USS LST-961

USS LST-961 photographed c. 1944-46.
History
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
Stricken	28 August 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-961 Code letters: NKFU
Honors and awards	2 × battle stars
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 10 December 1947
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	13 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
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.

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. Naval History and Heritage Command. 4 August 2015. 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. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
• "USS LST-961". Navsource.org. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.

External links

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