USS LST-578

ROCS Chung Pang on 23 August 2018
History
United States
Name	LST-578
Builder	Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville
Laid down	4 May 1944
Launched	19 June 1944
Sponsored by	Mrs. A. B. Morris
Commissioned	15 July 1944
Decommissioned	22 March 1946
Renamed	Q099 T-LST-578
Stricken	1958
Identification	Callsign: NEXI [1]
Honors and awards	See Awards
Fate	Transferred to the Republic of China, 1958
Taiwan
Name	Chung Pang (中邦)
Acquired	21 September 1958
Commissioned	21 September 1958
Decommissioned	23 August 2018
Homeport	Kaohsiung
Identification	Pennant number: LST-230
Status	Decommissioned
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement	1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full
Length	328 ft (100 m)
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Unloaded : 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft Loaded : 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft
Propulsion	2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × LCVPs
Troops	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement	7 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament	8 × 40 mm guns 12 × 20 mm guns

USS LST-578 was a LST-542-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 Pang (LST-230). ^[2]

Construction and commissioning

LST-578 was laid down on 5 May 1945 at Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, Seneca, Illinois. Launched on 8 June 1945 and commissioned on 30 June 1945.

Service in United States Navy

During World War II, LST-578 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She then participated in the Leyte landings from 5 to 18 November 1944. In 1945, she took part in the Lingayen Gulf landing from 4 to 17 January, the Mindanao Island landing from 10 to 18 March, 24 March to 14 April and 17 to 23 April 1945. She was assigned to occupation and China from 20 October 1945 to 29 June 1946. ^[2]

She was decommissioned on 1 July 1946 and assigned to Commander Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE) Shipping Control Authority for Japan (SCAJAP), redesignated Q099. She was later transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 31 March 1952, placed in service as USNS T-LST-578. She was struck from the Naval Register on 6 February 1956 after she was transferred to the Republic of China and renamed Chung Pang (LST-230). ^[3]

Service in Republic of China Navy

On 23 August 2018, she was decommissioned.

On 29 July 2019, her together with her sister ship Chung Kuang served as a target ship for multiple F-16s fired Harpoon missiles and was hit. ^[4]

In the exercise of Han Kuang 36 on July 15, 2020, she served as a target ship for Harpoon missiles. ^[5] She refused to sink during the exercise. After the exercise ended on July 17, she was towed back to the naval pier in Qijin, Kaohsiung. The side of the hull has at least two holes visible from the missiles. ^[6]

Awards

LST-578 have earned the following awards:

• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3 battle stars)
• World War II Victory Medal
• Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
• Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
• Philippine Liberation Medal (2 battle stars)

Gallery

• 
  Bow view of ROCS Chung Pang and ROCS Chung Shun
• 
  ROCS Chung Pang alongside ROCS Chung Shun
• 
  ROCS Chung Pang's LCVPs and bridge
• 
  ROCS Chung Pang's aft

Citations

1. "Tank Landing Ship LST". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
2. "Tank Landing Ship LST". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
3. "231 中業艦". 新浪部落. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
4. "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.
5. "海軍明實施潛艦戰雷射擊 靶艦濟陽艦最後雍容身影曝光". 14 July 2020. Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
6. "歷劫歸來 中邦艦擔任靶船未沉 拖回高雄港 | 軍事 | 要聞 | 聯合新聞網". udn.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2022.

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.