On May 1, 1972, she entered Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for approximately six weeks of post-shakedown availability and repairs. On July 22, she arrived at Alexandria, Virginia, for a three-day visit closely connected with her namesake county. More than 10,000 people from Fairfax County and the surrounding region toured the ship during the visit.

Shortly afterward, FAIRFAX COUNTY participated in Operation High Boot from July 29 through August 3, 1972. After several additional weeks of preparation, she departed Little Creek on August 28 for Exercise Strong Express, a major North Atlantic Treaty Organization exercise in northern Europe. Before the exercise, she visited Stavanger, Norway, where the ship held an open house. She then joined allied naval forces for operations in Norwegian waters above the Arctic Circle. During Strong Express, FAIRFAX COUNTY carried out what the Navy recorded as the first beaching of a tank landing ship in Norway. The exercise tested the ability of allied forces to reinforce Norway and conduct amphibious operations in difficult northern terrain under Cold War conditions. Following the exercise, FAIRFAX COUNTY visited Newcastle, England, and Emden in the Federal Republic of Germany before returning to Little Creek on October 20.

FAIRFAX COUNTY began her first major Mediterranean deployment on January 4, 1973. She stopped at Morehead City, North Carolina, to embark elements of Company C, 8th Motor Transport Battalion, and portions of Battalion Landing Team 1/6 before crossing the Atlantic with a Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group. The force arrived at Rota, Spain, on January 15, where FAIRFAX COUNTY joined the Sixth Fleet as part of Task Force 61. Two days later, she conducted a turnaway landing at Carboneras, Spain, and later in January participated in an amphibious landing exercise at Monte Romano, Italy.

From February 8 through February 14, 1973, FAIRFAX COUNTY conducted another amphibious landing exercise at Carboneras. During these operations she sustained damage to her bow. From February 20 through February 25, she participated in a series of fleet and allied exercises associated with National Week. Her Mediterranean schedule over the following months was intensive. She conducted landing exercises at Tympaki, Crete, on March 7-8, March 20-22 and May 2-11; at Porto Scudo, Sardinia, from March 28 through April 2 and again from April 15 through April 17; and at Brindisi, Italy, on May 21 and May 29.

On June 7, 1973, FAIRFAX COUNTY entered Exercise Dawn Patrol. The exercise concluded for the ship with an amphibious landing evolution at Porto Scudo on June 14. She arrived at Rota on June 20 for turnover and began the voyage back to the United States on June 21. During the deployment, she also made visits to Monte Carlo, Monaco; Barcelona, Malaga, Valencia and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Bari and Trieste, Italy; Athens and Patras, Greece; and Toulon, France. She returned to Little Creek on July 3.

A serious incident occurred on September 3, 1973, when fire broke out in FAIRFAX COUNTY's forward troop compartment. The following day, she entered dry dock at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company for repairs. She remained there until September 17. During the remainder of the year, she transported equipment to Vieques, Puerto Rico, and resumed amphibious training.

On January 18, 1974, FAIRFAX COUNTY embarked personnel from 4th Battalion, 10th Marines, together with elements of the 10th Marines logistics and headquarters organizations and the Second Field Artillery Group at Morehead City. She transported them to Vieques for combat training and participated in Operation Springboard from January 24 through February 7. After the exercise, she spent approximately two weeks undergoing an availability at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, while continuing regional training. She subsequently re-embarked Marines at Vieques, made a brief port visit to Nassau in the Bahamas and then returned to the U.S. East Coast.

Following inspections during March and April, FAIRFAX COUNTY conducted a dependents' cruise to Washington, D.C., from May 9 through May 13, 1974, and moored at the Washington Navy Yard. She then entered Exercise Solid Shield, which began on May 31. During the exercise, she landed Marine headquarters elements, artillery personnel and a platoon from the 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion. Later in the year, FAIRFAX COUNTY participated in Exercises Escort Tiger and Doria Salute VII. Doria Salute VII was conducted at Vieques from September 13 through September 20, 1974. The amphibious formation involved in the exercise also included USS SHREVEPORT (LPD 12), USS HERMITAGE (LSD 34) and USS AUSTIN (LPD 4). The exercise provided further practice in coordinating amphibious shipping, landing forces and supporting elements in the Caribbean training environment.

On October 31, 1974, FAIRFAX COUNTY embarked Marines and headed south. She reached Colon, Panama, on November 5 and disembarked the Marines for jungle training. She subsequently visited Cartagena, Colombia, on November 11 and proceeded to Aruba in the Netherlands Antilles later in the month. Beginning on November 23, she participated in Exercise Gitney Lift, which tested reinforcement and evacuation procedures by amphibious ready groups operating without a large amphibious assault ship. The ship concluded this Caribbean period with visits to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and San Juan, Puerto Rico, before re-embarking the Marines and returning to Little Creek.

