USS LST-535

History
United States
Name	LST-535
Builder	Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville
Laid down	19 October 1943
Launched	21 December 1943
Sponsored by	Mrs. John L. Mullins
Commissioned	4 February 1944
Decommissioned	14 January 1946
Reclassified	Q014, 14 January 1946 T-LST-535, 31 March 1952
Stricken	1 October 1958
Identification	Callsign: NEAR
Honors and awards	See Awards
Fate	Transferred to Republic of China, 1 October 1958
Taiwan
Name	Chung Wan (中萬)
Acquired	1 October 1958
Commissioned	16 September 1958
Decommissioned	1 February 1993
Identification	Hull number: LST-229
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-535 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 Wan (LST-229). ^[1]

Construction and career

LST-535 was laid down on 19 October 1943 at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana. Launched on 21 December 1943 and commissioned on 4 February 1944. ^[2]

Service in the United States Navy

During World War II, LST-535 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle theater but later changed to Asiatic-Pacific theater. She then participated in the Invasion of Normandy from 6 to 25 June 1944.

She participated in the invasion of Okinawa and later took occupation there from 30 May to 10 June 1945. She assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 10 to 28 September 1945 and 1 to 14 January 1946.

She was decommissioned on 14 January 1946 and came under the Commander Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE) Shipping Control Authority for Japan (SCAJAP), redesignated Q004.

Transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 31 March 1952, and placed in service as USNS T-LST-535.

LST-535 was struck from the Navy Register on 1 October 1958 and transferred to the Republic of China.

Service in the Republic of China Navy

She was commissioned into the Republic of China Navy on 16 September 1958 and renamed ROCS Chung Wan(LST-229) and was subordinate to the Deng Er Fleet Department (136 Fleet Department).

The Vietnam War in 1975 was about to end, and Vietnam's redification was a foregone conclusion. The Taiwan Navy carried out the Tongji exercise on March 28 of the same year and dispatched the Chung Jian (LST-205) and Chong Chie (LST-218), Chung Wan (LST-229) and Chung Bang (LST-230) went to Vietnam to evacuate overseas Chinese and refugees, and transport supplies. ^[3]

On March 30, on the way to Vietnam, the detachment learned that Da Nang and Cam Ranh Bay had fallen, and the Chung Wan and Chung Bang ships turned into the Chao Phraya River and arrived in Saigon on April 3 to unload their supplies. To help the refugees, he sailed out of the Chao Phraya River to Phu Quoc Island to join Chung Jian and Chung Chie. On April 14, the Chung Wan ship landed and landed on the island first, and the three ships including Chung Jian also completed the beaching and landing on the island, carrying out the task of unloading materials and humanitarian rescue. ^[3]

During the naval service period, the ship performed out-of-island transportation, supplementary training, and exercise training. It was able to display mutual assistance, cooperation, and the spirit of unity and struggle, and it was successfully completed. ^[3]

Since the flight decks of the Chung Jian and Chung Wan have not been modified to take off and land the helicopter, they will return to Taiwan first after completing the loading of personnel and materials. Chung Chien and Chung Bang remained on standby in Phu Quoc Island, and then returned to Taiwan safely and smoothly. ^[3]

Due to the gradual decrease in transportation and replenishment tasks, a simple seal was ordered on 16 December 1990. ^[4]

Awards

LST-535 have earned the following awards:

• American Campaign Medal
• European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1 battle star)
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1 battle star)
• Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp)
• World War II Victory Medal

Citations

1. "Tank Landing Ship LST". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
2. "LST-520". public1.nhhcaws.local. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
3. waldo_shao (waldo_shao) (10 August 2008). "同濟演習". 隨意窩 Xuite日誌. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
4. Kevin Michael Rudd (18 November 2019). "中、美之間可否避免一戰？" [Can China and the United States Avoid War?](PDF) (in Chinese). 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.