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USS Sumter (LST 1181)

USS SUMTER was the third NEWPORT - class Tank Landing Ship. Decommissioned on September 30, 1993, the SUMTER was transfered to the Taiwanese Navy in 1997. There she was recommissioned as CHUNG PING.

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Crew List:

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

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USS SUMTER Cruise Books:

• Mediterranean Cruise Book 1990

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USS SUMTER History:

USS SUMTER was laid down at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 14, 1967. She was launched on December 13, 1969, sponsored by Mrs. Strom Thurmond, and commissioned on June 20, 1970, with Commander James C. Hayes in command. Following fitting-out at Philadelphia, SUMTER conducted sea trials in the Virginia Capes operating area. Assigned to the Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet, she departed the East Coast on August 21, 1970, beginning the long passage to her first home port at Long Beach, California. Her route took her through Norfolk, Virginia, Charleston, South Carolina, and Montego Bay, Jamaica. SUMTER transited the Panama Canal on September 7 and subsequently called at Acapulco, Mexico, before continuing north to southern California. After arriving at Long Beach she entered the normal cycle of local operations, training and qualification that prepared the newly commissioned ship for overseas deployment.

SUMTER departed Long Beach on April 30, 1971, for her first deployment with the Seventh Fleet in the western Pacific. The deployment took place during the continuing Vietnam War as American ground forces were being progressively withdrawn from South Vietnam while naval and air forces remained active throughout the region. SUMTER's first western Pacific tour was relatively short, and she returned to Long Beach on June 18, 1971. During July and August, she made a cruise to British Columbia and then resumed operations along the California coast. On November 21, she entered Todd Shipyard at San Pedro, California, for a restricted availability. The yard period continued until January 7, 1972, after which SUMTER returned to sea for refresher training and further preparations for overseas service.

Her second western Pacific deployment began on March 31, 1972. This cruise coincided with a major escalation of the Vietnam War. The North Vietnamese Easter Offensive began almost simultaneously with SUMTER's departure, prompting an increased American naval and air presence around Vietnam. By May 25, official Marine Corps reporting placed SUMTER in Amphibious Ready Group Delta together with USS JUNEAU (LPD 10), USS ALAMO (LSD 33) and USS TUSCALOOSA (LST 1187). The amphibious force carried Marines centered on Battalion Landing Team 2/9 and remained available for contingencies while operating in the waters around Vietnam and the western Pacific.

Later in the deployment, SUMTER operated within Amphibious Ready Group Bravo. By the autumn, the group included USS NEW ORLEANS (LPH 11), USS JUNEAU and USS ALAMO, with the 33rd Marine Amphibious Unit embarked. The force continued operations in the western Pacific before moving toward Okinawa as the deployment cycle progressed.

SUMTER's 1972 deployment was also marked by serious racial tension among embarked personnel. Disputes involving Black and White Marines had developed during the deployment and culminated in violent confrontations aboard the ship in late August and early September. A particularly serious racial brawl occurred on September 7. Three Black Marines were subsequently charged with offenses that initially included mutiny and assault, although the mutiny charges were later dropped. The incident occurred during a period when racial tensions were a wider disciplinary and personnel problem within parts of the U.S. armed forces and was not an isolated phenomenon within the deployed fleet.

After more than eight months overseas, SUMTER returned to Long Beach on December 6, 1972, and entered an upkeep period. Her two western Pacific deployments constituted her operational service in support of the American effort in Vietnam, for which the ship received two battle stars.

Only one month after returning from the western Pacific, SUMTER began a major change in assignment. She departed Long Beach on January 6, 1973, bound for the East Coast. She transited the Panama Canal on January 19 and arrived at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia, on January 29. Little Creek became her home port for the remainder of her U.S. Navy career. The following six months were spent in upkeep periods and independent steaming operations while the ship prepared for Atlantic Fleet and Sixth Fleet commitments.

SUMTER departed Little Creek on August 29, 1973, and proceeded to Morehead City, North Carolina, where Marines and their equipment were embarked for her first Mediterranean deployment. During the cruise, she called at ports in Spain, Turkey, Sardinia, Italy, Crete and Greece. The deployment coincided with the Yom Kippur War, which began on October 6 when Egyptian and Syrian forces attacked Israeli positions. The conflict brought both American and Soviet naval forces in the Mediterranean to heightened readiness and produced one of the most serious superpower confrontations in the region during the Cold War.