During January 1975, FAIRFAX COUNTY conducted local training, inspections and Naval Reserve support. In February, she participated in Exercise Springboard 75 and visited St. Thomas, Caracas, Venezuela, and San Juan before returning to Little Creek on March 7. She departed again on April 14 with Task Force 22 for Exercise Agate Punch with the Second Fleet and returned on April 28. On May 24, she sailed with Task Forces 22 and 124 for Exercise Solid Shield in the western Atlantic, returning to Little Creek on June 4.

FAIRFAX COUNTY departed Little Creek for another Mediterranean deployment on July 28, 1975. She reached Rota on August 8 and relieved USS HARLAN COUNTY (LST 1196). On August 17, she carried out a turnaway amphibious landing at Carboneras before visiting Valencia. On August 29, she participated in Amphibious Landing Exercise 3-76 at Capo Teulada and Porto Scudo on Sardinia. She anchored at Augusta Bay, Sicily, on September 4 and departed on September 10 for Amphibious Landing Exercise 3A-76 at Gytheio, Greece.

From September 19 through September 28, 1975, FAIRFAX COUNTY participated in Exercise Deep Express in the Aegean Sea and waters near Turkey with American, British, Italian and Turkish forces. She then spent much of October at Naples undergoing a tender availability alongside USS PIEDMONT (AD 17). After visiting Civitavecchia late in October, she participated in another landing exercise at Pian di Spille from November 1 through November 7. Amphibious type training near the Balearic Islands followed in mid-November. After visits to Palma de Mallorca and Almeria, FAIRFAX COUNTY conducted another landing exercise at Carboneras from December 1 through December 8 and a further amphibious exercise at Capo Teulada from December 16 through December 21. She entered Rota on December 31 for extensive upkeep and repairs. The ship departed for the United States on January 21, 1976, disembarked her Marines at Morehead City and returned to Little Creek on February 4.

Only weeks later, FAIRFAX COUNTY was assigned to a humanitarian mission. On February 23, 1976, she joined a task group carrying relief supplies to Guatemala following the destructive earthquake that had struck the country earlier that month. She arrived at Santo Tomas de Castilla on February 28 and completed unloading the following day as part of Project Handclasp and the broader American relief effort. FAIRFAX COUNTY returned to Little Creek on March 5.

After several months of training and inspections, she departed on September 1, 1976, for operations in the North Atlantic. She participated in Exercise Joint Effort from September 2 through September 10 and Exercise Teamwork 76 from September 20 through September 25 in Namsenfjorden, Norway. Following these exercises, she visited Antwerp, Belgium, and Edinburgh, Scotland. On October 13, she participated in Exercise Bonded Item at Esbjerg, Denmark. Port visits to Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Kiel in the Federal Republic of Germany followed before she began the return voyage on October 27. After disembarking Marines at Morehead City, FAIRFAX COUNTY reached Little Creek on November 11.

The first months of 1977 were devoted to local training and inspections. From February 28 through April 28, FAIRFAX COUNTY carried out special operations. On June 1, she entered Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation for a major overhaul. The overhaul continued for more than eight months and was completed on February 16, 1978. FAIRFAX COUNTY then spent approximately three and a half months conducting post-overhaul training and certifications. In early June, she visited Annapolis, Maryland, where approximately 1,200 visitors from the U.S. Naval Academy toured the ship.

On July 27, 1978, FAIRFAX COUNTY departed with Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 2-79. She reached Rota on August 11 and shortly afterward conducted amphibious training near Capo Teulada. She spent the end of August at Cartagena, Spain, for repairs. In early September, she conducted another amphibious exercise near Carboneras and received a visit from Vice Admiral James D. Watkins, Commander Sixth Fleet.

On September 29, 1978, a major fire broke out aboard FAIRFAX COUNTY while she was underway. Two crew members suffered second-degree burns. The damage was significant: the Number 3 engine room was put out of operation, the Second Division berthing area was severely damaged and fire and smoke affected portions of the ship amidships. FAIRFAX COUNTY reached Naples on October 1 and remained there until November 21 while repairs were carried out.

After leaving Naples she visited Barcelona. FAIRFAX COUNTY was documented there on November 26 and again during December. In mid-December, she returned to amphibious training in the Capo Teulada area before making further calls at Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Rota. She departed Rota for the United States on January 25, 1979, and returned to Little Creek on February 6.

