USS LST-550

History
United States
Name	USS LST-550
Builder	Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana
Laid down	13 November 1943
Launched	9 March 1944
Sponsored by	Mrs. Henry D. Hoover
Commissioned	10 April 1944
Decommissioned	13 January 1946
In service	In non-commissioned service with Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS LST-550 (T-LST-550) from 31 March 1952
Stricken	1 November 1973
Honors and; awards	Two battle stars for World War II
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement	1,780 long tons (1,809 t) light; 3,640 long tons (3,698 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	Approximately 130 officers and enlisted men
Complement	8-10 officers, 89-100 enlisted men
Armament	2 × twin 40 mm gun mounts; 4 × single 40-millimeter gun mounts; 12 × 20 mm guns;

USS LST-550 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-550 (T-LST-550) from 1952.

Construction and commissioning

LST-550 was laid down on 13 November 1943 at Evansville, Indiana, by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company. She was launched on 9 March 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Henry D. Hoover, and commissioned on 10 April 1944.

Service history

Commissioned service

During World War II, LST-550 initially was assigned to the European Theater of Operations. She participated in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France, in August and September 1944.

LST-550 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-550 performed occupation duty in the Far East until late December 1945, when she returned to the United States.

LST-550 was decommissioned on 13 January 1946.

Non-commissioned service in Military Sea Transportation Service

On 31 March 1952, LST-550 was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service, where she served in a non-commissioned status as USNS LST-550 (T-LST-550).

Final disposition

USNS LST-550 was stricken from the Navy List on 1 November 1973. Her ultimate fate awaits further research.

Honors and awards

LST-550 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 USS LST-550

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