Changes

She stopped at Pearl Harbor from 11 to 13 September and reentered San Diego on 21 September.

She stopped at Pearl Harbor from 11 to 13 September and reentered San Diego on 21 September.

After a three week post-deployment standdown period, Barbour County began preparations for sea again on 22 October. Between 22 and 26 October, she steamed from San Diego to San Francisco for a three-day port call. She returned to San Diego on 2 November and remained there until the 14th. From 14 to 21 November, she participated in READEX 1-80 during which she served as launch platform for the airborne and waterborne target drones used in the exercise. She spent the period from 21 November to 9 December in upkeep at San Diego. Then, after a brief period at sea for drills and type training in the local operating area between 10 and 13 December, Barbour County passed the rest of the year in San Diego for the holidays.

After a three-week post-deployment standdown period, Barbour County began preparations for sea again on 22 October. Between 22 and 26 October, she steamed from San Diego to San Francisco for a three-day port call. She returned to San Diego on 2 November and remained there until the 14th. From 14 to 21 November, she participated in READEX 1-80 during which she served as launch platform for the airborne and waterborne target drones used in the exercise. She spent the period from 21 November to 9 December in upkeep at San Diego. Then, after a brief period at sea for drills and type training in the local operating area between 10 and 13 December, Barbour County passed the rest of the year in San Diego for the holidays.

Barbour County's inactivity continued well into 1980. Except for two short trips in port early in March, she remained stationary alongside the pier at San Diego until the end of the first quarter. The ship finally got underway again on 31 March at which time she resumed a normal schedule of drills and type training. For the next two months, the tank landing ship pursued a normal routine of training at sea alternated with periods in port at San Diego for upkeep. After a week in port, Barbour County left San Diego on 9 June on her way to Portland, Oreg., for the 1980 Rose Festival. On 12 June, she ascended the Columbia and Willamette Rivers to Portland where she remained until returning to sea on 16 June for the passage to San Diego. Barbour County arrived back in San Diego on 20 June and remained in port until late July. On 21 July, she resumed intermittent local operations in which she alternated a few days at sea engaged in training missions with time in port in upkeep. That employment lasted until the beginning of September at which time the began another long period in port preparatory to deployment overseas.

Barbour County's inactivity continued well into 1980. Except for two short trips in port early in March, she remained stationary alongside the pier at San Diego until the end of the first quarter. The ship finally got underway again on 31 March at which time she resumed a normal schedule of drills and type training. For the next two months, the tank landing ship pursued a normal routine of training at sea alternated with periods in port at San Diego for upkeep. After a week in port, Barbour County left San Diego on 9 June on her way to Portland, Oreg., for the 1980 Rose Festival. On 12 June, she ascended the Columbia and Willamette Rivers to Portland where she remained until returning to sea on 16 June for the passage to San Diego. Barbour County arrived back in San Diego on 20 June and remained in port until late July. On 21 July, she resumed intermittent local operations in which she alternated a few days at sea engaged in training missions with time in port in upkeep. That employment lasted until the beginning of September at which time the began another long period in port preparatory to deployment overseas.

Six weeks later, on 14 October, Barbour County deployed to the western Pacific with PhibRon 7 composed of Barbour County, Peoria (LST-1183), Point Defiance (LSD-31), Ogden (LPD-5), St. Louis (LKA-116), and Tarawa (LHA-1). Her unit stopped in Hawaii for several days during which she and her squadron mates participated in an amphibious exercise conducted at Kahoolawe Island. She and her unit then resumed their voyage west. On 6 November, Barbour County joined with St. Louis and Tarawa to form Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) "Alpha" and changed operational control to that of the Commander, 7th Fleet. She arrived in Subic Bay on 15 November but left again on the 17th to take part in an amphibious exercise at Mindoro Island conducted between 19 and 24 November. Following another three weeks of upkeep at Subic Bay, Barbour County returned to sea on 15 December and, after carrying out a naval gunfire support exercise at nearby Leon Creek, set a course for Phattaya Beach, Thailand, in company with Tarawa and St. Louis. She spent almost a week at Phattaya Beach, from 22 to 27 December, before moving on to Singapore where she arrived on the 30th. The tank landing ship remained in port at Singapore through the end of 1980.

Six weeks later, on 14 October, Barbour County deployed to the western Pacific with PhibRon 7 composed of Barbour County, Peoria (LST-1183), Point Defiance (LSD-31), Ogden (LPD-5), St. Louis (LKA-116), and Tarawa (LHA-1). Her unit stopped in Hawaii for several days during which she and her squadron mates participated in an amphibious exercise conducted at Kahoolawe Island. She and her unit then resumed their voyage west. On 6 November, Barbour County joined with St. Louis and Tarawa to form Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) "Alpha" and changed operational control to that of the Commander, 7th Fleet. She arrived in Subic Bay on 15 November but left again on the 17th to take part in an amphibious exercise at Mindoro Island conducted between 19 and 24 November. Following another three weeks of upkeep at Subic Bay, Barbour County returned to sea on 15 December and, after carrying out a naval gunfire support exercise at nearby Leon Creek, set a course for Phattaya Beach, Thailand, in company with Tarawa and St. Louis. She spent almost a week at Phattaya Beach, from 22 to 27 December, before moving on to Singapore where she arrived on the 30th. The tank landing ship remained in port at Singapore through the end of 1980.

