USS LST-399

T-LST-399 on 11 April 1974
History
United States
Name	LST-399
Owner	United States Navy (1943-1945) SCAJAP (1945-1952) MSTS (1952-1985)
Builder	Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News
Laid down	28 September 1942
Launched	23 November 1942
Commissioned	4 January 1943
Decommissioned	8 December 1945
Renamed	Q088, 1945 T-LST-399, 1952 IX-511
Stricken	1 November 1973
Honours and awards	See Awards
Fate	Scrapped
General characteristics [1]
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

USS LST-399 was an LST-1-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II.^[2]

Construction and commissioning

LST-399 was laid down on 28 September 1942 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, Virginia. Launched on 23 November 1942 and commissioned on 4 January 1943.^[3]

During World War II, LST-399 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the occupation of New Georgia-Rendova-Vangunu on 21 July and Vella Lavella from 15 and 26 August 1943. Assault on the Treasury Island from 27 October and 6 November 1943.^[2]

The capture and occupation of Guam from 21 to 28 July 1944.^[2]

The ship participated in the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima from 19 to 25 February 1945 and later the assault and occupation of Okinawa from 1 to 14 April 1945.^[2] After the end of the war, the ship was decommissioned on 8 December 1945 and Commander Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE) Shipping Control Authority for Japan (SCAJAP), which the ship was re-designated as Q088.^[3]

Military Sea Transportation Service acquired the ship on 31 March 1952 and re-designated again as T-LST-399.^[2] On 1 November 1973, the T-LST-399 was struck from the Naval Register and was put into the mothball state at the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet, California.^[4] She was later scrapped.^[2]

According to Navsource.org, the ship was reinstated and renamed as IX-511, later struck on the Naval Register on 15 June 1985.^[3]

LST-399 earned five battle star for World War II service.^[3]

Awards

• Combat Action Ribbon
• Navy Unit Commendation
• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5 battle stars)
• World War II Victory Medal
• Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
• National Defense Service Medal

References

1. Navsource 2016.
2. "LST-399". NHHC. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
3. "Tank Landing Ship LST-1010". www.navsource.org. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
4. "NH 84849 USNS LST-399". NHHC. Retrieved 11 February 2022.