During the next six months, FAIRFAX COUNTY concentrated on local operations and training. On August 3, 1979, she embarked on an unusual recruiting and public-relations cruise into the Great Lakes. The voyage brought the ship to a succession of Canadian and American cities, including Montreal and Quebec City in Canada as well as Cleveland, Clayton, Erie, Buffalo, Detroit, Sault Ste. Marie, Duluth and Marquette. More than 65,000 visitors came aboard during the cruise. FAIRFAX COUNTY returned to Little Creek on September 22. During October and November, she participated in Gitmo ReinforceEx and other preparations for her next deployment.

On January 30, 1980, FAIRFAX COUNTY departed for the Mediterranean in company with USS INCHON (LPH 12), AUSTIN, USS SPIEGEL GROVE (LSD 32) and USS SPARTANBURG COUNTY (LST 1192). After embarking K Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, she arrived at Rota on February 12. She visited Lisbon, Portugal, on February 17 before participating in a combined U.S.-Portuguese amphibious exercise at Madeira.

Entering the Mediterranean in early March, FAIRFAX COUNTY took part in a U.S.-Spanish amphibious exercise near Garrucha from March 5 through March 10. On March 21, she participated in Exercise Sardinia 80, followed by flycatcher operations near Capo Teulada on March 25 and March 26 and a combined exercise with French and Italian forces on March 28.

FAIRFAX COUNTY spent the first half of April 1980 at Naples before steaming east to conduct another amphibious exercise near Doganbey, Turkey. Late in April, she visited Cannes, France, and early in May joined Exercise Dawn Patrol 80 with American, British, French and Italian forces. Amphibious operations near Capo Teulada followed in mid-May. She subsequently called at Messina, Sicily, and used Brindisi as a training anchorage. Visits to Cartagena and Rota followed during June, and FAIRFAX COUNTY returned to Little Creek on July 2.

After several weeks of local training, she visited West Palm Beach, Florida, on August 22 for the Royal Palm Festival. More than 2,000 visitors toured the ship during the two-day call. FAIRFAX COUNTY returned to Little Creek on August 29 and during September supported Wet-Net training for elements of the U.S. Army's 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions.

Another major deployment began on October 15, 1980. FAIRFAX COUNTY embarked Marines from I Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, at Onslow Beach the following day and headed toward South America and West Africa. After a call at Fort-de-France, Martinique, she anchored off Paramaribo, Suriname, on October 26. There, the ship delivered materials as part of Project Handclasp for renovation of the Kennedy Foundation School and hosted Surinamese military and American diplomatic representatives. After visiting Recife, Brazil, FAIRFAX COUNTY formally began West African Training Cruise 80 in early November together with USS ARTHUR W. RADFORD (DD 968) and USS PHARRIS (FF 1094). Crossing the Atlantic, she entered the Congo River and arrived at Matadi, Zaire, on November 12. The Navy recorded the call as the first visit by a U.S. Navy ship to Matadi. The training cruise was intended to strengthen professional contacts with regional armed forces, provide military training and maintain an American naval presence along the West African coast.

After leaving Matadi, FAIRFAX COUNTY conducted training with Togolese naval and air forces. She arrived at Lome, Togo, on November 19, a visit recorded as the first by a U.S. Navy ship to that city. The ship conducted an amphibious demonstration and more than 3,000 visitors toured her. On November 23, she arrived at Lagos, Nigeria, where American personnel conducted instruction relating to Coast Guard and amphibious operations for Nigerian military personnel. FAIRFAX COUNTY reached Monrovia, Liberia, on November 27. Rear Admiral Peter K. Cullins, Commander South Atlantic Force, visited the ship. FAIRFAX COUNTY hosted representatives of Liberia's People's Redemption Council, which had taken power following the coup earlier that year, and provided training for Liberian forces in small-arms tactics, coastal operations and amphibious warfare. An open house attracted more than 2,000 visitors. The ship then visited Dakar, Senegal, before beginning the return voyage on December 5. After a stop at Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, she returned to Little Creek on December 19.

The first two months of 1981 were spent on local operations and modifications associated with special operations. FAIRFAX COUNTY departed Little Creek on March 12 for Operation Extended Arm 81. She crossed the Atlantic and refueled at Glasgow, Scotland, before departing on March 27 for the Norwegian Sea. The ship conducted special operations there through the end of April. Afterward she made port visits to Tromso, Norway; Kiel, Federal Republic of Germany; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Portsmouth, England. She returned to Little Creek on May 27.

