USS LST-503

ROCS Chung Kuang on 16 February 2009
History
United States
Name	LST-503
Builder	Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville
Laid down	29 July 1943
Launched	8 October 1943
Sponsored by	Mrs. David E. Eppley
Commissioned	8 December 1943
Decommissioned	11 June 1946
Recommissioned	9 January 1951
Decommissioned	4 April 1955
Stricken	25 April 1960
Identification	Callsign: NDXH
Honors and awards	See Awards
Fate	Transferred to Republic of China, 4 April 1955
Taiwan
Name	Chung Kuang (中光)
Acquired	4 April 1955
Commissioned	29 April 1955
Decommissioned	16 February 2009
Reclassified	LST-686, 1976 LST-216, 1976
Identification	Hull number: LST-216
Fate	Expended as a target 2019
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-491-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
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	6 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

USS LST-503 was a LST-491-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was transferred to the Republic of China Navy as ROCS Chung Kuang (LST-216). ^[1]

Construction and career

LST-503 was laid down on 29 July 1943 at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana. Launched on 8 October 1943 and commissioned on 8 December 1943. ^[2]

Service in the United States Navy

During World War II, LST-503 was assigned to the European theater. She then participated in the Invasion of Normandy from 6 to 25 June 1944.

She was decommissioned on 11 June 1946 and laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs, Florida. ^[1]

On 9 January 1951, she was recommissioned and was homeported at NAB Little Creek, Virginia. In August, she was assigned to Operation Blue Bird in Greenland.

On 4 April 1955, the ship was decommissioned and transferred to the Republic of China.

LST-503 was struck from the Navy Register on 25 April 1960.

Service in the Republic of China Navy

She was commissioned into the Republic of China Navy on 29 April 1955 and renamed ROCS Chung Kuang(LST-216). ^[3]

The ship had participated in the transportation and replenishment missions of Kinmen Island many times during the 1958, 823 artillery battle. ^[3]

In 1976, she was reclassified as LST-646 but was later reverted in the same year. So far, her main tasks are transportation of personnel and vehicles, and transportation to other islands. ^[3]

Chung Kuang was decommissioned on 16 February 2009.

On 11 April 2016, the Ministry of National Defense agreed to display Chung Kuang's anchor at the Taoyuan National Home of Honor (桃園榮譽國民之家), Bade District. ^{[3] [4]}

On 29 July 2019, her together with her sister ship Chung Pang served as a target ship for multiple F-16s fired Harpoon missiles and was hit. ^[5]

Awards

LST-503 have earned the following awards:

• American Campaign Medal
• European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1 battle star)
• World War II Victory Medal

Citations

1. "Tank Landing Ship LST". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
2. "LST-503". public1.nhhcaws.local. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
3. "LST-216中光軍艦山字海錨前錨除役~ 桃園榮家陳展揭幕~". vac.gov.tw. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
4. 自由時報電子報 (16 May 2016). "海軍中士的遺願完成了 中光艦海錨落腳桃園榮家 - 生活". 自由時報電子報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 13 September 2021.
5. "F-16戰機試射魚叉飛彈命中靶艦 成功驗證對海戰術 | 政治 | 中央社 CNA". 29 July 2019. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2021.

Sources

• United States. Dept. of the Treasury (1962). Treasury Decisions Under the Customs, Internal Revenue, Industrial Alcohol, Narcotic and Other Laws, Volume 97. U.S. Government Printing Office.
• Moore, Capt. John (1984). Jane's Fighting Ships 1984-85. Jane's Information Group. ISBN   978-0710607959.
• Saunders, Stephen (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN   978-0710628886.
• Fairplay International Shipping Journal Volume 222. United Kingdom: Fairplay Publishing Limited. 1967.