SUMTER formed part of the substantial American amphibious presence available during the crisis. Ships associated with the reinforced amphibious forces included USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC 20), USS GUADALCANAL (LPH 7), USS AUSTIN (LPD 4), USS NASHVILLE (LPD 13), USS FORT SNELLING (LSD 30), USS PENSACOLA (LSD 38), USS MANITOWOC (LST 1180), USS IWO JIMA (LPH 2) and USS HARLAN COUNTY (LST 1196). Amphibious ships concentrated south of Crete and elsewhere in the eastern Mediterranean while the Sixth Fleet maintained an elevated readiness posture.

On November 8, 1973, Marine Corps reporting showed elements of the 32nd Marine Amphibious Unit temporarily distributed aboard USS IWO JIMA, USS MANITOWOC, SUMTER and USS PENSACOLA while the normal amphibious shipping rotation was being reorganized. SUMTER subsequently completed her Mediterranean commitments and returned to Little Creek on December 10, 1973.

The ship resumed Atlantic Fleet amphibious training early in 1974. On February 12, SUMTER proceeded to Morehead City, embarked Marines and sailed for exercises in the Caribbean. She returned to Little Creek on March 8. In April, she made a voyage to Boston, Massachusetts. Additional Caribbean amphibious exercises followed during May and June, and SUMTER returned to Little Creek on July 3.

Her second Mediterranean deployment began on August 16, 1974. SUMTER operated with an amphibious group supporting the 32nd Marine Amphibious Unit. The principal ships included USS GUAM (LPH 9), USS PONCE (LPD 15), USS CHARLESTON (LKA 113), USS PLYMOUTH ROCK (LSD 29) and USS SPARTANBURG COUNTY (LST 1192), in addition to SUMTER.

The deployment initially carried the amphibious force northward for operations with allied forces. During the northern European phase, USS PLYMOUTH ROCK suffered an engineering casualty. SUMTER accompanied her toward Portland, England, where repairs could be undertaken. On October 9, SUMTER was at Portland with departure planned that day. She subsequently moved toward Cardiff, Wales, where her arrival was scheduled for October 12. Training with British forces formed part of this northern European phase before the ships returned toward the Mediterranean.

By late November, the group was operating in Italian waters. On November 27, SUMTER was at the Salerno training anchorage, with departure scheduled for November 30 and onward movement toward Livorno. The Mediterranean deployment continued through the winter. On January 22, 1975, SUMTER was documented at Naples. By February 19, she was at Ibiza, Spain, before joining the amphibious force for additional training off southeastern Spain. On February 26, SUMTER was at Carboneras during an amphibious exercise, with the group scheduled to depart on March 1. The deployment therefore continued into March 1975 before SUMTER returned to Atlantic Fleet operations. During the remainder of 1975, SUMTER continued the recurring cycle of amphibious training, maintenance, local operations and readiness preparations from Little Creek.

A major North Atlantic deployment followed in 1976. SUMTER participated in Exercise Teamwork 76, one of the large allied exercises designed to practice reinforcement of northern Europe and amphibious operations in Norwegian waters. By September 15, elements of the 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade were concentrated around Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands. The large amphibious task group included USS MOUNT WHITNEY, USS GUADALCANAL, USS RALEIGH (LPD 1), USS AUSTIN, USS NASHVILLE, USS HERMITAGE (LSD 34), USS CHARLESTON, USS MANITOWOC, USS FAIRFAX COUNTY (LST 1193), USS LA MOURE COUNTY (LST 1194), USS BARNSTABLE COUNTY (LST 1197) and SUMTER.

The principal amphibious assault phase of Teamwork 76 took place at Namsos, Norway, on September 20. The amphibious phase ended on September 23. The exercise reflected the Cold War requirement to demonstrate that North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces could move Marines and supporting equipment rapidly into Norway if the northern flank of the alliance were threatened.

SUMTER remained in northern European waters after Teamwork 76. During October, she participated in Exercise Bonded Item, which involved operations in Denmark and northern Germany. Marine elements were operating from areas including Oksbol and Esbjerg in Denmark, while the amphibious shipping continued supporting the movement and sustainment of the brigade.

