Career | |
---|---|
Name: | USS LST-550 |
Builder: | Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana |
Laid down: | 13 November 1943 |
Launched: | 9 March 1944 |
Sponsored by: | Mrs. Henry D. Hoover |
Commissioned: | 10 April 1944 |
Decommissioned: | 13 January 1946 |
In service: | In non-commissioned service with Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS LST-550 (T-LST-550) from 31 March 1952 |
Struck: | 1 November 1973 |
Honors and awards: |
Two battle stars for World War II |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | LST-542-class tank landing ship |
Displacement: | 1,780 long tons (1,809 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) bow; 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) stern Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft |
Installed power: | 1,800 horsepower (1.34 megawatts) |
Propulsion: | Two 900-horsepower (0.67-megawatt) General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders |
Speed: | 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
Boats and landing craft carried: |
2 x LCVPs |
Troops: | Approximately 130 officers and enlisted men |
Complement: | 8-10 officers, 89-100 enlisted men |
Armament: | 2 × twin 40-millimeter gun mounts 4 × single 40-millimeter gun mounts 12 × 20-millimeter guns |
USS LST-550 was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship in commission from 1944 to 1946. She also served in a non-commissioned status with the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS LST-550 (T-LST-550) from 1952.
Contents |
LST-550 was laid down on 13 November 1943 at Evansville, Indiana, by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company. She was launched on 9 March 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Henry D. Hoover, and commissioned on 10 April 1944 with Lieutenant V. A. Meehan, USNR, in command.
During World War II, LST-550 initially was assigned to the European Theater of Operations. She participated in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France, in August and September 1944.
LST-550 subsequently was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations, where she took part in the assault on and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in June 1945.
Following the war, LST-550 performed occupation duty in the Far East until late December 1945, when she returned to the United States.
LST-550 was decommissioned on 13 January 1946.
On 31 March 1952, LST-550 was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service, where she served in a non-commissioned status as USNS LST-550 (T-LST-550).
USNS LST-550 was stricken from the Navy List on 1 November 1973. Her ultimate fate awaits further research.
LST-550 earned two battle stars for World War II service.
|