On 5 January 1981, the ARG transited the Straits of Malacca for contingency operations in the Indian Ocean. On the 11th, Barbour County crossed the equator and steamed west to Mombassa, Kenya, mooring there six days later. Following a short port visit, the landing ship moved north to Diego Garcia where her embarked marines carried out a landing exercise between 28 and 30 January. The ships then sailed east to Australia, arriving in Fremantle on 8 February. The tank landing ship got underway for Okinawa on 6 March. Just before arriving off that island, a female stowaway was discovered in the ship. Within three hours, she was removed by helicopter to Command Fleet Activities, Okinawa, for further disposition. Despite the interruption, Barbour County anchored off White Beach, Okinawa, for an amphibious landing exercise on the 9th.

On 5 January 1981, the ARG transited the Straits of Malacca for contingency operations in the Indian Ocean. On the 11th, Barbour County crossed the equator and steamed west to Mombasa, Kenya, mooring there six days later. Following a short port visit, the landing ship moved north to Diego Garcia where her embarked marines carried out a landing exercise between 28 and 30 January. The ships then sailed east to Australia, arriving in Fremantle on 8 February. The tank landing ship got underway for Okinawa on 6 March. Just before arriving off that island, a female stowaway was discovered in the ship. Within three hours, she was removed by helicopter to Command Fleet Activities, Okinawa, for further disposition. Despite the interruption, Barbour County anchored off White Beach, Okinawa, for an amphibious landing exercise on the 9th.

The tank landing ship then shifted north into the East China Sea and anchored in Pohang harbor, South Korea. She spent the next week participating in exercise "Team Spirit." On 20 March, Barbour County turned for home and, after a stop in Sasebo, arrived in Hawaii on 7 April. After dropping the marine AAVs off Kaneohe Point, she put into Pearl Harbor to refuel. Leaving two days later, the ship finally returned home to San Diego on 16 April.

The tank landing ship then shifted north into the East China Sea and anchored in Pohang harbor, South Korea. She spent the next week participating in exercise "Team Spirit." On 20 March, Barbour County turned for home and, after a stop in Sasebo, arrived in Hawaii on 7 April. After dropping the marine AAVs off Kaneohe Point, she put into Pearl Harbor to refuel. Leaving two days later, the ship finally returned home to San Diego on 16 April.

With overhaul work complete on 31 March 1982, Barbour County spent the month of April conducting sea trials and independent steaming exercises in the southern California operations area. On 10 May, she sailed north to Bremerton, Wa., where she participated in the annual Armed Forces Day celebration on the 16th. Returning to San Diego on the 21st, the ship spent the next ten weeks conducting refresher training and readiness evaluations.

With overhaul work complete on 31 March 1982, Barbour County spent the month of April conducting sea trials and independent steaming exercises in the southern California operations area. On 10 May, she sailed north to Bremerton, Wa., where she participated in the annual Armed Forces Day celebration on the 16th. Returning to San Diego on the 21st, the ship spent the next ten weeks conducting refresher training and readiness evaluations.

On 6 August, Barbour County departed San Diego for a northern Pacific cruise. While enroute to Hawaii, the tank landing ships' crew rescued three people from a foundering sailboat. After dropping them off in Hawaii on the 12th, the ship embarked surveillance personnel for an intelligence gathering mission to Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka. Underway on the 14th, Barbour County steamed into the northern Pacific and conducted two weeks of special operations off Kamchatka between 23 August and 7 September. Following a short break in mid-September, during which she visited Adak and Attu in the Aleutians, she finished up surveillance operations on 28 September. During this cruise, the crew sighted numerous Soviet submarines, aircraft, and surface warships. They returned to San Diego, via Seattle, on 17 October. Aside from a short period of amphibious refresher training in early December, she spent the rest of the year in port.

On 6 August, Barbour County departed San Diego for a northern Pacific cruise. While en route to Hawaii, the tank landing ships' crew rescued three people from a foundering sailboat. After dropping them off in Hawaii on the 12th, the ship embarked surveillance personnel for an intelligence gathering mission to Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka. Underway on the 14th, Barbour County steamed into the northern Pacific and conducted two weeks of special operations off Kamchatka between 23 August and 7 September. Following a short break in mid-September, during which she visited Adak and Attu in the Aleutians, she finished up surveillance operations on 28 September. During this cruise, the crew sighted numerous Soviet submarines, aircraft, and surface warships. They returned to San Diego, via Seattle, on 17 October. Aside from a short period of amphibious refresher training in early December, she spent the rest of the year in port.

Barbour County put to sea on 22 August and, after rendezvous with Enhance (MSO-437), Esteem (MSO-438), and Conquest (MSO-488), the tank landing ship towed the minesweepers to Pearl Harbor, arriving there on 1 September. While in port, a rescue and assistance detail went to Conquest to help put out a small fire on the 4th. Underway the next day, Barbour County began escorting the three minesweepers, as well as Salvor (ARS-25), to the Philippines. While enroute, Conquest collided with the tank landing ship during a refueling evolution. Although damage to Barbour County was minor, the minesweeper suffered more and turned back to Pearl Harbor. The remaining ships continued steaming west and arrived in Subic Bay on the 26th.

Barbour County put to sea on 22 August and, after rendezvous with Enhance (MSO-437), Esteem (MSO-438), and Conquest (MSO-488), the tank landing ship towed the minesweepers to Pearl Harbor, arriving there on 1 September. While in port, a rescue and assistance detail went to Conquest to help put out a small fire on the 4th. Underway the next day, Barbour County began escorting the three minesweepers, as well as Salvor (ARS-25), to the Philippines. While en route, Conquest collided with the tank landing ship during a refueling evolution. Although damage to Barbour County was minor, the minesweeper suffered more and turned back to Pearl Harbor. The remaining ships continued steaming west and arrived in Subic Bay on the 26th.