USS LST-961

USS LST-961
USS LST-961 circa 1944-1946.jpg USS LST-961 photographed c. 1944-46.
Career (United States)
Name:	LST-961
Builder:	Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number:	3431
Laid down:	13 October 1944
Launched:	11 November 1944
Commissioned:	6 December 1944
Decommissioned:	23 July 1946
Struck:	28 August 1946
Identification:	Hull symbol: LST-961 Code letters: NKFU
Honors and awards:	2 × battle stars
Fate:	Sold for scraping, 10 December 1947
General characteristics
Class & type:	LST-542-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 3 in (2.51 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 Limiting 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m) Maximum navigation 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
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:	11.6 kn (21.5 km/h; 13.3 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 short tons (3,200,000–3,800,000 lb; 1,500,000–1,700,000 kg) cargo depending on mission
Troops:	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement:	13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament:	• 2 × twin 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns  • 4 × single 40 mm Bofors guns  • 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons

Service record
Part of:	LST Flotilla 23
Operations:	Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (15 May–10 June 1945) Consolidation and capture of Southern Philippines Palawan Island landings (1–2 March 1945)
Awards:	China Service Medal American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp

USS LST-961 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

Construction

LST-961 was laid down on 13 October 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 11 November 1944; and commissioned on 6 December 1944, with Lieutenant Harold A. Dabroe, USNR, in command.

Service history

During World War II, LST-961 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the Palawan Island landings in March 1945, and the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in May and June 1945.

Following the war, she performed occupation duty in the Far East and saw service in China until mid-April 1946. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 23 July 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 28 August, that same year. On 10 December 1947, the ship was sold to The Learner Co., Oakland, California, for scrapping.

Awards

LST-961 earned two battle stars for World War II service.

Bibliography

Online resources

• "LST-961". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History & Heritage Command. 4 August 2015. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/LST-961.html. Retrieved 17 June 2017.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
• "Bethlehem-Hingham, Hingham MA". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 11 August 2011. http://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge/bethhingham.htm. Retrieved 17 June 2017. 
• "USS LST-961". Navsource.org. 5 May 2017. http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160961.htm. Retrieved 17 June 2017. 

External links

• Photo gallery of USS LST-961 at NavSource Naval History