Summer midshipman training began on June 16, 1981. FAIRFAX COUNTY participated in BascoLEx on June 29 and in ResPhibLEx from July 18 through July 23. During the latter exercise, she acted as plane guard for USS GUAM (LPH 9) and participated in the rescue of two helicopter pilots after their aircraft crashed. On August 3, she departed for Exercise Ocean Venture 81. During the exercise, she operated with an amphibious force that included GUAM, AUSTIN, HERMITAGE and USS NEWPORT (LST 1179), with Marines of the 38th Marine Amphibious Unit embarked. FAIRFAX COUNTY returned to Little Creek on August 22.

Preparations then began for another major yard period. On October 2, 1981, FAIRFAX COUNTY arrived at Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company at Chester, Pennsylvania, and entered dry dock on October 5. She left dry dock on December 14 and returned to Little Creek six days later. On January 5, 1982, she moved to Horne Brothers Shipbuilding at Newport News for further overhaul work. She remained there until June 2 and returned to Little Creek on June 4.

After several months of local operations, FAIRFAX COUNTY departed Little Creek on September 22, 1982, for refresher training at Guantanamo Bay. Training continued through October 23, after which she visited Key West and conducted amphibious refresher training in Onslow Bay. She returned to Little Creek on November 4 and undertook another two-week series of exercises in Onslow Bay during December.

On January 26, 1983, FAIRFAX COUNTY departed as a member of Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 1-83. The group was commanded by Amphibious Squadron Two and included USS GUADALCANAL (LPH 7), USS RALEIGH (LPD 1), USS PENSACOLA (LSD 38), SPARTANBURG COUNTY and FAIRFAX COUNTY, with the 22nd Marine Amphibious Unit embarked. The force was being deployed in support of the multinational peacekeeping presence in Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War. FAIRFAX COUNTY joined the Sixth Fleet on February 6, 1983, and anchored off Beirut on February 13. She remained on station for approximately two months, serving as part of the afloat base supporting American Marines ashore at Beirut International Airport. The multinational force was intended to support stability in Beirut following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and the subsequent evacuation arrangements, but the internal Lebanese conflict continued and the security situation remained unstable.

FAIRFAX COUNTY left the Lebanese station temporarily and arrived at Athens on April 20, 1983, for a five-day port visit. She returned off Beirut on April 28. On May 7, the ship came under fire from an unidentified position ashore. FAIRFAX COUNTY was not hit. Her crew got the ship underway and moved her away from the threatened area within approximately seven minutes. No casualties or ship damage resulted.

The Beirut security environment deteriorated further during the spring. The U.S. Embassy had been bombed on April 18, killing scores of people, but FAIRFAX COUNTY's deployment ended several months before the October 23 bombing of the Marine barracks. She departed her station on May 27, briefly visited Rota on June 7 and crossed the Atlantic, returning to Little Creek on June 27.

In August 1983, FAIRFAX COUNTY resumed amphibious refresher training in Chesapeake Bay and Onslow Bay. In early September, she participated in ReadEx 2-83 in the Caribbean. During October, she visited Alexandria, Virginia, where the crew marked the ship's commissioning anniversary with representatives of Fairfax County.

The first five months of 1984 were devoted principally to training. In February, FAIRFAX COUNTY also undertook a special assignment directed by the Chief of Naval Operations at Wallops Island, Virginia. On June 13, she departed for one of the longest and most geographically varied deployments of her career: Unitas XXV followed by West African Training Cruise 84. The combined deployment was intended to promote interoperability and professional cooperation between American forces and the armed forces of participating South American and West African countries. FAIRFAX COUNTY carried approximately 180 Marines for the amphibious component and served as the principal amphibious ship of the American force.

The first stages of Unitas XXV brought FAIRFAX COUNTY through the Caribbean. She visited Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, from June 27 through June 28, 1984. She was at Covenas, Colombia, from July 1 through July 2 and again from July 6 through July 7, with a call at Cartagena from July 4 through July 5 between those periods. She transited the Panama Canal on July 9 and made a brief stop at Rodman, Panama. FAIRFAX COUNTY then proceeded to Tumaco, Colombia, where American and Colombian Marines conducted amphibious training on July 13 and July 14. She embarked Ecuadorian Marines at Esmeraldas, Ecuador, and conducted landing exercises at Valdivia on July 18 and July 19. Calls at Guayaquil and Callao followed. FAIRFAX COUNTY reached Callao on July 25 and participated in activities associated with Peru's Independence Day, including a naval parade on July 29. Peruvian Marines were subsequently embarked for amphibious exercises at Salinas in early August.