SUMTER continued the Atlantic Fleet deployment cycle during 1977. By October, she was again in the Mediterranean with an amphibious group supporting the 34th Marine Amphibious Unit. The principal ships included USS GUADALCANAL, USS RALEIGH, USS PORTLAND (LSD 37), USS CHARLESTON and SUMTER.

On October 5, SUMTER was at Saros Bay, Turkey, during Exercise Display Determination 77, a major allied exercise on the southeastern flank of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Departure from Saros Bay was scheduled for October 7. USS MOUNT WHITNEY and USS SAGINAW (LST 1188) were among additional American ships associated with the exercise. The amphibious force subsequently moved through the eastern Mediterranean. On October 12, SUMTER was at Izmir, Turkey, where she was scheduled to remain until October 17.

The deployment continued through the closing months of 1977. In early December, SUMTER proceeded toward Sicily and was scheduled at Siracusa from December 8 through December 12. Around the turn of the year, she operated in the western Mediterranean, including a period at Barcelona, Spain. The amphibious group subsequently began its return across the Atlantic, with arrival at Morehead City expected on March 12, 1978.

SUMTER returned to northern European waters later in 1978 for Exercise Northern Wedding 78, a large allied naval and amphibious exercise intended to test reinforcement of northern Europe and protection of the North Atlantic sea routes. On September 1, the fleet oiler USS TRUCKEE (AO 147) refueled SUMTER at sea. The amphibious force operated around the Shetland Islands from September 8 through September 12 before shifting to Denmark. An amphibious phase at Oksbol followed from September 15 through September 17.

The amphibious formation supporting the 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade included USS MOUNT WHITNEY, USS FRANCIS MARION (LPA 249), USS RALEIGH, USS AUSTIN, USS SHREVEPORT (LPD 12), USS GUADALCANAL, USS PLYMOUTH ROCK, USS ANCHORAGE (LSD 36), USS MANITOWOC, USS SPARTANBURG COUNTY, USS LA MOURE COUNTY, USS HARLAN COUNTY and SUMTER. Northern Wedding 78 formed part of the extensive series of Cold War exercises intended to demonstrate that American and allied naval forces could reinforce Europe even in contested North Atlantic waters.

By the closing phase of the year, SUMTER was clearly associated with Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 2-79. A Marine Corps status report placed her with USS GUAM, USS CHARLESTON, USS PONCE, USS PENSACOLA, USS LA MOURE COUNTY, USS HARLAN COUNTY and USS BARNSTABLE COUNTY during the group's homeward movement, with arrival at Morehead City expected on November 6.

A major maintenance period followed. In March 1980, Metro Machine Corporation in Norfolk received a contract valued at approximately $5.35 million for SUMTER's regularly scheduled overhaul. The work formed part of the substantial periodic maintenance required to keep the ship's diesel propulsion machinery, hull, electrical plant, amphibious equipment and auxiliary systems operational after nearly a decade of intensive service.

SUMTER returned to the Mediterranean deployment cycle in 1981. The amphibious ready group supporting the 34th Marine Amphibious Unit deployed from June 4 through November 10 and consisted of USS GUADALCANAL, USS PONCE, USS PORTLAND, USS HARLAN COUNTY and SUMTER. On July 17, SUMTER was proceeding toward Taormina, Sicily, while the ships dispersed for a series of Mediterranean port visits.

The worsening political and security situation in Lebanon influenced Sixth Fleet planning throughout the deployment. The amphibious group was required to maintain a posture that would permit it to reach Lebanon within approximately 96 hours if ordered. During August, the ships visited several Italian ports; SUMTER was at Rapallo with departure scheduled for August 12. Later in the deployment, SUMTER participated in Exercise Display Determination 81, which ran from September 19 through October 14 and involved allied naval, air and ground forces in the Mediterranean. SUMTER and USS HARLAN COUNTY supported amphibious operations associated with the exercise, including the landing of Marines in the Doganbey area of Turkey on October 2. SUMTER completed the deployment with the group and returned to the United States on November 10.

