Greek landing ship Chios (L195)

Summary

USS LST-35 was an LST-1-class tank landing ship of the United States Navy built during World War II. She was transferred to the Royal Hellenic Navy on 18 August 1943, before being commissioned into the USN, and was renamed Chios.

History
United States
NameLST-35
BuilderDravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Laid down20 March 1943
Launched30 June 1943
Sponsored byMrs. Samuel G. Cooper
Stricken23 June 1947
IdentificationHull symbol: LST-35
FateTransferred to the Royal Hellenic Navy, 18 August 1943
Greece
NameChios
NamesakeChios
Acquired18 August 1943
Decommissioned10 May 1977
IdentificationHull symbol: L195
FateSold to Greece, January 1947
StatusFate unknown
General characteristics [1]
TypeLST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement
  • 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load
  • 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft
  • Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft
  • Landing at 2,160 t: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range24,000 nmi (44,000 km; 28,000 mi) at 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) while displacing 3,960 long tons (4,024 t)
Boats & landing
craft carried
2 or 6 x LCVPs
Capacity
  • 2,100 tons oceangoing maximum
  • 350 tons main deckload
Troops16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament

Construction edit

LST-35 was laid down on 20 March 1943, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by the Dravo Corporation; launched on 30 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Samuel G. Cooper; and transferred to the Royal Hellenic Navy on 18 August 1943, and renamed Chios (L195).[2]

Service history edit

Chios, ex-LST-35, sailed from Galveston Bar for Key West, Florida, on 28 August 1943, with convoy HK 125, arriving in Key West, 1 September 1943.[3]

On 11 October 1943, Chios left Halifax, Nova Scotia, in convoy SC 144,[4] en route she joined convoy WN 497 that had departed Loch Ewe, on 26 October. She arrived in Methil, Scotland, on 28 October with a load of lumber.[5]

Chios departed Methil, on 3 December 1943, in convoy EN 314 (series 2), arriving in Loch Ewe, on 5 December.[6] She departed Liverpool, England, in convoy OS 63/KMS 37, on 25 December 1943.[7] The convoy split on 7 January 1944, with Chios continuing on in convoy KMS 37G, arriving in Gibraltar, on 9 January.[8] However, the same records show that she departed Liverpool, England, in convoy OS 64/KMS 38, on 3 January 1944.[9] The convoy split on 15 January 1944, with Chios continuing on in convoy KMS 38G, arriving in Gibraltar, on 17 January.[10] It's possible that she was delayed from sailing in the first, here intended convoy, and had to travel in the proceeding convoy.

Post-war service edit

She was sold to the government of Greece in January 1947. She was struck from the Navy list on 23 June 1947.[2] She served until 1971, when she was placed in reserve. Reactivated in 1974, she was finally decommissioned from the Greek navy on 10 May 1977.

References edit

Bibliography edit

  • "LST-35". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2017.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "LST-35". Navsource. Navsource.org. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  • "Convoy EN.314 (Series 2)". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  • "Convoy HK.125". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  • "Convoy KMS.37G". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  • "Convoy KMS.38G". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  • "Convoy OS.63/ KMS.37". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  • "Convoy OS.64/ KMS.38". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  • "Convoy SC.144". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  • "Convoy WN.497". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 8 September 2017.

External links edit

  • Photo gallery of USS LST-35 at NavSource Naval History
  • Χίος L-195 (1943-1977) (in Greek), Hellenic Navy website