USS LST-945

USS LST-945 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.

LST-886 at Tinian, c. December 1945-September 1945, USS LST-945 is at left.
History
United States
Name	LST-945
Builder	Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number	3415
Laid down	11 August 1944
Launched	16 September 1944
Commissioned	9 October 1944
Decommissioned	16 April 1946
Stricken	19 July 1946
Identification	Code letters: NVUB Hull number: LST-945
Fate	Transferred to the Maritime Commission (MARCOM), 29 May 1946
Taiwan
Name	Chung Kong (中練)
Acquired	May 1946
Commissioned	May 1946
Recommissioned	September 1954
Decommissioned	1956
Identification	Hull number: LST-213
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 21
Operations:	Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (1 April–30 June 1945)
Awards:	China Service Medal American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal

Construction and career

LST-945 was laid down on 11 August 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 16 September 1944; and commissioned on 9 October 1944.

During World War II LST-945 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto from April through June 1945.

Following the war, she saw service in China until early 1946. The ship returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 16 April 1946, and transferred to the Maritime Commission (MARCOM) for disposition on 29 May, that same year. She was struck from the Navy list on 19 July 1946.

Awards

LST-945 earned one battle star for World War II service.

Notes

Bibliography

Online resources

• "LST-945". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 3 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 3 June 2017.
• "USS LST-945". Navsource.org. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.

External links

• Photo gallery of USS LST-945 at NavSource Naval History