USS Sumter ( LST - 1181 ) USS " Sumter " ( LST - 1181 ) was the third ship of the twenty ship , which replaced the traditional bow door design LST . Two derrick arms support a capacity , long bow ramp for the unloading of tanks and other vehicles ashore , additionally , amphibious vehicles can be launched from the tank deck via the ship ' s stern gate and the ship ' s flight deck can accommodate most Navy helicopter types . A between - decks ramp allows easy access from the tank deck to the main deck to off - load all equipment from the bow . History . The third " Sumter " was laid down on 14 November 1967 by the Naval Shipyard , Philadelphia , Pa . ; launched on 13 December 1969 ; sponsored by Mrs . Strom Thurmond ; and commissioned on 20 June 1970 , Comdr . James C . Hayes in command . Sumter fitted out at Philadelphia and then held sea trials in the Virginia Capes area . On 21 August , she got underway for the Panama Canal , via Norfolk , Virginia , Charleston , South Carolina , and Montego Bay , Jamaica . The canal was transited on 7 September 1970 ; and the LST continued to Long Beach , her homeport , after a port call at Acapulco , Mexico . She operated along the California coast until 30 April 1971 when she deployed to the 7th Fleet in the western Pacific . Sumter returned to Long Beach on 18 June . In July and August she made a cruise to British Columbia and then resumed local operations from her home port . She had a restricted availability period at the Todd Shipyard , San Pedro , from 21 November 1971 until 7 January 1972 when she returned to sea for refresher training . The ship continued local operations until she again deployed to the western Pacific , on 31 March , for a tour that did not end until 6 December 1972 when she returned to Long Beach for an upkeep period . Sumter sailed from Long Beach , on 6 January 1973 , for the east coast of the United States . The canal was transited on 19 January ; and she arrived at Little Creek , Virginia , her new home port , on the 29th . The following six months were spent in periods of upkeep and independent steaming cruises . On 29 August , Sumter sailed to Morehead City , N . C . , where she embarked marines , and then steamed east to join the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean . She called at ports in Spain , Turkey , Sardinia , Italy , Crete , and Greece before returning to Little Creek on 10 December 1973 . On 12 February 1974 , Sumter sailed to Morehead City to onload marines for exercises in the Caribbean and returned to Little Creek on 8 March . In April she made a voyage to Boston and , the following month , held additional exercises in the Caribbean before returning to her homeport on 3 July . Sumter stood out of Little Creek , on 16 August 1974 , en route to the Mediterranean and her second tour with the 6th Fleet . In January 1975 , the LST was still serving with that fleet . 17 August 1986 Sumter Sortied to Embark Marines in Morehead City to begin the first phase of Deployment Northern Wedding 1986 . This under Commander Stephen H . Ries . On 28 August crossed the Arctic Circle en route to the Norwegian Fjords . This cruise continued with visits or transits of Norway , Scotland , Denmark , Germany , Netherlands , England , Portugal , Spain , Morocco , Eastern Mediterranean , Sicily , Italy , France and Spain . Fate . Decommissioned 30 September 1993 and leased to the Republic of China Navy as " Chung Ping " ( LST - 233 ) . Disposed of through the Security Assistance Program ( SAP ) , transferred , cash sale , ex - US fleet hull foreign military sale case number assigned , 29 September 2000 . Struck from the Naval Vessel Register , 23 July 2002 .