USS Calaveras County (LST-516)

Career
Name: USS LST-516
Builder: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, Seneca, Illinois
Laid down: September 6, 1943
Launched: January 7, 1944
Commissioned: January 31, 1944
Decommissioned: February 28, 1947
Recommissioned: September 22, 1950
Decommissioned: December 21, 1955
Renamed: USS Calaveras County (LST-516), July 1, 1955
Struck: October 1, 1958
Honours and
awards:
1 battle star (WWII)
4 battle stars (Korea)
General characteristics
Class and type: LST-491-class tank landing ship
Displacement: 1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light
3,640 long tons (3,698 t) full
Length: 328 ft (100 m)
Beam: 50 ft (15 m)
Draft: Unloaded :
2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward
7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft
Loaded :
8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward
14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft
Depth: 8 ft (2.4 m) forward
14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) aft (full load)
Propulsion: 2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed: 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats and landing
craft carried:
2 LCVPs
Troops: Approximately 130 officers and enlisted men
Complement: 8-10 officers, 89-100 enlisted men
Armament: • 1 × single 3"/50 caliber gun mount
• 8 × 40 mm guns
• 12 × 20 mm guns

USS Calaveras County (LST-516) was an LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Calaveras County, California, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-516 was laid down on September 6, 1943 at Seneca, Illinois, by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company; launched on January 7, 1944; sponsored by Mrs. R. R. Hansen; and commissioned on January 31, 1944 with Lieutenant M. J. Miller in command.

Service history

During World War II, LST-516 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Invasion of Normandy in June, 1944. On February 28, 1947 she was decommissioned and, as a result of hostilities in Korea, recommissioned on September 22, 1950. She served in the Korean War and took part in the following campaigns: U.N. Summer-Fall Offensive (November, 1951); Second Korean Winter (January and February, 1952); Third Korean Winter (December, 1952 and January through April, 1953); Korea, Summer 1953 (June through July, 1953). Immediately following the Korean War, she continued to serve in the Korean area until September 20, 1953. Following her Korean service, she returned to the United States. She was named USS Calaveras County (LST-516) on July 1, 1955. On December 21, 1955 the ship was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on October 1, 1958. Her final fate is unknown.

LST-516 received one battle star for World War II service and four battle stars for Korean War service.

References

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

See also