USS LST-562

Summary

USS LST-562 was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship in commission from 1944 to 1946.

History
United States
NameUSS LST-562
BuilderMissouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana
Laid down28 February 1944
Launched28 April 1944
Sponsored byMrs. D. A. Nordeen
Commissioned18 May 1944
Decommissioned21 May 1946
Stricken3 July 1946
Honors and
awards
Two battle stars for World War II
FateSold for scrapping 19 April 1948
General characteristics
Class and typeLST-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
Length328 ft (100 m)
Beam50 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 power1,800 horsepower (1.34 megawatts)
PropulsionTwo 900-horsepower (0.67-megawatt) General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range24,000 nautical miles (44,448 kilometerss) at 9 knots while displacing 3,960 tons
Boats & landing
craft carried
2 x LCVPs
Capacity1,600-1,900 tons cargo depending on mission
Troops16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement7 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament

Construction and commissioning edit

LST-562 was laid down on 28 February 1944 at Evansville, Indiana, by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company. She was launched on 28 April 1944, sponsored by Mrs. D. A. Nordeen, and commissioned on 18 May 1944.

Service history edit

During World War II, LST-562 was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations, where was a unit of LST Division 43 under LST Group 22 (commanded by Commander E. H. Pope, USN), which was a component of LST Flotilla Eight (commanded by Captain E. Watts, USN). She took part in the landings on Morotai in September 1944 and in the Tarakan Island operation in April and May 1945. During the ship's time in commission, the first Captain was succeeded as her commanding officer by Lieutenant F. P. Lawrence, USNR. Note: Lt. Richard N. Shaw, USNR, was the first Captain of LST 652; not LST 562.

Following the war, "LST 562" performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-December 1945, when she departed for the United States.

Decommissioning and disposal edit

After returning to the United States, LST-562 was decommissioned on 21 May 1946 and stricken from the Navy List on 3 July 1946. On 19 April 1948, she was sold to the Bethlehem Steel Company of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, for scrapping.

Honors and awards edit

LST-562 earned two battle stars for her World War II service.

References edit