BRP Sierra Madre

Common card · No. 206397

BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) is an LST-542-class tank landing ship that is an active duty commissioned vessel under the Philippine Navy. Originally known as USS LST-821, it was renamed to USS Harnett County (LST-821/AGP-821), built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Harnett County, North Carolina and was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. It served the United States Navy in World War II and the Vietnam War. It was transferred to South Vietnam's Republic of Vietnam Navy, which named her RVNS My Tho (HQ-800). After the Vietnam War, Harnett County was transferred to the Philippine Navy, which named her BRP Sierra Madre. In 1999, the Philippine government deliberately had her run aground on Ayungin Shoal in the Spratly Islands to serve as an outpost of the Philippine Marine Corps to affirm the Philippines' exclusive economic zone amid its dispute with China over the Spratly Islands, and it still serves such function as of 2025.

Read on Wikipedia · Image Ed Pietzuch, (HA(L)-3), US Navy, Public domain