USS LST-871

USS LST-871 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.

Eleven LSTs moored at the Yonabaru Pier, Okinawa, 23 July 1945. From right to left: LST-819, LST-879, LST-681, LST-926, LST-944, LST(H)-?, LST-715, LST-918, LST-871, ?, ?. US Navy photo 21st USNCB Neg. No. 204.
History
United States
Name	LST-871
Builder	Jeffersonville Boat & Machinery Co., Jeffersonville, Indiana
Laid down	9 November 1944
Launched	20 December 1944
Commissioned	18 January 1945
Decommissioned	4 October 1946
Reclassified	Landing Ship Tank (Hospital), 15 September 1945
Stricken	13 November 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-871 Hull symbol: LST(H)-871 Code letters: NIUX
Fate	Sold for commercial operations, 30 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 32

Construction

LST-871 was laid down on 9 November 1944, at Jeffersonville, Indiana, by the Jeffersonville Boat & Machinery Co.; launched on 20 December 1944; and commissioned on 18 January 1945.

Service history

During World War II LST-871 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater.

LST-871 was redesignated LSTH-871 on 15 September 1945. Following World War II, LSTH-871 performed occupation duty in the Far East until early May 1946. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 4 October 1946 and struck from the Navy list on 13 November that same year. On 30 June 1948, the ship was sold to the Humble Oil & Refining Co. in Houston, Texas, for operation.

The ship's wartime commanding officer, Frank W. Summers, USNR, was promoted to lieutenant commander by the end of his command, and later served as Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Bibliography

• "LST-871". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 18 May 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
• "USS LST-871". Navsource.org. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
• ""Former chief justice of state Supreme Court dies Tuesday"". Abbeville Meridional. 27 January 1993. pp. 1, 5.

External links

• Photo gallery of USS LST-871 at NavSource Naval History