USS LST-555

USS LST-555 was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship in commission from 1944 to 1946.

USS LST-555 unloading cargo at the United States Sixth Army beachhead at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon in the Philippine Islands on 9 January 1945.
History
United States
Name: USS LST-555
Builder: Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana
Laid down: 5 February 1944
Launched: 22 March 1944
Sponsored by: Mrs. R. E. Sharp
Commissioned: 28 April 1944
Decommissioned: 6 January 1946
Stricken: 21 January 1946
Honors and
awards:		 Four battle stars for World War II
Fate: Hulk destroyed by gunfire 26 January 1946
General characteristics
Class and type: LST-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
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
  • 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 power: 1,800 horsepower (1.34 megawatts)
Propulsion: Two 900-horsepower (0.67-megawatt) General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed: 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range: 24,000 nautical miles (44,448 kilometerss) at 9 knots while displacing 3,960 tons
Boats & landing
craft carried:		 2 x LCVPs
Capacity: 1,600-1,900 tons cargo depending on mission
Troops: 16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement: 7 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament:
  • 2 × twin 40 mm gun mounts
  • 4 × single 40-millimeter gun mounts
  • 12 × 20 mm guns

Construction and commissioning

LST-555 was laid down on 5 February 1944 at Evansville, Indiana, by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company. She was launched on 22 March 1944, sponsored by Mrs. R. E. Sharp, and commissioned on 28 April 1944.

Service history

During World War II, LST-555 was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations. She participated in the capture and occupation of the southern Palau Islands in September and October 1944. She then took part in the Philippines campaign, participating in the Leyte landings in October and November 1944 and the landings at Zambales and Subic Bay in January 1945. She then participated in the assault on and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in April 1945.

Following the war, LST-555 performed occupation duty in the Far East. She was badly damaged by grounding off Wakayama, Japan, on 18 September 1945.

Decommissioning and disposal

LST-555 was decommissioned on 6 January 1946 and stricken from the Navy List on 21 January 1946. Her hulk was destroyed by gunfire on 26 January 1946.

Honors and awards

LST-555 earned four battle stars for her World War II service.

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References
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