USS LST-543

	LST-543 unloading at Mulberry off Normandy, France
History
United States
Name	USS LST-543
Builder	Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana
Laid down	6 December 1943
Launched	1 February 1944
Sponsored by	Lieutenant, junior grade, Helen C. Hanson, USNR
Commissioned	6 March 1944
Decommissioned	31 May 1946
Stricken	17 July 1947
Honours and; awards	2 battle stars for World War II
Fate	Sold 5 December 1947
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement	1,490 long tons (1,514 t) light; 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full;
Length	328 ft (100 m)
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Unloaded 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) bow; 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) stern; Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft;
Propulsion	Two General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats & landing ; craft carried	2 x LCVPs
Troops	140 officers and enlisted men
Complement	8-10 officers, 100-115 enlisted men
Armament	1 × single 3 in (76 mm) 50-caliber gun mount; 8 × 40 mm guns; 12 × 20 mm guns;

USS LST-543 was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship in commission from 1944 to 1946.

Construction and commissioning

LST-543 was laid down on 6 December 1943 at Evansville, Indiana, by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company. She was launched on 1 February 1944, sponsored by Lieutenant, junior grade, Helen C. Hanson, USNR, and commissioned on 6 March 1944.

Service history

During World War II, LST-543 initially was assigned to the European Theater of Operations and participated in Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, in June 1944.

LST-543 then was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations and took part in the assault on and occupation of Okinawa in May and June 1945.

Following the war, LST-543 performed occupation duty in the Far East and saw service in China until early May 1946, when she returned to the United States.

Decommissioning and disposal

LST-543 was decommissioned on 31 May 1946 and stricken from the Navy List on 17 July 1947. She was sold to Bosey in the Philippines on 5 December 1947.

Honors and awards

LST-543 earned two battle stars for World War II service.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive LST-543