After returning to Callao, FAIRFAX COUNTY continued south and arrived at Antofagasta, Chile, on August 10, 1984. Thousands of local visitors toured the ship during the three-day call. She then proceeded to Punta Aldea for amphibious training with Chilean naval and Marine forces. FAIRFAX COUNTY arrived at Valparaiso on August 16 and conducted further amphibious landing training at Isla Santa Maria on August 21. On August 22, 1984, FAIRFAX COUNTY arrived at Talcahuano for repairs and training and remained there until August 31. She then continued south through Chilean coastal waterways, stopping at Puerto Montt, Quellon and several smaller communities before reaching Punta Arenas on September 7. Admiral James D. Watkins visited the ship during this period. FAIRFAX COUNTY departed Punta Arenas on September 8 and anchored at Golfo Nuevo, Argentina, on September 11 for maintenance and training.

She reached Montevideo, Uruguay, on September 19 and spent approximately one week there for maintenance and additional training. After subsequent amphibious exercises she arrived at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on October 2. Unitas XXV concluded for FAIRFAX COUNTY with training at Restinga da Marambaia on October 9. The ship then crossed the Atlantic for West African Training Cruise 84. FAIRFAX COUNTY arrived at Dakar, Senegal, on October 19; Freetown, Sierra Leone, from October 21 through October 23; Lome, Togo, from October 24 through October 26; and Matadi, Zaire, on October 27. During the Matadi visit she delivered food, medical supplies and educational material under Project Handclasp.

FAIRFAX COUNTY continued to Port-Gentil, Gabon, from November 1 through November 3, 1984, and Libreville from November 5 through November 6. She visited Sao Tome on November 8, Douala, Cameroon, on November 12 and November 13, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on November 15 and Lome again on November 16. Her final West African port was Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, where she arrived on November 21. She departed for home on November 23 and returned to Little Creek on December 5, ending nearly six months of continuous overseas operations.

During the first months of 1985, FAIRFAX COUNTY resumed training from Little Creek. On April 13, she visited Alexandria and hosted local representatives including members of the Northern Virginia Navy League. In May, she conducted exercises in the Virginia Capes operating area with HARLAN COUNTY and arrived at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 16 for liberty. During the second half of June, she participated in Exercise Solid Shield 85 and subsequently visited New York City for Independence Day.

FAIRFAX COUNTY departed Little Creek on August 5, 1985, for Quebec City, where she arrived on August 9 during celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the Canadian Navy. She then sailed south and reached Salem, Massachusetts, on August 17, hosting receptions and public tours. The ship returned to Little Creek on August 21.

On September 25, 1985, as Hurricane Gloria approached the U.S. East Coast, FAIRFAX COUNTY put to sea rather than remain exposed in port. She subsequently proceeded to Guantanamo Bay for refresher training, which ended on November 3. After returning home, she departed again on December 25 for Caribbean law-enforcement operations. FAIRFAX COUNTY intercepted vessels suspected of drug smuggling and escorted detained vessels toward Guantanamo Bay. She returned to Little Creek on January 21, 1986. During the following months, FAIRFAX COUNTY trained, underwent modifications and received a Phalanx close-in weapon system, increasing her ability to defend herself against short-range air and missile threats. She departed for the Mediterranean on May 7 with a Seabee detachment aboard and embarked Marine units at Morehead City the following day.

Soon after leaving the coast, FAIRFAX COUNTY encountered severe weather with winds reported at approximately 60 knots and seas reaching around 30 feet. She nevertheless completed the Atlantic crossing and arrived at Rota on May 19. From May 22 through May 26, she conducted amphibious operations in the Sierra del Retin area in southern Spain and arrived at Benidorm on May 30. After leaving Benidorm on June 7, 1986, FAIRFAX COUNTY participated in a number of exercises, including Toulex with USS PORTLAND (LSD 37), followed by Beeces and search-and-rescue training. From June 19 through June 26, she took part in Operation Tridente before proceeding to Trieste. Amphibious assault exercises followed at Torre Veneri in early July.

FAIRFAX COUNTY entered Naples on July 15, 1986, and remained there until August 21 while repairs were conducted. On August 27, she arrived at Marseille, France, for a restricted availability. She returned to sea on September 19 for Operation Display Determination 86. The large multinational operation consisted of several phases involving amphibious assault, mine-countermeasure and naval gunnery activities. FAIRFAX COUNTY participated through the concluding phase around Saros Bay, Turkey, before heading west.

She arrived at Rota on October 19, 1986, completed turnover and began the voyage home. FAIRFAX COUNTY reached Little Creek on November 4. Following post-deployment stand-down and local operations, she entered another maintenance period. The ship arrived at Metro Machine Shipyard on January 6, 1987, and entered dry dock on February 9. She left dry dock on March 29, conducted sea trials in late April and returned to Little Creek on May 9. Inspections and training occupied much of the summer of 1987. FAIRFAX COUNTY returned to Metro Machine late in August and entered dry dock again for additional maintenance. She emerged during September and spent the remainder of the year conducting local training and inspections.

