USS LST-461

USS LST-461, beached at Majuro Atoll in March 1944.
History
United States
Name	LST-461
Ordered	as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 981[1]
Builder	Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Washington
Yard number	165[1]
Laid down	30 September 1942
Launched	3 November 1942
Commissioned	18 February 1943
Decommissioned	2 September 1947
Stricken	16 September 1947
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-461 Code letters: NPQJ
Honors and awards	6 × battle stars
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 30 March 1948
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 Division 14
Operations:	Capture and occupation of Saipan (15 June–30 July 1944) Capture and occupation of Tinian (24–30 July 1944) Leyte landings (20 October 1944) Lingayen Gulf landings (9 January 1945) Nasugbu (31 January 1945) Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (2–22 May 1945)
Awards:	Navy Unit Commendation American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Philippine Liberation Medal

USS LST-461 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 30 September 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 981, by Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington; launched 3 November 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Eugene E. Blazier; and commissioned on 18 February 1943.^[1][2]

During World War II, LST-461 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She took part in the capture and occupation of Saipan in June and July 1944; in the capture and occupation of Tinian in July 1944; the Leyte operation in October 1944; the Lingayen Gulf landings in January 1945; in the Nasugbu operations in January 1945; and the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in May 1945.^[3]

Following the war, LST-461 returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 2 September 1947, and struck from the Navy list on 16 September, that same year. On 30 March 1948, the tank landing ship was sold to Consolidated Builders, Inc., of Seattle, Washington, and subsequently scrapped.^[3]

LST-461 earned six battle stars for her World War II service.^[2]

Citations

Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS LST-461.

• Photo gallery of USS LST-461 at NavSource Naval History