USS LST-920

USS LST-920 photographed c. 1945-1946.
History
United States
Name	LST-920
Builder	Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number	3390[1]
Laid down	26 April 1944
Launched	29 May 1944
Commissioned	17 June 1944
Decommissioned	8 July 1946
Stricken	14 March 1947
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-920 Code letters: NKAA
Honors and awards	1 × battle star
Fate	Sold for commercial operations, 17 June 1948
United States
Name	Stanolind 55
Owner	Standard Oil of Indiana
Acquired	17 June 1948
Fate	Sold, 1951
Brazil
Name	Guarap
Owner	Empreza Internacional de Transportes Companhia Paulista de Commercio Maritimo
Acquired	1951
Refit	modified for cargo handling
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 23 June 1972
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 36
Operations:	Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (7 June 1945)
Awards:	Combat Action Ribbon China Service Medal American Campaign Medal European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp

USS LST-920 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.

LST-920 was laid down on 26 April 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 29 May 1944; and commissioned on 17 June 1944.^[3][2]

During World War II, LST-920 was first assigned to the European Theatre, sailing in convoy HXM 30.^[2] She was later reassigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and took part in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in June 1945.^[3]

Following the war, she performed occupation duty and saw service in China until early March 1946. Upon her return to the United States, she was decommissioned on 8 July 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 14 March 1947. On 17 June 1948, the ship was sold to Standard Oil of Indiana,^[3] for commercial operation, she was renamed Stanolind 55.^[2] In 1951, she was sold to Empreza Internacional de Transportes of Brazil.^[2]

In Brazilian service, LST-920 was renamed Guarape. She was modified at Higgins, in New Orleans, Louisiana, for cargo handling. Four hatches were added to the main deck and four derricks. She was later sold to Companhia Paulista de Commercio Maritimo, of Santos, Brazil, where she retained her name. She was finally scrapped 23 June 1972.^[2]

LST-920 earned one battle stars for World War II service.^[3]

• Photo gallery of LST-920 at NavSource Naval History