In February 1988, FAIRFAX COUNTY returned to Guantanamo Bay for interim refresher training. She arrived on February 8 and remained in the training cycle until March 4, returning to Little Creek on March 12. On March 28, she began approximately two weeks of amphibious refresher training and returned on April 7. Inspections later in April revealed serious problems with one of her ship-service diesel generators, keeping the ship in port through early June.

FAIRFAX COUNTY returned to sea on June 7, 1988, and trained in the Onslow Bay and Vieques operating areas during preparations for another Sixth Fleet deployment. She returned to Little Creek on June 28 for final preparations and departed with Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 2-88 on August 2. She arrived at Rota on August 14 for turnover and subsequently visited Alicante. On September 5, 1988, FAIRFAX COUNTY resumed amphibious operations, training around Torre Veneri near Brindisi and later at Capo Teulada. On September 25, she headed east toward Doganbey for Operation Display Determination 88. At the conclusion of that operation she arrived at Gölcük, Turkey, on October 13 for a maintenance availability lasting almost two weeks.

FAIRFAX COUNTY departed Gölcük on October 26 and reached Naples four days later. On November 4, she got underway for amphibious activity near Pian di Spille. She subsequently visited Port Mahon on Menorca and proceeded to Sierra del Retin for a combined amphibious exercise with the Spanish Navy. After a short visit to Tangier, Morocco, FAIRFAX COUNTY participated in Operation African Eagle 88, which included another amphibious landing evolution. After African Eagle ended in early December, FAIRFAX COUNTY proceeded to Marseille, where she remained into January 1989. On January 6, she conducted amphibious assault training near Sete, France. She arrived at Malaga on January 10 and reached Rota on January 14 for turnover. The ship departed for the United States on January 20, disembarked her Marine contingent at Morehead City and returned to Little Creek on February 2.

During March 1989, FAIRFAX COUNTY operated with Marine Reserve units around Galveston, Texas. She also visited Corpus Christi and Key West and supported Coast Guard law-enforcement operations in the Gulf of Mexico. These operations resulted in the seizure of approximately 25,000 pounds of marijuana. After a brief stop at Guantanamo Bay, she reached Ocho Rios, Jamaica, on April 4 for liberty and returned to Little Creek on April 13.

On April 29, 1989, FAIRFAX COUNTY arrived in New York City for Fleet Week. The ship was opened to visitors and her crew participated in ceremonial and public events before returning home on May 5. She subsequently trained in the Virginia Capes operating area and on May 31 arrived at Newport, Rhode Island, to serve as a training-assistance ship for the Diesel Engineering School. After additional amphibious training, FAIRFAX COUNTY entered Metro Machine Shipyard on June 14, 1989, for a maintenance availability that continued until September 7. Following inspections and ammunition loading at Naval Weapons Station Earle, New Jersey, the ship encountered the fishing vessel CHRISTIE LYNN, which was on fire. FAIRFAX COUNTY and Coast Guard personnel helped suppress the fire and save the vessel. The remainder of the year was spent largely in Onslow Bay and the Virginia Capes conducting exercises.

After additional training early in 1990, FAIRFAX COUNTY departed on February 20 for Baltimore and arrived the following day. The visit coincided with the Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference. Among those hosted aboard were Baltimore officials, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Carlisle A. H. Trost and other senior military and civilian guests. The ship departed Baltimore on February 25 and conducted five days of amphibious training in Onslow Bay.

Inspections occupied March and early April 1990, followed by approximately two weeks of refresher training. Type Commander amphibious training took place in Onslow Bay during early May. On June 6, FAIRFAX COUNTY departed Little Creek, embarked Marines at Morehead City on June 7 and joined Fleet Exercise 3-90, which continued through June 25. July was devoted primarily to preparations for a new Mediterranean deployment.

FAIRFAX COUNTY departed Little Creek on August 6, 1990, with Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 3-90 and embarked Marines at Morehead City on August 7. The force included INCHON, USS NASHVILLE (LPD 13), NEWPORT and FAIRFAX COUNTY, while other amphibious units were also operating in connection with the crisis off Liberia. Instead of proceeding directly to the normal turnover at Rota, the amphibious force was diverted toward West Africa as Liberia's civil war threatened foreign nationals in Monrovia.

