USS Stark County

	Pangan as a museum ship in 2018
History
United States
Name	LST-1134
Builder	Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., Illinois
Laid down	18 December 1944
Launched	16 March 1945
Commissioned	7 April 1945
Renamed	Stark County
Namesake	Stark County
Decommissioned	16 May 1966
Identification	Callsign: NKGO; ; Pennant number: LST-1134;
Fate	Transferred to Royal Thai Navy, 16 May 1966
History
Thailand
Name	Pangan; (พงัน);
Namesake	Pha-ngan Island
Commissioned	1966
Decommissioned	2008
Reclassified	LST-713
Identification	Pennant number: LST-13, LST-713
Status	Museum ship in Ko Pha-ngan, Surat Thani
General characteristics
Class and 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; 1,800 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	7 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament	Varied, ultimate armament; 2 × twin 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns ; 4 × single 40 mm Bofors guns; 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons;
Aviation facilities	Deck as helipad

9°42′45″N 99°59′02″E / 9.7124120°N 99.9839715°E

USS Stark County (LST-1134) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was transferred to the Royal Thai Navy as HTMS Pangan (LST-13) (Thai: เรือหลวงพงัน).

Construction and commissioning

LST-1134 was laid down on 18 December 1944 at Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, Seneca, illonois. Launched on 16 March 1945 and commissioned on 7 April 1945.^[1]

Service in United States Navy

She was commissioned too late to see service in World War II but was assigned to occupation service in the Far East from 15 September 1945 to 4 January 1946.

During the Korean War, she participated in the invasion of Inchon from 13 to 17 September 1950.

On 1 July 1955, she was given the name USS Stark County.

She was decommissioned on 16 May 1966 and transferred to the Royal Thai Navy.^[2]

LST-1134 earned three battle stars for Cold War service.^[1]

Service in Royal Thai Navy

She was renamed HTMS Pangan (LST-13) once acquired by the navy. She was homeported in Phra Samut Chedi alongside HTMS Lanta and HTMS Chang.

The ship was retired from the Royal Thai Navy in 2008 and used as a training ship alongside other LSTs.

She arrived in Koh Phangan on 21 January 2011 to be converted into museum ship.^[3]

Awards

LST-1134 have earned the following awards:

American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal (3 battle stars)
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

References

^ ^a ^b "LST-1134". NHHC. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
^ "Tank Landing Ship LST". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
^ "HTMS Pangan - Surat Thani". patricklepetit.jalbum.net. Retrieved 20 June 2021.

[:0-1] "LST-1134". NHHC. Retrieved 20 June 2021.

[2] "Tank Landing Ship LST". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 20 June 2021.

[3] "HTMS Pangan - Surat Thani". patricklepetit.jalbum.net. Retrieved 20 June 2021.

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