USS LST-59

History
United States
Name	USS LST-59
Builder	Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Laid down	7 November 1943
Launched	18 December 1943
Commissioned	31 January 1944
Decommissioned	21 January 1946
Stricken	25 February 1946
Honours and; awards	1 battle star (WWII)
Fate	Sold for scrapping, September 1947
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement	1,780 long tons (1,809 t) light; 3,880 long tons (3,942 t) full;
Length	328 ft (100 m)
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Unloaded:; Bow: 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m); Stern: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m); Loaded :; Bow: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m); Stern: 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m);
Depth	8 ft (2.4 m) forward, 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) aft (full load)
Propulsion	2 General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats & landing ; craft carried	Two or six LCVPs
Troops	14-16 officers, 131-147 enlisted men
Complement	7-9 officers, 104-120 enlisted men
Armament	2 × twin 40 mm gun mounts w/Mk.51 directors; 4 × single 40 mm gun mounts; 12 × single 20 mm gun mounts;

USS LST-59 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship which earned one battle star for service in World War II.

The ship was laid down by the Dravo Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 7 November 1943. Launched on 18 December 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Richard A. Lewis. Commissioned on 31 January 1944.

Between 6–25 June 1944 LST-59 participated in the invasion of Normandy. On 29 June 1944 the 5th Naval Beach Battalion returned from Normandy to England aboard.

The ship was decommissioned on 21 January 1946, and struck from the Navy List on 25 February 1946. Subsequently sold to Southern Shipwrecking Company of New Orleans in September 1947, and scrapped.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

See also

References