Her next Mediterranean deployment placed her directly into the increasingly serious Lebanon crisis. SUMTER departed on August 23, 1982, with an amphibious group carrying the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit. The principal ships were USS INCHON (LPH 12), USS SHREVEPORT, USS FORT SNELLING, USS LA MOURE COUNTY and SUMTER. The early part of the deployment involved a succession of allied exercises, including Northern Wedding 82, Bold Guard and Display Determination. These exercises carried the amphibious force through northern European and Mediterranean waters before the group entered the Mediterranean on September 30.

Meanwhile, the political and military situation in Lebanon was deteriorating rapidly. Israel had invaded Lebanon in June 1982, and fighting involving Israeli forces, Palestinian organizations, Syrian forces and Lebanese factions had centered increasingly on Beirut. An initial multinational peacekeeping presence was followed by a renewed deployment after the massacres at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in September.

The 24th Marine Amphibious Unit assumed its portion of multinational-force duties in Beirut on November 3, 1982. Marines operated principally in the vicinity of Beirut International Airport, while SUMTER and the other amphibious ships provided offshore transportation, logistical support and the ability to reembark the landing force. The ships remained available as the Lebanese Civil War continued and the multinational force attempted to stabilize the area. The 24th Marine Amphibious Unit completed its Beirut responsibility on February 15, 1983. SUMTER and the other ships subsequently began the return phase of the deployment and reached the United States on March 9.

After post-deployment maintenance and another Atlantic Fleet training cycle, SUMTER returned to the Mediterranean on July 25, 1984. She sailed with an amphibious group that included USS INCHON, USS SHREVEPORT, USS HERMITAGE and USS LA MOURE COUNTY, supporting the 22nd Marine Amphibious Unit. During the initial part of the deployment, USS SHREVEPORT was detached at Rota, Spain, to embark helicopters and personnel connected with the American response to mines that had damaged shipping in the Red Sea. Personnel and equipment within the amphibious group consequently had to be redistributed among the remaining ships.

SUMTER participated in Exercise Display Determination 84 from September 17 through October 15. The deployment also included amphibious training with Tunisian and Moroccan forces. On October 25, SUMTER and USS INCHON responded to a maritime emergency involving the Panamanian merchant vessel SKY ONE, which was sinking in the Mediterranean. The two Navy ships assisted in search-and-rescue operations for the merchant ship's crew before returning to their scheduled deployment activities.

SUMTER remained in the Mediterranean through the winter and returned to the United States on February 20, 1985. Additional engineering and machinery maintenance followed during 1985 before the ship resumed the training cycle for her next major overseas deployment.

On August 17, 1986, SUMTER sortied toward Morehead City to embark Marines for another extended deployment; the formal deployment period began on August 18. She operated with USS SAIPAN (LHA 2) and USS RALEIGH in support of the 22nd Marine Amphibious Unit. The first phase carried SUMTER far into northern European waters. On August 28, she crossed the Arctic Circle while proceeding toward Norway. The force participated in Northern Wedding 86 and Bold Guard 86, exercises intended to practice allied reinforcement and defense of northern Europe. The cruise involved operations and visits associated with Norway, Scotland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and England before the ships turned south. Portugal and Spain were included in the southbound portion of the deployment.

The group came under Sixth Fleet operational control on October 19. During the closing days of October, Marines carried out a joint amphibious assault and live-fire exercise with Spanish Marines at Sierra de Retin in southern Spain. From November 8 through November 22, the force participated in Exercise African Eagle 86 off Morocco. In early December, another crisis-response exercise was conducted at Pian di Spille, Italy, using both helicopter and surface landing methods.

Operations continued into 1987. An amphibious exercise in the Venice area was scheduled early in January, although poor weather curtailed much of the planned activity. The ships subsequently operated around Augusta Bay, Sicily, during a period of extensive Sixth Fleet activity. Marine units then trained at Monte Romano in Italy. On January 25, landings and live-fire training were carried out at Monte Romano, but the Marines were unexpectedly ordered back aboard that night as tensions elsewhere in the Mediterranean increased. Rather than proceeding directly to the normal turnover area at Rota, the group shifted into the eastern Mediterranean and operated in the vicinity of Cyprus. Turnover with the relieving amphibious force was eventually carried out at sea. SUMTER then headed west with USS SAIPAN and USS RALEIGH and returned to the United States on February 28, 1987.

