USS LST-981 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.

USS LST-981
History
United States
NameLST-981
BuilderBoston Navy Yard
Laid down9 December 1943
Launched27 January 1944
Sponsored byMiss Helen Madden
Commissioned11 March 1944
Decommissioned30 July 1946
Stricken28 August 1946
Identification
Honors and
awards
2 × battle stars
FateSold for scrapping, 12 December 1947
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeLST-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)
Length328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam50 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
Propulsion
Speed11.6 kn (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph)
Range24,000 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
Capacity1,600–1,900 short tons (3,200,000–3,800,000 lb; 1,500,000–1,700,000 kg) cargo depending on mission
Troops16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament
Service record
Part of: LST Flotilla 35 (Pacific service)
Operations:
Awards:

Construction

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LST-981 was laid down on 9 December 1943, at the Boston Navy Yard; launched on 27 January 1944; sponsored by Miss Helen Madden; and commissioned on 11 March 1944.[2]

Service history

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During World War II, LST-981 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the invasion of Normandy in June 1944. Transferred to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, she engaged in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in May and June 1945.[2]

Following the war, she performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-May 1946. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 30 July 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 28 August, that same year. On 12 December 1947, the ship was sold to the Salco Iron & Metal Co. for scrapping.[2]

Awards

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LST-981 earned two battle stars for World War II service.[2]

Notes

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Citations

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Bibliography

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Online resources

  • "LST-981". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 27 June 2017.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "USS LST-981". Navsource.org. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
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