USS LST-478

USS LST-478 and LST-20, unloading on the beach at Kiska Island, Alaska, 23 August 1943. Just visible In the distance is the Nozina Maru, beached by the Japanese after bombing by American forces.
History
United States
Name	LST-478
Ordered	as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 998[1]
Builder	Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No. 4, Richmond, California
Cost	$1,711,380.19[2]
Yard number	33[1]
Way number	3[2]
Laid down	17 August 1942
Launched	7 November 1942
Sponsored by	Mrs. Ray Humphrey
Commissioned	13 March 1943
Decommissioned	23 March 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-478 Code letters: NGNQ
Honors and awards	5 × battle stars
Fate	assigned to Commander Naval Forces Far East
Japan
Operator	Shipping Control Authority for Japan
In service	23 March 1946
Out of service	date unknown
Renamed	Q100
Stricken	28 August 1947
Fate	transferred to Maritime Administration (MARAD), 25 March 1948
United States
Operator	MARAD
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 25 March 1948
General characteristics [3]
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
Service record
Part of:	LST Flotilla 3
Operations:	Gilbert Islands operation (21 November–8 December 1943) Battle of Hollandia (21–29 April 1944) Capture and occupation of Guam (21–27 July 1944) Leyte landings (20 October 1944) Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (2–9 April 1945)
Awards:	American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Philippine Liberation Medal

USS LST-478 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II.

LST-478 was laid down on 17 August 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 998, by Kaiser Shipyards, Yard No. 4, Richmond, California; launched on 7 November 1942, sponsored by Mrs. Ray Humphrey; and commissioned on 13 March 1943.^[1][4]

During the war, LST-478 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. She took part in the Gilbert Islands operation November and December 1943; the Battle of Hollandia in April 1944; the Battle of Guam in July 1944; the Battle of Leyte landing in October 1944; and the Battle of Okinawa in April 1945.^[4]

Following the war, LST-478 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-March 1946. Upon her return to the United States and was decommissioned on 23 March 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 28 August 1947. On 25 March 1948, the ship was sold to the Consolidated Builders, Inc., Seattle, Washington, and subsequently scrapped.^[4]

LST-478 earned five battle stars for her World War II service.^[4]

Citations

Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS LST-478.

• Photo gallery of USS LST-478 at NavSource Naval History