One of the most geographically extensive deployments of SUMTER's career began in June 1988. She was assigned to the West African Training Cruise, intended to conduct combined training and professional exchanges with a succession of West African armed forces. SUMTER was underway toward Africa from June 14 through June 24 and reached Nouakchott, Mauritania, for a visit from June 25 through June 27. She then proceeded south along the West African coast. SUMTER visited Abidjan, Ivory Coast, from July 3 through July 5; Tema, Ghana, from July 6 through July 7; Lome, Togo, from July 8 through July 9; Lagos, Nigeria, from July 10 through July 12; Douala, Cameroon, from July 14 through July 16; and Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, from July 16 through July 18. The embarked Marine detachment conducted training with host-nation forces during the cruise.

SUMTER left the West African phase on July 18 and crossed back toward the Caribbean. At Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, the West African Marine detachment was replaced by personnel assigned to Unitas XXIX. SUMTER therefore moved directly from one major training deployment into another without first returning to Little Creek. Unitas XXIX ran from July 23 through December 9, 1988, and carried SUMTER around South America. The principal American surface ships included USS NICHOLSON (DD 982), USS SAMPSON (DDG 10), USS W. S. SIMS (FF 1059) and SUMTER. USS SKIPJACK (SSN 585) and USS SHARK (SSN 591) participated during designated submarine phases.

The task group trained successively with naval forces from Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. SUMTER transited the Panama Canal during the deployment and then worked down the Pacific coast of South America. The Chilean portion of Unitas XXIX extended from September 22 through October 17 and included combined operations with Chilean forces. Continuing south, SUMTER operated in the vicinity of Punta Arenas and passed through the Strait of Magellan, moving from the Pacific into the South Atlantic. During the Brazilian phase, from November 7 through November 14, she operated with USS SAMPSON and Brazilian naval forces. Among the Brazilian ships involved was the tank landing ship DUQUE DE CAXIAS (G 26). Amphibious training at Marambaia involved both Brazilian Marines and the embarked American Marine detachment. Unitas XXIX concluded on December 9.

In 1989, SUMTER participated in Solid Shield 89, a large joint exercise conducted along the southeastern coast of the United States. On May 12 and May 13, she operated as part of an amphibious force that included USS NASHVILLE, USS PENSACOLA, USS CHARLESTON, USS HARLAN COUNTY and USS SAGINAW. USS SPRUANCE (DD 963) was among the surface combatants supporting the exercise. On May 27, landing craft associated with SUMTER were operating at Onslow Beach, North Carolina, as the amphibious phase continued.

SUMTER deployed again on March 8, 1990, with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. The amphibious group consisted principally of USS SAIPAN, USS PONCE and SUMTER. The ships crossed the Atlantic for what initially developed as a conventional Mediterranean deployment. From May 2 through May 14, SUMTER and the embarked force participated in Exercise Dragon Hammer 90, a large allied exercise conducted in the central and western Mediterranean. Later in May, the Marines trained at Camp de Canjuers in France while the amphibious ships entered Toulon for upkeep.

The deployment changed abruptly because of the worsening civil war in Liberia. Fighting had begun in December 1989, and by the spring of 1990 rebel forces were approaching Monrovia. On May 25, the amphibious force received orders to prepare for a possible evacuation of American citizens and other civilians. USS SAIPAN and SUMTER departed Toulon on May 27 and headed toward West Africa. USS PETERSON (DD 969) rendezvoused with them on May 29. USS PONCE initially remained behind to complete repairs before following. USS SAIPAN and SUMTER arrived off Liberia on June 3, and USS PONCE joined the force on June 4.

For approximately two months, the ships remained off Liberia as fighting ashore intensified. Their presence provided the United States with a force capable of securing evacuation routes, protecting the embassy and receiving evacuees at short notice. SUMTER temporarily left the immediate operating area on July 11 for an equator-crossing evolution and returned on July 14.

Operation Sharp Edge moved into its evacuation phase on August 5, 1990. Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit secured evacuation routes and moved civilians from the U.S. Embassy and other locations in Monrovia to the amphibious ships offshore. During the period in which the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit controlled the operation, 1,648 people were evacuated, including 132 American citizens and 1,516 citizens of other countries.

