USS LST-462

USS LST-462, beached in the background an M3 light tank splashes off LST-552 on White Beach, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 1945
History
United States
Name	LST-462
Ordered	as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 982[1]
Builder	Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Washington
Yard number	166[1]
Laid down	4 October 1942
Launched	6 November 1942
Commissioned	21 February 1943
Decommissioned	21 March 1946
Stricken	1 May 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-462 Code letters: NFOZ
Honors and awards	5 × battle stars
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 15 December 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
Operations:	Hollandia operation (15 May 1944) Western New Guinea operation Biak Islands operation (27–29 May, 31 May–4 June, 9–13 June 1944) Noemfoor Island operation (4–11 July 1944) Cape Sansapor operation (30 July and 4, 6–19 August 1944) Morotai landing (15 September 1944) Leyte landings (13–28 October 1944) Lingayen Gulf landings (4–17 January 1945) Balikpapan operation (3–7 July 1945)
Awards:	American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Philippine Liberation Medal

USS LST-462 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 4 October 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 982, by Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington; launched 6 November 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Eugene E. Blazier; and commissioned on 21 February 1943.^[1][2]

During World War II, LST-462 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She took part in the Hollandia operation in May 1944; the Western New Guinea operations, the Biak Islands operation in May and June 1944, 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 1944; the Lingayen Gulf landings in January 1945; and the Balikpapan operation in June and July 1945.^[3]

Following the war, LST-462 returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 21 March 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 1 May, that same year. On 15 December 1948, the tank landing ship was sold to Hughes Bros., Inc., of New York City, and subsequently scrapped.^[3]

LST-462 earned five battle stars for her World War II service.^[2]

Citations

Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS LST-462.

• Photo gallery of USS LST-462 at NavSource Naval History