USS LST-475

USS LST-475 while under construction at Kaiser, Inc., Vancouver, WA. She was built in record time, 71 hours and 50 minutes from keel laying to launching, 16 November 1942.
History
United States
Name	LST-475
Ordered	as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 995[1]
Builder	Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Washington
Yard number	179[1]
Laid down	14 November 1942
Launched	16 November 1942
Commissioned	20 March 1943
Decommissioned	24 April 1946
Stricken	5 June 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-475 Code letters: NPNN
Honors and awards	6 × battle stars
Fate	Sold, 31 October 1946
General characteristics [2]
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 7
Operations:	Eastern New Guinea operations Lae occupation (4–6, 9–11 September 1943) Saidor occupation (2–11 January 1944) Bismarck Archipelago operations Cape Gloucester, New Britain (26–29 December 1943, 22–25 January, 30 January–2 February 1944) Hollandia operation (21–26 April 1944) Western New Guinea operations Noemfoor Island operation (11–18 July 1944) Cape Sansapor operation (31 July, 6, 8–14, 16–22 August 1944) Morotai landing (15 September 1944) Leyte landings (13–27 October, 5–18 November 1944) Lingayen Gulf landings (4–15 January 1945) Borneo operations Balikpapan operation (June–July 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-475 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II. As with many of her class, the ship was never named. Instead, she was referred to by her hull designation.

The ship was laid down on 14 November 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 995, by Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington; launched 16 November 1942; and commissioned on 20 March 1943.^[2]

During the war, LST-475 was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations. She took part in the Eastern New Guinea operations, the Lae occupation in September 1943, and the Saidor occupation in January 1944; the Bismarck Archipelago operations, the Cape Gloucester, New Britain landings in December 1943; Hollandia operation in April 1944; the Western New Guinea operations, the Noemfoor Island operation in July 1944, the Cape Sansapor operation in July and August 1944, and the Morotai landing in September 1944; the Leyte operation in October and November 1944; the Lingayen Gulf landings in January 1945; and the Borneo operation, the Balikpapan operation in June and July 1945.^[3]

Following the war, LST-475 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-October 1945. Upon her return to the United States, the ship was decommissioned on 24 April 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 5 June, that same year. On 31 October 1946, she was sold to the Suwannee Fruit & Steamship Co., Jacksonville, Florida.^[3]

LST-475 earned six battle stars for her World War II service.^[3]

Citations

Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS LST-475.

• Photo gallery of USS LST-475 at NavSource Naval History