USS LST-761

USS Esmeraldo County (LST-761) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after an erroneous spelling of Esmeralda County, Nevada, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

History
United States
Name: USS LST-761
Builder: American Bridge Company, Ambridge, Pennsylvania
Laid down: 18 June 1944
Launched: 7 August 1944
Commissioned: 2 September 1944
Decommissioned: 16 July 1946
Renamed: USS Esmeraldo County (LST-761), 1 July 1955
Honours and
awards:		 1 battle star (World War II)
Fate: Sunk as a target, 1959
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
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
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: 16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement: 7 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament:

LST-761 was laid down on 18 June 1944 at Ambridge, Pennsylvania by the American Bridge Company; launched on 7 August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. H. A. Brainerd; and commissioned on 2 September 1944 with Lieutenant H. A. Swagart, Jr., USCGR, in command.

Service history

During World War II, LST-761 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima in February and March, 1945. The Coast Guard crew was removed in March, 1946 and the ship was assigned to the Columbia River Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet; she was decommissioned on 16 July 1946. On 1 July 1955 the ship was named USS Esmeraldo County (LST-761). Esmeraldo County was sunk as a target in 1959.

LST-761 earned one battle star for World War II service.

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References

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

  • "LST-761". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  • "LST-761 Esmeraldo County". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 13 June 2007.

See also
LST-761 and LST-969 moored at pier side at San Diego, California on 4 October 1945.


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