ABSTRACTOn September 12, 2000 USS La Moure County (LST 1194) ran aground in Cifuncho Bay, Chile during a joint USMC amphibious assault exercise. While transiting to the intended anchorage site in the early morning hours, the ship struck an outcropping of rocks and was unable to free herself. Hard aground and in the surf zone, the ship pounded further onto the rocks and into a perilous situation. Fortunately for the crew, a Chilean ATF was in the vicinity and quickly pulled the vessel free and into a safe haven.The damage that resulted from the initial impact and the subsequent pounding in the surf while aground was extremely serious. Numerous holes, dents, tears, and areas of severe structural damage were scattered from the bow to amidships. Further aft, both propeller hubs each lost a blade while both rudders incurred impact damage with one completely inoperable. Flooding was rampant and affected 29 tanks and spaces. Thousands of gallons of diesel fuel spilled and polluted the waters of Cifuncho Bay. However, the worst and most serious damage was a 40‐foot hole amidships which spanned from bilge radius to bilge radius and encompassed shell plating, all structural members, and numerous piping systems. With the hull in a critical hogging condition, the 4TH deck was now the bottom most longitudinal strength structure amidships. USS La Moure County was definitely in need of immediate salvage assistance.This paper summarizes the damage control and salvage efforts that took place after the ship was pulled from the rocks. It addresses some of the immediate damage control measures effected by ships force, the cooperative salvage actions of the U.S. Fleet, the Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters, and the Chilean Navy, and the joint Navy/contractor repair and oil pollution abatement efforts. Additionally, it addresses the logistic difficulties encountered in mobilizing and demobilizing personnel and equipment in the remote area off the Chilean coastline. Lastly, it discusses the requirements necessary to support a large‐scale salvage crisis in a distant portion of the world, such as the USS La Moure County grounding in Cifuncho Bay, Chile.