FAIRFAX COUNTY arrived at Mamba Station off Liberia on August 20 as part of Operation Sharp Edge, the U.S. non-combatant evacuation operation. The amphibious force had to reorganize personnel, equipment and berthing arrangements to support evacuation activity and the prolonged offshore presence. After participating in this initial phase, FAIRFAX COUNTY and several other ships were released to continue their scheduled Mediterranean deployment while additional forces remained off Liberia. By August 31, INCHON, NASHVILLE, NEWPORT and FAIRFAX COUNTY had reached Rota.

FAIRFAX COUNTY departed Rota on September 4, 1990, for an amphibious exercise in the Sierra del Retin area and provided supplies and support to forces ashore. The exercise concluded on September 9. She subsequently visited Benidorm from September 13 through September 15 and Messina from September 22 through September 30. On October 1, 1990, FAIRFAX COUNTY entered Operation Display Determination 90. On October 12, she served as advance-force commander for a combined amphibious assault at Saros Bay. Following the exercise, she proceeded to Naples for upkeep. Members of the crew traveled to Rome, where they attended an audience with Pope John Paul II on October 24.

FAIRFAX COUNTY's November itinerary included Toulon, Izmir and Trieste. While at Trieste she hosted diplomatic receptions for American and regional representatives. She returned to Rota on December 13, where elements of the amphibious force that had remained associated with Operation Sharp Edge eventually rejoined the normal deployment cycle. FAIRFAX COUNTY departed on December 31 and arrived at Toulon on January 1, 1991, for an availability period. She left Toulon on January 14, 1991, and operated with Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 3-90 during the opening of Operation Desert Storm. Although FAIRFAX COUNTY remained in the Mediterranean rather than deploying into the Persian Gulf, her group maintained a contingency presence, monitored merchant traffic and remained available should developments elsewhere in the Mediterranean or North Africa require intervention while major American forces were committed to the Gulf War. FAIRFAX COUNTY did not receive combat tasking during this period.

The deployment continued until February 15. FAIRFAX COUNTY and the ready group arrived at Almeria on February 16 for turnover, subsequently stopped at Rota and departed for the United States on February 21. After disembarking Marines at Morehead City, FAIRFAX COUNTY reached Little Creek on March 4. On March 26, 1991, she entered Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Company for a maintenance availability lasting approximately three months.

She returned to Little Creek on May 25 for completion of the remaining work, conducted sea trials in early July and then began preparations for another deployment. Training in September included amphibious operations around Onslow Bay. In early October, she conducted underway replenishment training with USNS JOHN LENTHALL (T-AO 189) and a landing exercise near Little Creek.

The political crisis in Haiti following the September 1991 coup against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide affected FAIRFAX COUNTY's training schedule. During October, she operated in the Caribbean as part of contingency preparations in case American forces were required to intervene or evacuate civilians. No such operation was ordered for FAIRFAX COUNTY at that time.

After final preparations in November, FAIRFAX COUNTY departed Little Creek on December 5, 1991, embarked Marines at Morehead City on December 6 and crossed the Atlantic with Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 1-92. The group reached Rota on December 18. FAIRFAX COUNTY subsequently anchored off Sierra del Retin for amphibious training and ended the year at Barcelona. After a brief visit to Toulon early in January 1992, FAIRFAX COUNTY sailed toward Marseille. On January 8, she collided with SHREVEPORT during a towing exercise. FAIRFAX COUNTY's large bow derrick arms scraped along SHREVEPORT's forward port side and dislodged three of the amphibious transport dock's lifeboats. Two of the boats were recovered by FAIRFAX COUNTY. No casualties were reported.

FAIRFAX COUNTY reached Marseille on January 9 for a short visit and moved to Toulon on January 15. She departed on January 17 for Exercise Mayflower 1-92 and arrived at Kalamata, Greece, on January 26. On January 31, she reached Haifa, Israel, for an availability period. She departed the eastern Mediterranean on February 14 and arrived at Rota on February 25. During March 1992, FAIRFAX COUNTY visited Lisbon and Villefranche-sur-Mer, France. In early April, she arrived at Civitavecchia, Italy, and on April 14 entered Izmir, Turkey, for another availability. She departed ten days later and used Augusta Bay, Sicily, as a training anchorage from April 26 through April 29. Beginning on April 30, FAIRFAX COUNTY entered the sequence of operations associated with Exercise Dragon Hammer 92, including training at Civitavecchia and Pian di Spille.

Dragon Hammer concluded on May 17, 1992. FAIRFAX COUNTY reached Rota for turnover on May 21 and departed two days later. She returned to Little Creek on June 5. During July, she supported midshipman training. Later in the summer, she visited Oyster Bay, New York, and in September returned to Alexandria, Virginia, for a visit sponsored by the Northern Virginia Council of the Navy League.

