USS LST-759

LST-759 in San Francisco Bay, c. 1945-1946

Career
Name: USS LST-759
Builder: American Bridge Company, Ambridge, Pennsylvania
Laid down: 11 June 1944
Launched: 29 July 1944
Commissioned: 25 August 1944
Decommissioned: 29 March 1946
Renamed: USS Eddy County (LST-759), 1 July 1955
Struck: 1 October 1958
Honours and
awards:
1 battle star (World War II)
General characteristics
Class and type:LST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement:1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light
4,080 long tons (4,145 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
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:16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement:7 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament:• 1 × single 3"/50 caliber gun mount
• 8 × 40 mm guns
• 12 × 20 mm guns

USS Eddy County (LST-759) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in New Mexico and North Dakota, she was the only U.S. naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-759 was laid down on 11 June 1944 at Ambridge, Pennsylvania by the American Bridge Company; launched on 29 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Norman Buckle Obbard; and commissioned on 25 August 1944 with Lieutenant John A. Baybutt, USCGR, in command.

Service history

During World War II, LST-759 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in April 1945. She was decommissioned on 29 March 1946.

On 1 July 1955 the ship was redesignated USS Eddy County (LST-759). The tank landing ship was berthed at the Columbia River Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet until struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 October 1958. Her final fate is unknown.

LST-759 earned one battle star for World War II service.

References

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

See also