The evacuation unfolded at the same time as a separate major international crisis. Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, only three days before the Liberia evacuation began, forcing extensive changes in American naval deployments toward the Middle East. The amphibious force off Liberia nevertheless remained committed to Operation Sharp Edge until relieved. The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived off Liberia on August 20, and the outgoing Marines had reembarked by August 21. SUMTER then began the homeward portion of her deployment.

The next deployment cycle began with predeployment training off North Carolina on April 22, 1991. SUMTER operated with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and an amphibious force consisting of USS WASP (LHD 1), USS PONCE, USS EL PASO (LKA 117) and SUMTER. The deployment formally began on June 23. SUMTER was photographed underway in the Atlantic with embarked Marines on June 29 as the ships crossed toward Europe. The group entered the western Mediterranean in early July and began the normal combination of training, exercises and port visits.

During early September, the ships operated along the southern coast of France. On September 4, USS PONCE arrived at Six-Fours-la-Plage, SUMTER at Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and USS EL PASO at Saint-Raphael. The visits continued through September 6.

The deployment took place during a period of rapid geopolitical change. The Gulf War had ended earlier in 1991, the Soviet Union was approaching dissolution, and fighting associated with the breakup of Yugoslavia had begun. The amphibious force returned to the United States on December 18, 1991.

SUMTER remained active in East Coast amphibious training during 1992. From May 4 through May 8, personnel and twelve amphibious assault vehicles from the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion conducted crew-certification training aboard SUMTER in the Onslow operating area. The ship also took part in the wider amphibious training environment associated with Ocean Venture 92.

A serious maintenance accident occurred while SUMTER was at Little Creek on July 30, 1992. Three sailors were working on the carbon-dioxide fire-suppression system serving a paint-storage area when the system discharged. Petty Officer Third Class James Ryan, aged 22, and Fireman Daniel Delia, aged 20, died on July 30. Fireman Donald Bellows, aged 19, was hospitalized after the accident but died from his injuries on August 1.

SUMTER returned to deployment status in October. She sailed from Morehead City on October 21, 1992, with the amphibious force supporting the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit; the unit's official deployment period began on October 22. The principal ships included USS GUAM, USS AUSTIN, USS GUNSTON HALL (LSD 44), USS LA MOURE COUNTY and SUMTER. The deployment occurred while the conflict in the former Yugoslavia was expanding, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and American and allied naval forces were becoming increasingly active in the Adriatic. SUMTER entered the Adriatic during the deployment and is documented there on February 1, 1993.

During February, SUMTER and USS GUNSTON HALL were at Venice, while USS AUSTIN and USS LA MOURE COUNTY were at Trieste. SUMTER and USS GUNSTON HALL were scheduled to depart Venice on February 26. The deployment later shifted westward.

From March 26 through March 31, the amphibious force participated in Betacom 1-93 in Spain. SUMTER, USS AUSTIN, USS GUNSTON HALL and USS LA MOURE COUNTY were at Almeria during this phase, with departure planned for March 29 before the ships moved toward Rota. The group was scheduled to reassemble at Rota on March 31 for the final stages of the turnover and return voyage. SUMTER completed her final overseas deployment as a U.S. Navy ship on April 19, 1993.

After almost twenty-three years of commissioned service, SUMTER was decommissioned on September 30, 1993. Her retirement took place during the broad post-Cold War reduction of the U.S. amphibious fleet, in which many older NEWPORT-class ships and other amphibious vessels were decommissioned, transferred abroad or placed in reserve. SUMTER was retained for possible foreign transfer. The former SUMTER was leased to the Republic of China Navy effective July 1, 1995, and subsequently taken to Newport News Shipbuilding for refitting before transfer to Taiwanese service. On May 8, 1997, she was commissioned into the Republic of China Navy as CHUNG PING (LST 233). The former USS MANITOWOC was transferred during the same general program and became CHUNG HO.

The United States later converted the arrangement into a permanent transfer. SUMTER was disposed of through the Security Assistance Program on September 29, 2000. Her name remained administratively on the U.S. Naval Vessel Register until July 23, 2002, when she was formally struck.

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