USS Douglas County

USS Douglas County (LST-731) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in 12 states, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS LST-731 with LCT-971 loaded on her main deck, entering a harbor probably in 1946. This is possibly San Francisco Bay.
History
United States
NameUSS LST-731
BuilderDravo Corporation, Neville Island, Pittsburgh
Laid down27 December 1943
Launched12 February 1944
Commissioned30 March 1944
Decommissioned2 June 1950
RenamedUSS Douglas County (LST-731), 1 July 1955
Reclassified
  • LSTH-731, 15 September 1945
  • LST-731, 6 March 1952
Stricken1 November 1958
Honours and
awards		2 battle stars (World War II)
General characteristics
Class and typeLST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement
  • 1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light
  • 3,640 long tons (3,698 t) full
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
  • Loaded :
  • 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward
  • 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft
Propulsion2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried		2 LCVPs
TroopsApproximately 130 officers and enlisted men
Complement8-10 officers, 89-100 enlisted men
Armament

LST-731 was laid down on 27 December 1943 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by the Dravo Corporation of Neville Island; launched on 12 February 1944; sponsored by Mrs. A. J. Ackerman; and commissioned on 30 March 1944.

Service history

During World War II, LST-731 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the following operations: capture and occupation of Guam (July and August, 1944), and assault and occupation of Iwo Jima (February and March, 1945). Following the war, LST-731 was redesignated hospital ship LSTH-731 on 15 September 1945 and performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-February, 1946. She was decommissioned on 2 June 1950 and redesignated LST-731 on 6 March 1952. The ship received the name USS Douglas County (LST-731) on 1 July 1955 and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 November 1958. Her final fate is unknown.

LST-731 earned two battle stars for World War II service.

References
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
  • "LST-731". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 12 June 2007.
  • "LST-731 / LST(H)-731 / Douglas County". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 12 June 2007.

See also
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