USS LST-277

USS LST-277
File:US Army Air Corps photo A63574A.jpg USS LST-277 and USS LST-274 on 27 May 1944
Career (United States)
Name:	LST-277
Builder:	American Bridge Co., Ambridge
Laid down:	31 May 1943
Launched:	5 September 1943
Sponsored by:	Mrs. W. D. Guernsey
Commissioned:	24 October 1943
Decommissioned:	12 February 1946
Renamed:	Q055, 20 May 1949
Recommissioned:	31 March 1952
Renamed:	T-LST-277
Decommissioned:	1 February 1973
Struck:	1 February 1973
Identification:	Callsign: NZHO
Honors and awards:	See Awards
Fate:	Transferred to Chile, 2 February 1973
Career (Chile)
Name:	Commandante Toro
Namesake:	Commandante Toro
Commissioned:	2 February 1973
Decommissioned:	1977
Identification:	Pennant number: LST-97
Fate:	Scrapped, December 1977
General characteristics
Class & type:	LST-1-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 short tons (1,520 t) load) 2,366 long tons (2,404 t) (beaching)
Length:	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam:	50 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 short tons (450 t) load: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power:	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion:	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
Speed:	12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range:	24,000 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 x LCVPs
Capacity:	1,600–1,900 st (22,000–27,000 lb; 10,000–12,000 kg) cargo depending on mission
Troops:	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement:	13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament:	Varied, ultimate armament 2 × twin 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns 4 × single 40mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons

USS LST-277 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was later sold to Chile as Commandante Toro (LST-97).

Construction and career

LST-277 was laid down on 31 May 1943 at American Bridge Co., Seneca, Indiana. Launched on 5 September 1943 and commissioned on 24 October 1943, Lt. Edward B. Watson Jr. in command.

Service in the United States

During World War II, LST-277 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She took part in the Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls from 1 to 5 February 1944 and Battle of Saipan from 17 to 24 June 1944. She was also present during the Leyte landings on 20 October 1944. the ship participate in the Nasugbu landing on 31 January 1945 and the Battle of Okinawa from 25 March to 24 June 1945. LST-277 was decommissioned on 12 February 1946.

On 20 May 1949, the ship was assigned to Commander Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE) Shipping Control Authority for Japan (SCAJAP) and renamed Q055.

Military Sea Transportation Service acquired the ship on 31 March 1952 and renamed T-LST-277.

She was decommissioned again and struck from the Navy Register on 1 February 1973.

Service in Chile

She was transferred to the Chilean Navy and commissioned on 2 February 1973 with the name Commandante Toro (LST-97).

The ship was out of service in 1977 and sold for scrap later in December.

Awards

LST-277 have earned the following awards:

• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5 battle stars)
• World War II Victory Medal
• Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
• Philippines Presidential Unit Citation
• Philippines Liberation Medal (1 award)

Sources

• United States. Dept. of the Treasury (1962). Treasury Decisions Under the Customs, Internal Revenue, Industrial Alcohol, Narcotic and Other Laws, Volume 97. U.S. Government Printing Office. https://books.google.com/books?id=BnfPAAAAMAAJ. 
• Moore, Capt. John (1984). Jane's Fighting Ships 1984-85. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710607959. 
• Saunders, Stephen (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710628886. 
• Fairplay International Shipping Journal Volume 222. United Kingdom: Fairplay Publishing Limited. 1967. https://www.google.co.id/books/edition/Fairplay_International_Shipping_Journal/4b8eAQAAMAAJ.