USS LST-481

USS LST-481, unloading on the beach at Kiska, Alaska, 23 August 1943.
History
United States
Name	LST-481
Ordered	as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 1001 [1]
Builder	Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California
Yard number	36 [1]
Laid down	4 September 1942
Launched	2 December 1942
Commissioned	15 May 1943
Decommissioned	28 February 1946
Stricken	12 April 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-481 Code letters: NGQW
Honors and awards	6 × battle stars
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 28 April 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 Flotilla 3 at Adak Island LST Flotilla 5 at Guam
Operations:	Gilbert Islands operations (12 November–8 December 1943) Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls (31 January–8 February 1944) Battle of Hollandia (21–26 April 1944) Capture and occupation of Guam (21–28 July 1944) Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima (19–25 February 1945) Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (1–10 April 1945)
Awards:	Combat Action Ribbon American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp

USS LST-481 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II.

Construction

LST-481 was laid down on 4 September 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1001, by Kaiser Shipyards, Yard No. 4, Richmond, California; launched on 2 December 1942; and commissioned on 15 May 1943. ^{[1] [2]}

Service history

During the war, LST-481 was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations. She took part in the Gilbert Islands operation, November and December 1943; the Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls in February 1944; the Battle of Hollandia in April 1944; the Battle of Guam in July 1944; the Battle of Iwo Jima in February 1945; and the Battle of Okinawa in April 1945. ^[3]

Post-war service

Following the war, LST-481 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-November 1945. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 28 February 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 12 April 1946. On 16 April 1948, the ship was sold to the Bethlehem Steel Co., Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and subsequently scrapped. ^[3]

Awards

LST-481 earned six battle stars for her World War II service. ^[3]

Notes

Citations

1. Kaiser No. 4 2014.
2. Navsource 2014.
3. DANFS.

Bibliography

Online resources

• "LST-481". 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". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
• "USS LST-481". Navsource.org. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2017.

External links

• Photo gallery of USS LST-481 at NavSource Naval History