USS Caddo Parish (LST-515)

USS Caddo Parish (LST-515) was an LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after Caddo Parish, Louisiana, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS Caddo Parish (LST-515) underway c. 1965
History
United States
Name: USS Caddo Parish (LST-512)
Builder: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, Seneca, Illinois
Laid down: 3 September 1943
Launched: 31 December 1943
Commissioned: 28 January 1944
Decommissioned: 20 October 1955
Recommissioned: 2 August 1963
Decommissioned: 26 November 1969
Renamed: USS Caddo Parish (LST-512), 1 July 1955
Honours and
awards:
Fate: Transferred to the Philippines, 26 November 1969
Philippines
Name: RPS Bataan (LT-85)
Acquired: 26 November 1969
Fate: Unknown
General characteristics
Class and type: LST-491-class tank landing ship
Displacement:
  • 1,625 long tons (1,651 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) 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
Depth:
  • 8 ft (2.4 m) forward
  • 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) aft (full load)
Propulsion: 2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed: 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried:		 2 LCVPs
Troops: Approximately 130 officers and enlisted men
Complement: 8-10 officers, 89-100 enlisted men
Armament:

LST-515 was laid down on 3 September 1943 at Seneca, Illinois by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company; launched on 31 December 1943; sponsored by Miss Rebekah Brown; and commissioned on 28 January 1944.

Service history

During World War II, LST-515 was assigned to the European Theater. She was one of the eight LST's that took part in the disastrous "Exercise Tiger" (a practice for the planned invasion of France) in April 1944. Under attack from German E-boats, LST-515 returned fire and lowered her boats to pick up survivors from LST-507.

LST-515 participated in the Invasion of Normandy in June 1944. Following the war, LST-515 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-November 1952. She also saw postwar service with the Service Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

Upon her return to the United States, she was redesignated USS Caddo Parish (LST-515) on 1 July 1955. The ship was decommissioned on 20 October 1955 and recommissioned on 2 August 1963.

The tank landing ship performed service in Vietnam until transferred to the Republic of the Philippines as grant aid on 26 November 1969, whereafter she served the Philippine Navy as RPS Bataan (LT-85). Her final fate is unknown.

LST-515 received one battle star for World War II service, and nine battle stars, one Navy Unit Commendation, and one Meritorious Unit Commendation for Vietnam War service.

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References

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

  • "LST-515". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 7 April 2007.
  • "LST-515 Caddo Parish". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 7 April 2007.
  • "Exercise Tiger". Naval Historical Center. Retrieved 14 March 2009.

See also
LST-515, an unidentified LST and LST-54 beached, date and place unknown. LST-54 is unloading a truck.


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