USS LST-560

Australian troops land from USS LST-560, at Labuan Island in Brunei Bay, 10 June 1945.
History
United States
NameUSS LST-560
BuilderMissouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana
Laid down22 February 1944
Launched21 April 1944
Sponsored byMrs. L. C. Holm
Commissioned2 May 1944
Decommissioned17 May 1946
Stricken19 June 1946
Honors and
awards
Two battle stars for World War II
FateSold 12 September 1946
General characteristics
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-ton load
Length328 ft (100 m)
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 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft
  • Landing with 500-ton load: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power1,800 horsepower (1.34 megawatts)
PropulsionTwo 900-horsepower (0.67-megawatt) General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range24,000 nautical miles (44,448 kilometerss) at 9 knots while displacing 3,960 tons
Boats & landing
craft carried
2 x LCVPs
Capacity1,600-1,900 tons cargo depending on mission
Troops16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement7 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament

USS LST-560 was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship in commission from 1944 to 1946.

Construction and commissioning

LST-560 was laid down on 22 February 1944 at Evansville, Indiana, by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company. She was launched on 21 April 1944, sponsored by Mrs. L. C. Holm, and commissioned on 2 May 1944.

Service history

During World War II, LST-560 was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations, where was a unit of LST Division 43 under LST Group 22 (commanded by Commander E. H. Pope, USN), which was a component of LST Flotilla Eight (commanded by Captain E. Watts, USN). She took part in the Philippines campaign, participating in the landings on Palawan Island in March 1945 and the landings in the Visayan Islands in March and April 1945. She then took part in the Brunei Bay operation on Borneo in June 1945.

Following the war, LST-560 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-October 1945, when she departed for the United States.

Decommissioning and disposal

After returning to the United States, LST-560 was decommissioned on 17 May 1946 and stricken from the Navy List on 19 June 1946. On 12 September 1946, she was sold to the Construction Power and Merchandising Company of Brooklyn, New York.

Honors and awards

LST-560 earned two battle stars for her World War II service.

References