USS Chittenden County (LST-561)

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Career
Forward port quarter view of USS Chittenden County (LST-561) in the Mare Island channel, 9 April 1957. Chittenden County was under repair at Mare Island from 31 January to 9 April.
Laid down:	24 February 1944
Launched:	25 April 1944
Commissioned:	15 May 1944
Decommissioned:	2 June 1958
Fate:	Sunk as a target
Struck:	27 June 1948
General characteristics
Displacement:	1,625 tons (light), 4,080 tons (full)
Length:	328 ft 0 in
Beam:	50 ft 0 in
Draft:	Bow 2'-4", stern 7'-6" (unloaded) bow 8'-2", stern 14'-1" (unloaded)
Propulsion:	Two General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed:	12 knots
Depth:	8' fwd; 14'-4" aft (full load)
Complement:	7 officers, 104 enlisted men
Troop capacity:	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Boats:	Three LCVPs, one LCP
Armament:	Two twin-40mm gun mounts w/Mk.-51 directors, four single-40mm gun mounts, twelve single-20mm gun mounts

The USS Chittenden County (LST-561) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Chittenden County, Vermont, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-561 was laid down on 24 February 1944 at Evansville, Indiana by the Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Company; launched on 25 April 1944. sponsored by Miss Marie Meier; and commissioned on 15 May 1944. During World War II, LST-561 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the invasion of southern France in August and September 1944. She was decommissioned on 30 April 1946. Due to hostilities in Korea, the ship was recommissioned on 18 September 1950 and assigned to Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. She participated in the United Nations effort in Korea and performed services in the Far East, the Arctic, and off the west coast of the continental United States. On 1 July 1955 she was redesignated USS Chittenden County (LST-561). The tank landing ship was decommissioned again on 2 June 1958. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 27 June 1948, Chittenden County was sunk as a target south of Oahu, Hawaii on 21 October 1958.

LST-561 earned one battle star for World War II service and two for Korean War service.

[edit] References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

LST-561. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved on May 11, 2007.
LST-561 Chittenden County. Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved on May 11, 2007.