USS LST-979

History
United States
Name:	LST-979
Builder:	Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number:	3449
Laid down:	19 December 1944
Launched:	23 January 1945
Sponsored by:	Mrs. A. H. Balsley
Commissioned:	20 February 1945
Decommissioned:	5 July 1946
Struck:	28 August 1946
Identification:	Hull symbol: LST-979 Code letters: NKXQ
Status:	Sold for scrapping, 4 November 1947
General characteristics
Class & 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 1,700 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 st (22,000–27,000 lb; 10,000–12,000 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 40mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons
Service record
Awards:	China Service Medal American Campaign Medal 20px Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp

USS LST-979 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.

Construction

LST-979 was laid down on 19 December 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 23 January 1945; sponsored by Mrs. A. H. Balsley; and commissioned on 20 February 1945, with Lieutenant Hunter A. Hogan, Jr., USNR, in command.

Service history

Following World War II, LST-979 performed occupation duty in the Far East and saw service in China until late March 1946. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 5 July 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 28 August, that same year. On 4 November 1947, the ship was sold to the Moore Drydock Co., Oakland, California, for scrapping.

Bibliography

Online resources

•  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

External links

• Photo gallery of USS LST-979 at NavSource Naval History