USS LST-961

USS LST-961 photographed c. 1944-46.
History
United States
NameLST-961
BuilderBethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number3431[1]
Laid down13 October 1944
Launched11 November 1944
Commissioned6 December 1944
Decommissioned23 July 1946
Stricken28 August 1946
Identification
Honors and
awards		 2 × battle stars
FateSold for scrapping, 10 December 1947
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeLST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement
  • 1,625 long tons (1,651 t) (light)
  • 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) (full (seagoing draft with 1,675 short tons (1,520 t) load)
  • 2,366 long tons (2,404 t) (beaching)
Length328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft
  • Unloaded: 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward; 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft
  • Full load: 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft
  • Landing with 500 short tons (450 t) load: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
  • Limiting 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
  • Maximum navigation 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed11.6 kn (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph)
Range24,000 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 x LCVPs
Capacity1,600–1,900 short tons (3,200,000–3,800,000 lb; 1,500,000–1,700,000 kg) cargo depending on mission
Troops16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament
Service record
Part of: LST Flotilla 23
Operations:
Awards:

USS LST-961 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

Construction

LST-961 was laid down on 13 October 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 11 November 1944; and commissioned on 6 December 1944.[3][2]

Service history

During World War II, LST-961 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the Palawan Island landings in March 1945, and the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in May and June 1945.[3]

Following the war, she performed occupation duty in the Far East and saw service in China until mid-April 1946. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 23 July 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 28 August, that same year. On 10 December 1947, the ship was sold to The Learner Co., Oakland, California, for scrapping.[3]

Awards

LST-961 earned two battle stars for World War II service.[3]

Notes

Citations

  1. ^ Bethlehem-Hingham 2011.
  2. ^ a b Navsource 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d DANFS 2015.

Bibliography

Online resources

  • "LST-961". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2017.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "Bethlehem-Hingham, Hingham MA". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  • "USS LST-961". Navsource.org. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.