USS LST-227

USS LST-227
History
United States
Name	LST-227
Builder	Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., Seneca
Laid down	10 May 1943
Launched	21 September 1943
Sponsored by	Mrs. C. B. Hellerson
Commissioned	16 October 1943
Decommissioned	22 January 1946
Renamed	Q025, 23 January 1946
Stricken	28 April 1949
Identification	Callsign: NZFB
Honors and awards	See Awards
Fate	Transferred to South Korea, 27 March 1955
History
South Korea
Name	Deok Bong (덕봉)
Namesake	Deokbong
Acquired	29 March 1955
Commissioned	13 September 1955
Decommissioned	31 October 1989
Reclassified	LST-672
Identification	Pennant number: LST-808
Fate	Unknown
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement	4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft Landing at 2,160 t: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
Speed	12 kn (22 km/h; 14 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 or 6 x LCVPs
Capacity	2,100 tons oceangoing maximum 350 tons main deckload
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

USS LST-227 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was later sold to South Korean Navy as ROKS Deok Bong (LST-808).^[1]

LST-227 was laid down on 10 May 1943 at Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., Quincy, Massachusetts. Launched on 21 September 1943 and commissioned on 16 October 1943.^[2]

During World War II, LST-227 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She took part in the occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls from 2 to 8 February 1944 and Battle of Hollandia from 12 to 28 April 1944. She participated in the Battle of Guam from 21 to 28 July 1944 and the capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands from 6 September to 14 October 1944.

In 1945, she took part in the Lingayen Gulf landings on 9 January and the Assault and occupation Battle of Okinawa from 1 April to 10 May. Throughout post-war year service, she was sent for occupation service in the Far East from 21 October to 25 November 1945 and 13 December 1945 to 13 January 1946.

LST-227 was decommissioned on 22 January 1946 and was assigned to Commander Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE) Shipping Control Authority for Japan (SCAJAP) from 23 January 1946 to 6 June 1950 in which she was designated Q025. She was put into the Pacific Reserve Fleet following the end of her service there and later loaned to South Korea.

She was struck from the Navy Register on 28 April 1949.^[1]

ROKS Deok Bong was acquired by the South Korean Navy on 29 March 1955 and was commissioned on 13 September 1955.

Later in the 1970s, she was designated as LST-672.

She was decommissioned on 31 October 1989 and her fate is unknown.

LST-227 have earned the following awards:

• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (6 battle stars)
• World War II Victory Medal
• Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
• Philippines Presidential Unit Citation
• Philippines Liberation Medal (1 award)

• United States. Dept. of the Treasury (1962). Treasury Decisions Under the Customs, Internal Revenue, Industrial Alcohol, Narcotic and Other Laws, Volume 97. U.S. Government Printing Office.
• Moore, Capt. John (1984). Jane's Fighting Ships 1984-85. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710607959.
• Saunders, Stephen (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710628886.
• Fairplay International Shipping Journal Volume 222. United Kingdom: Fairplay Publishing Limited. 1967.