USS LST-548

History
United States
Name	USS LST-548
Builder	Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana
Laid down	30 December 1943
Launched	22 February 1944
Sponsored by	Mrs. Robert L. Koch
Commissioned	3 April 1944
Decommissioned	15 February 1946
In service	In non-commissioned service with Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS LST-548 (T-LST-548) from 31 March 1952
Stricken	1 January 1960
Honors and awards	Two battle stars for World War II
Fate	Sold for scrapping 1960
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement	1,490 long tons (1,514 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) bow; 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) stern Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 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)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 x LCVPs
Troops	16 officers and 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

USS LST-548 was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship in commission from 1944 to 1946. She also served in a non-commissioned status with the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS LST-548 (T-LST-548) from 1952.

Construction and commissioning

LST-548 was laid down on 30 December 1943 at Evansville, Indiana, by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company. She was launched on 22 February 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Robert L. Koch, and commissioned on 3 April 1944.

Service history

In commissioned service

During World War II, LST-548 initially was assigned to the European Theater of Operations. She participated in Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, in June 1944. LST-548 subsequently was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations, where she took part in the assault on and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in June 1945.

Following the war, LST-548 performed occupation duty in the Far East until early February 1946, when she returned to the United States.

LST-548 was decommissioned on 15 February 1946.

Non-commissioned service in Military Sea Transportation Service

On 31 March 1952, LST-548 was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service, where she served in a non-commissioned status as USNS LST-548 (T-LST-548).

Final disposition

USNS LST-548 was stricken from the Navy List on 1 January 1960. She was sold later that year for $56,000 USD to Coal Export Corporation for scrapping in Japan.

Honors and awards

LST-548 earned two battle stars for World War II service.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive USNS LST-548 ex USS LST-548 (1944 - 1952)

This page was last edited on 14 June 2022, at 05:59