USS LST-917

USS LST-917 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.

USS LST-917, LST-277, LST-461 and LST-571 beached while unloading across pontoon causeways probably at Lingayen Gulf, c. January 1945.
History
United States
Name	LST-917
Builder	Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number	3387[1]
Laid down	31 March 1944
Launched	6 May 1944
Commissioned	28 May 1944
Decommissioned	24 May 1946
Stricken	3 July 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-917 Code letters: NVPC
Honors and awards	5 × battle star
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 25 November 1948
General characteristics [2]
Class and 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 1,800 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 short tons (3,200,000–3,800,000 lb; 1,500,000–1,700,000 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 40 mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons
Service record
Part of:	LST Flotilla 14
Operations:	Leyte landings (20 October 1944) Lingayen Gulf landings (11–18 January 1945) Western New Guinea operations Morotai landing (18 December 1944 – 1 January 1945) Consolidation and capture of Southern Philippines Mindanao Island landings (31 January 1945) Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (26 March–29 April 1945)
Awards:	China Service Medal 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

Construction

LST-917 was laid down on 31 March 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 6 May 1944; and commissioned on 28 May 1944.^[3][2]

Service history

During World War II, LST-917 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She took part in the Leyte landings in October 1944; Lingayen Gulf landings in January 1945; the Morotai landing in December 1944 and January 1945; the Consolidation and capture of Southern Philippines, the Mindanao Island landings in January 1945; and the Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in March and April 1945.^[3]

Following the war, LST-917 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-December 1945. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 24 May 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 3 July, that same year. On 19 May 1948, the ship was sold to Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington, for scrapping.^[3]

Awards

LST-917 earned five battle star for World War II service.^[3]