BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) - ex USS Harnett County (LST-821)

[adroth]

Temporarily posting this on the Gen Disc section. Will move to the AFP organizations section once it drifts down to the 2nd page

This is the BRP Sierra Madre, current functioning as a garrison on Ayungin shoal.

Its worth noting that until a few years ago, sharing photos of this ship / garrison, would generate all manner of shoulder-taps to have it taken down because the AFP didn't want to highlight its mission.

Today . . . it is a symbol of both defiance and decay.

See also: How this forum supports the troops on this garrison

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History

http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160821.htm

LST-542 Class Tank Landing Ship

Laid down, 19 September 1944, at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville, IN.
Launched, 27 October 1944
Commissioned USS LST-821, 22 November 1944, at New Orleans, LA., LT. Carl J. Rudine, USNR, in command
Decommissioned, 8 July 1946, at Vancouver, WA.
Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group
Named USS Harnett County (LST-821), 1 July 1955
Recommissioned, 20 August 1966, LT. J. P. W. Decker in command
Redesignated a Patrol Craft Tender, (AGP-821) in the spring of 1970
Decommissioned, 12 October 1970, at Guam
Transferred to South Vietnam under the Security Assistance Program, 12 October 1970, renamed RVNS My Tho (HQ-800)
Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
Transferred to the Philippines, 5 April 1976 after the fall of the South Vietnamese government, renamed BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57)

From: http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/1016082101.jpg





From: http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/1016082117.jpg





From: http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/1016082101.jpg



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Where BRP Sierra Madre is today

[adroth]

[adroth]

[gemini1]

Mods, pls delete if opsec.

I wonder if the main or secondary guns is/are still functional?

In 2002, A GMA report, shows the ship still in good condition. The hull showing cleanish gray paint. And the gun (40mm?) is seen with its protective cover. But on the last report in 2014(?), when supplies was air dropped, the ship has already shown its sorry state of dilapidation. And the aft gun no longer has the cover.

[adroth]

FINALLY . . . the PN's own FB page shows improvements to BRP Sierra Madre

https://www.facebook.com/navalforceswest/posts/1448060261915503



That means . . . information about these improvements are fair game. This how the garrison NOW looks on Google Maps.



This is how it looked during the previous administration. Contrast this with the condition of the ship today. Details of what else has been done within the vessel are not open to the public.

[adroth]

Photos from 2014 BEFORE the most recent set seen here: http://defenseph.net/drp/index.php?topic=393.msg7674#msg7674

Contrast the photos in the link above with those below from here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-20/oil-key-in-spratly-islands-dispute-south-china-sea/5463080

[adroth]

Timawa Donation Group air drop in 2013

Airdrop

[adroth]

Timawa Donation Group air drop in 2013

Visual confirmation of recovery of air drop

[adroth]

Resupply mission in 2017 caught on Google Earth

[adroth]

PhilGEPS