USS LST-978

USS LST-978
USS LST-978 Atlantic Ocean 1 April 1945.jpg USS LST-978 under way, 1 April 1945, in the Atlantic Ocean bound for the Pacific via the Panama Canal with disassembled landing craft LCT-1441 and LCT-1448 on deck.
Career (United States)
Name:	LST-978
Builder:	Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number:	3448
Laid down:	15 December 1944
Launched:	20 January 1945
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Anna H. Phelan
Commissioned:	15 February 1945
Decommissioned:	6 June 1946
Struck:	3 July 1946
Identification:	Hull symbol: LST-978 Code letters: NKXN
Status:	Sold for scrapping, 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
Awards:	American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp

USS LST-978 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-978 was laid down on 15 December 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 20 January 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Anna H. Phelan; and commissioned on 15 February 1945, with Lieutenant Albert F. Gallatin, USNR, in command.

Service history

Following World War II, LST-978 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-December 1945. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 6 June 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 3 July, that same year. On 10 December 1947, the ship was sold to the Salco Iron & Metal Co., for scrapping.

Bibliography

Online resources

• "LST-978". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History & Heritage Command. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/LST-978.html. Retrieved 27 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 27 June 2017. 
• "USS LST-978". Navsource.org. 26 August 2016. http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160978.htm. Retrieved 27 June 2017. 

External links

• Photo gallery of USS LST-978 at NavSource Naval History