USS LST-480

Overhead view of the burning hulk of USS LST-480, in the West Loch, Pearl Harbor, 22 May 1944. The yard craft with her bow on the bow of LST-480 appears to be an LCM, while the ship at her stern is USCGC Woodbine.
History
United States
Name	LST-480
Ordered	as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 1000 [1]
Builder	Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California
Yard number	35 [1]
Laid down	31 August 1942
Launched	29 October 1942
Commissioned	3 May 1943
Out of service	21 May 1944
Stricken	18 July 1944 or 8 May 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-480 Code letters: NGQO
Honors & awards	2 × battle stars
Fate	Sunk by accidental explosion of ammunition 21 May 1944
General characteristics [2]
Class & 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:	Gilbert Islands operations (21 November–8 December 1943) Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls (1–6 February 1944)
Awards:	American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal

USS LST-480 was an LST-1-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy used in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II.

Construction

LST-480 was laid down on 31 August 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1000, by Kaiser Shipyards, Yard No. 4, Richmond, California; launched on 29 October 1942; and commissioned on 3 May 1943. ^{[1] [3] [2]}

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

During World War II, LST-480 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the following operations:

• Gilbert Islands operation: Capture and occupation of Gilbert Islands, 13 November to 8 December 1943.
• Marshall Islands operation: Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 29 January to 8 February 1944.

Sinking

Further information: West Loch disaster

The rusting remains of LST-480.

On 21 May 1944, LST-480 and at least 28 to 33 other LSTs were gathered near Waipio peninsula, in Pearl Harbor's West Loch, loading ammunition and supplies in preparation for the invasion of Saipan. ^{[4] [5]}

At 15:08, an explosion onboard LST-353, which may have originated near LCT-963, caused a chain reaction that would eventually sink LST-480, LST-353, and four other LSTs. At least two other LSTs were severely damaged and 163 sailors were killed with another 396 wounded. ^{[4] [5]}

While the other ships were removed and sunk at sea, ^[5] the wreck of LST-480 can still be seen in the West Loch. ^[6] 21°21′26″N157°59′50″W / 21.35725°N 157.9972°W / 21.35725; -157.9972

Awards

LST-480 earned two battle stars for World War II service. ^[3]

Notes

Citations

1. Kaiser No. 4 2014.
2. Navsource 2016.
3. DANFS.
4. CNIC.
5. NPS 2001.
6. Boston Globe 2009.

Bibliography

Online resources

• "LST-480". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships . Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 2 February 2017. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
• "Kaiser Permanente No. 4, Richmond CA". ShipbuildingHistory.com. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
• "USS LST-480". NavSource. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
• "West Loch Disaster". United States Navy. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
• "West Loch Disaster". National Park Service. 27 April 2001. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
• "Memorial Day, 2009". The Boston Globe. 25 May 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2017.

Further reading

• Olson, Wyatt (21 May 2016). "'2nd Pearl Harbor,' kept top secret until 1962, commemorated". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
• Shute, Megan (20 January 2017). "The Deadly History of This Hawaii Harbor Is Terrifying But True". Only in Your State. Retrieved 2 February 2017.