USS LST-400

USS Bradley County (LST-400) was an LST-1-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for counties in Arkansas and Tennessee, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

History
United States
Name:	USS LST-400
Builder:	Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, Virginia
Laid down:	28 September 1942
Launched:	23 November 1942
Commissioned:	7 January 1943
Renamed:	USS Bradley County (LST-400), 1 July 1955
Honors and awards:	2 battle stars (World War II)
Fate:	Transferred to Republic of China, September 1958
Stricken:	25 April 1960
History
Taiwan
Name:	ROCS Chung Suo (LST-217)
Acquired:	September 1958
General characteristics
Class and type:	LST-1-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: Bow: 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) Stern: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) Loaded : Bow: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) Stern: 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
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:	Two or six LCVPs
Troops:	14-16 officers, 131-147 enlisted men
Complement:	7-9 officers, 104-120 enlisted men
Armament:	2 × twin 40 mm gun mounts w/Mk.51 directors 4 × single 40 mm gun mounts 12 × single 20 mm gun mounts

LST-400 was laid down on 28 September 1942 at the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company; launched on 23 November 1942; sponsored by Miss Judith Flaxington; and commissioned on 7 January 1943.

During World War II, LST-400 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Sicilian occupation in July, 1943 and the Invasion of Normandy in June, 1944. Following the War, LST-400 was redesignated USS Bradley County (LST-400) on 1 July 1955.

The tank landing ship was transferred to Taiwan as a grant in aid in September, 1958 where she served as Chung Suo (LST-217). She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 25 April 1960. Her final fate is unknown.

LST-400 earned two battle stars for World War II service.

LST-400 underway, date and location unknown.

References

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

• "LST-400". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 6 April 2007.
• "LST-400 Bradley County". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 6 April 2007.