On October 13, 1992, FAIRFAX COUNTY entered Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Company for a phased maintenance availability. She entered dry dock on November 27 and remained there into the new year. The ship left dry dock on January 3, 1993, and on January 30 was towed back to Little Creek for completion of work and inspections. FAIRFAX COUNTY began sea trials on February 8, 1993, but suffered a crankcase explosion in her Number 2A main propulsion diesel engine and had to return to Little Creek. She did not return to sea until March 24. During further training in early April, the forward balance-shaft bearing of her Number 1 ship-service diesel generator failed, requiring additional repairs.

Late in April 1993, FAIRFAX COUNTY embarked Marines at Morehead City and joined Exercise Ocean Venture. She transported the embarked force to Roosevelt Roads and participated in operations around St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. When the exercise ended, she returned the Marines to Morehead City and arrived back at Little Creek on May 27. The remainder of the year was largely devoted to local operations, training, inspections and maintenance as the ship approached the final phase of her U.S. Navy career.

By early 1994, the Navy had decided to dispose of FAIRFAX COUNTY as part of the post-Cold War reduction of older amphibious ships, and arrangements were being made for her transfer to Australia. Royal Australian Navy personnel inspected the ship during the transition period. FAIRFAX COUNTY nevertheless continued limited operations and public visits. On March 8, 1994, she departed for Portland, Maine, and participated in the Casco Bay Festival from March 10 through March 14, receiving more than 5,000 visitors. On March 25, she arrived at St. Petersburg, Florida, for the Festival of the States, where several thousand additional visitors toured the ship. A brief call at Key West followed before FAIRFAX COUNTY returned to Little Creek on April 8.

Late in April, she proceeded to New Bedford, Massachusetts, to participate in memorial ceremonies commemorating those killed during Exercise Tiger in April 1944, when American forces preparing for the Normandy invasion suffered heavy losses during a German attack on an amphibious training convoy. FAIRFAX COUNTY returned to Little Creek on May 3 and resumed preparations for decommissioning. Her last major ceremonial visit as an active American ship began on July 1, 1994, when FAIRFAX COUNTY sailed up the Potomac River to Alexandria. During both the outward and return passages she rendered honors while passing Mount Vernon, the home and tomb of George Washington. The visit was particularly appropriate for a ship bearing the name of Fairfax County, where Mount Vernon is located.

The U.S. Navy administratively decommissioned FAIRFAX COUNTY and struck her from the Naval Vessel Register on August 17, 1994, ending almost twenty-three years of commissioned American service. The ship subsequently began the transfer process to Australia under the Security Assistance Program. She arrived at Sydney on September 19. A formal U.S. Navy decommissioning and transfer ceremony was held at Fleet Base East on September 27, marking the ceremonial transfer of the former FAIRFAX COUNTY to Australia.

During her U.S. Navy career, FAIRFAX COUNTY received a number of unit and service awards. Her documented distinctions included the Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with a Bronze Service Star, Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, two Navy Battle "E" Ribbons, Navy Expeditionary Medal for qualifying operations including Lebanon and Operation Sharp Edge, National Defense Service Medal with a Bronze Service Star, Humanitarian Service Medal, Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with a Silver Service Star. Her officially credited Lebanon service included periods from February 12 through April 18 and from April 27 through May 30, 1983, while qualifying service associated with Operation Sharp Edge extended from August 5, 1990, through February 21, 1991.

The Royal Australian Navy commissioned the former FAIRFAX COUNTY as HMAS MANOORA (L 52) at Sydney on November 25, 1994. She and former USS SAGINAW (LST 1188), which became HMAS KANIMBLA, had been acquired to improve Australia's amphibious lift capability. Although initially based on the existing NEWPORT-class configuration, both ships were subsequently subjected to major conversion work.

HMAS MANOORA was decommissioned at Fleet Base East, Garden Island, Sydney, on May 27, 2011. Her retirement came more than forty years after the hull had first entered the water as FAIRFAX COUNTY in December 1970. In 2013, the Australian government disposed of MANOORA together with former SAGINAW, by then HMAS KANIMBLA, for dismantling in the United States. The disposal contract was signed on May 20, 2013, and the sale was publicly announced in June. MANOORA and KANIMBLA were subsequently towed together across the Pacific and through the Panama Canal. The tandem tow was taken over by the tug ELSBETH II on September 12, and the former amphibious ships reached Gulfport, Mississippi, on October 3. They were subsequently separated and moved individually to the recycling facility for dismantling.

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