| USS LST-50 | |
|---|---|
| Career (USA) |  |
| Name: | USS LST-50 |
| Builder: | Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Laid down: | 29 August 1943 |
| Launched: | 16 October 1943 |
| Commissioned: | 27 November 1943 |
| Decommissioned: | 6 February 1946 |
| Reclassified: | USS ARB-13 (Battle Damage Repair Ship), 14 November 1952 |
| Struck: | 8 September 1952 |
| Honours and awards: | 3 battle stars (WWII) |
| Fate: | Transferred to Norway, 1952 |
| Career (Norway) |  |
| Name: | HNoMS Ellida (A534) |
| Acquired: | 1952 |
| Fate: | Returned to the United States, 1 July 1960 |
| Career (Greece) |  |
| Name: | Sakipia (A329) |
| Acquired: | 16 September 1960 |
| Fate: | Unknown |
| 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 |
| Length: | 328 ft (100 m) |
| Beam: | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Draft: |
Unloaded: Bow: 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) Stern: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) Loaded : Bow: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) Stern: 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) |
| Depth: | 8 ft (2.4 m) forward, 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) aft (full load) |
| Propulsion: | 2 General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders |
| Speed: | 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried: | Two or six LCVPs |
| Troops: | 14-16 officers, 131-147 enlisted men |
| Complement: | 7-9 officers, 104-120 enlisted men |
| Armament: |
• 2 × twin 40 mm gun mounts w/Mk.51 directors • 4 × single 40 mm gun mounts • 12 × single 20 mm gun mounts |
USS LST-50 was an LST-1-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II.
LST-50 was laid down on 29 August 1943 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by the Dravo Corporation; launched on 16 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Tito Tarquinio; and commissioned on 27 November 1943.
Service history[]
[]
The tank landing ship was initially assigned to the European Theater and participated in the invasion of Normandy between 6 and 25 June 1944 and the invasion of southern France between 15 August and 25 September 1944. She was later transferred to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of operations where she took part in the Okinawa assault between 18 and 30 June 1945. Following the war, LST-50 performed occupation duty in the Far East until early February 1946. Upon her return to the United States, the ship was decommissioned on 6 February 1946 and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 8 September 1952.
Norway & Greece, 1952–[]
On 14 November 1952, she was redesignated USS ARB-13 and transferred to Norway as HNoMS Ellida (A534). She was returned to the United States on 1 July 1960, but was retransferred to Greece on 16 September 1960 and served with the Greek Navy as Sakipia (A329). Her final fate is unknown.
Awards[]
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons
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LST-50 earned three battle stars for World War II service for the following campaigns:
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Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign |
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign |
| Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944 | Okinawa Gunto operation
Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 18 to 30 June 1945 |
| Invasion of southern France, 15 August and 25 September 1944 |
References[]
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
- "LST-50". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l9/lst-50.htm. Retrieved 9 April 2007.
- "LST-50 / ARB-13". Amphibious Photo Archive. http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160050.htm. Retrieved 9 April 2007.
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The original article can be found at USS LST-50 and the edit history here.