Peru Looking for Newer Second-Hand LSTs

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Defense Industry Daily

Peru Looking for Newer Second-Hand LSTs
29-Nov-2009 17:09 EST

On Nov 23/09, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Peru’s formal request for the 2 Newport Class Tank Landing Ships Fresno (LST-1182, commissioned 1969) and Racine (LST-1191, commissioned 1971) from Navy storage. Technically, Newport and Charleston class ships are held in reserve status under the Amphibious Lift Enhancement Program (ALEP), as the Newport Class is one of the 4 ship classes being replaced by the LPD-17 San Antonio Class. Part of the sale process, therefore, involves a formal designation of these 2 ships as “excess defense articles.”

Peru currently operates 3 former US Navy Paita (ex-Terrebonne Parish) class LSTs, which were laid down in the mid-1950s and transferred in 1984…

The prime contractors for its porposed new purchase will be VSE Corporation of Alexandria, VA, and Fairbanks Morse of San Diego, CA. The estimated cost is $82 million, and the request will include 7m-11m rigid inflatable boats (RHIBs), plus spare and repairs parts, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor support services, and other related support.

If a contract is signed later, implementation of this proposed sale will require 3 years of contractor technical and logistics support, plus semi-annual program management and technical reviews thereafter.

The US Navy’s maritime strategy’s hard shift away from littoral regions has been counter-balanced in recent years by its soft-power and global sharing foci, which places a high priority on versatile amphibious ships.


Read more: http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Peru-Looking-for-Newer-Second-Hand-LSTs-05988/

[bertman]

1. Who are they planning to invade? Or are there other peacetime uses for these vessels that

I am not aware of?

[Thor_2008]

2. Huge Peace Time Usage

These ships transport everything from landing craft, helos and small boats. They are important vessels for almost any type of military operation or relief operation. The US Navy is always the first on the scene with relief in all corners or the planet. LSTs like thses older and very hard to maintain vessels will be very useful. some countries like the Philippines are still using LSTs that we used at the battle of Iwo Jima and elsewhere in the pacific.

The US Navy delivers thousands of tonnes of food, fuel, potable water and relief each year around the planet. Every cruise that the Navy undertakes always includes some relief operations these are called COMREL projects not to mention humanitarian missions

[bertman]

3. Thanks, Thor. I'm just wondering if the Peruvian Navy is planning on doing any relief work.

[Thor_2008]

4. they can help their neighbors and maybe themselves.

Also we can sell off our old ships for some new cash. These LSTs are very very hard to maintain and tend to be more expensive than their modern counterparts. We sale off a large portion of our old vessels and put some into mothballs, and a large portion are actually sunk for new reefs. and old hulk on the bottom is a great reef for fish or corals. have dove on a number of old ships and the fish at the hulks are just incredible.

[bertman]

5. I appreciate the info. Welcome to DU.

[Vincardog]

6. There is one on ebay for only about $125,000