USS LST-968

USS LST-968 with LCT-1230 having been "toploaded" at Yokohama, Japan, c. 10–12 April 1946, for the return trip to CONUS.
History
United States
Name	LST-968
Builder	Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number	3438
Laid down	7 November 1944
Launched	9 December 1944
Commissioned	3 January 1945
Decommissioned	2 July 1946
Stricken	15 August 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-968 Code letters: NKIH
Fate	Sold for operation, 10 June 1948
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 31
Awards:	American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp

USS LST-968 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-968 was laid down on 7 November 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 9 December 1944; and commissioned on 3 January 1945.

Service history

Following the war, she performed occupation duty in the Far East until early April 1946. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 2 July 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 15 August, that same year. On 10 June 1948, the ship was sold to the Humble Oil and Refining Co., Houston, Texas, for operation.

From the files of Herschel E. Harshaw

Bibliography

Online resources

• "LST-968". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 20 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 20 June 2017.
• "USS LST-968". Navsource.org. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.

External links

• Photo gallery of USS LST-968 at NavSource Naval History