USS LST-287

USS T-LST-287 on 25 August 1953
History
United States
Name	LST-287
Builder	American Bridge Co., Ambridge
Laid down	30 August 1943
Launched	31 October 1943
Sponsored by	Mrs. Agnes Johnston
Commissioned	15 December 1943
Decommissioned	13 June 1946
Reclassified	T-LST-287, 29 May 1951
Identification	Callsign: NGCA
Honors and awards	See Awards
Fate	Transferred to Philippines, 13 September 1976
Philippines
Name	Samar Oriental
Namesake	Samar Oriental
Acquired	13 September 1976
Commissioned	13 September 1976
Decommissioned	1992
Stricken	1992
Identification	Hull number: LT-502
Fate	Scrapped
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement	4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft Landing at 2,160 t: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
Speed	12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range	24,000 nmi (44,000 km; 28,000 mi) at 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) while displacing 3,960 long tons (4,024 t)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 or 6 x LCVPs
Capacity	2,100 tons oceangoing maximum 350 tons main deckload
Troops	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement	13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament	Varied, ultimate armament 2 × twin 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns 4 × single 40 mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons

USS LST-287 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was transferred to the Philippine Navy as RPS Samar Oriental (LT-502).[1]

Construction and career

LST-287 was laid down on 30 August 1943 at American Bridge Co., Ambridge, Pennsylvania. Launched on 31 October 1943 and commissioned on 15 December 1943.[2]

Service in the United States Navy

During World War II, LST-287 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East theater. She then participated in the Invasion of Normandy from 6 to 25 June 1944.

She was decommissioned on 13 June 1946.

Transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 29 May 1951, and placed in service as USNS T-LST-287.

On 19 August 1953, she and the United States Army tug LT-1953 extinguised a fire on the abandoned Danish cargo ship Else Basse. They subsequently towed her in to St. Georges Bay.[3]

LST-287 was struck from the Navy Register and transferred to the Philippines.

Service in the Philippine Navy

She was acquired by the Philippine Navy on 13 September 1976 and renamed RPS Samar Oriental (LT-502).

On 19 April 1974, a 20 day marathon on bicycles named Tour of Luzon-Visayas with 200 participants boarded the ship at South Harbor in order to continue the marathon in Tolosa.[4]

BRP Samar Oriental was moored at Poro Point, La Union, Luzon Island on 2 September 1991.

In 1992, BRP Ilocos Norte (LT-98), BRP Samar Oriental (LT-502), and BRP Tawi-Tawi (LT-512) were stricken.[5]

Awards

LST-287 have earned the following awards:

• American Campaign Medal
• Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1 battle star)
• World War II Victory Medal

Citations

1. "Tank Landing Ship LST". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
2. "LST-287". NHHC. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
3. "267 F. 2d 584 - Nolan v. A H Basse Rederiaktieselskab". Openjurist. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
4. goriob (22 October 2004), 1974 RPS Mindoro Occidental (LST 93), retrieved 14 September 2021
5. "LT Zamboanga del Sur Class". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 14 September 2021.

Sources

• United States. Dept. of the Treasury (1962). Treasury Decisions Under the Customs, Internal Revenue, Industrial Alcohol, Narcotic and Other Laws, Volume 97. U.S. Government Printing Office.
• Moore, Capt. John (1984). Jane's Fighting Ships 1984-85. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710607959.
• Saunders, Stephen (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710628886.
• Fairplay International Shipping Journal Volume 222. United Kingdom: Fairplay Publishing Limited. 1967.