USS LST-579

History
United States
Name	LST-629
Builder	Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, Seneca
Laid down	4 May 1944
Launched	22 June 1944
Commissioned	21 July 1944
Renamed	T-LST-579
Decommissioned	24 February 1946
Recommissioned	31 March 1952
Decommissioned	15 June 1973
Fate	Sold to Republic of Singapore Navy, 5 December 1975
Singapore
Name	Intrepid
Namesake	Intrepid
Acquired	5 December 1975
Commissioned	1 July 1971 (on loan)
Decommissioned	1999
Homeport	Changi Naval Base
Identification	Pennant number: L-203
Fate	Serving as a floating sea-defense barricade at Changi Naval Base
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 ;

Last updated November 03, 2024

USS LST-579 originally was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship built during World War II and in commission from 1944 to 1946 and again in the late 1952. She was sold to the Republic of Singapore Navy and renamed RSS Intrepid (L-203).^[1]^[2]

Construction and commissioning

USS LST-579 was laid down on 4 May 1944 at Leavenworth, Kansas, by the Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Co. She was launched on 22 June 1944 and commissioned on 11 July 1944.^[3]^[4]

Service in United States Navy

1940s

During World War II, LST-579 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign and participated in Invasion of Lingayen Gulf from 4 to 18 January 1945. She also participating in the Mindanao Islands landing from 10 to 18 March and 17 to 23 April 1945. LST-579 participated in Balikpapan Operation, the invasion of Borneo on 26 June to 10 July 1945. LST-629 was assigned to China service and was decommissioned on 24 February 1946, assigned for Commander Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE) Shipping Control Authority for Japan (SCAJAP) and redesignated as Q073.

1950s–1960s

LST-629 was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 31 March 1952 and redesignated as USNS T-LST-579.

Service in Republic of Singapore Navy

1970s–1990s

T-LST-579 was on loan since 1 July 1971 but finally sold to Singapore on 5 December 1975 and was renamed as RSS Intrepid (L-203). Intrepid, along with four other ex-US Navy LSTs sold to Singapore by the US at around the same period of time, served as part of the RSN's 191 Squadron of the 3rd Flotilla, with its main roles being transporting Singapore Army troops and personnel to training facilities abroad (in foreign countries such as Taiwan), rescue-and-aid operations, supply missions as well as for officer-cadet training programmes conducted overseas.

In 1999, Intrepid, along with RSS Excellence, was deployed to Timor Leste to provide logistic support to Australian-led INTERFET peacekeeping operations.^[5]

2000s–2010s

All four ex-US Navy LSTs are employed as floating sea-defense barricades for Changi Naval Base.^[6]^[7]

Awards and honors

American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4 awards)
World War II Victory Medal
Philippines Presidential Unit Citation
Philippines Liberation Medal (2 awards)
Navy Occupation Service Medal with "Asia" clasp

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References

↑ "Tank Landing Ship LST". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
↑ "LST-579". NHHC. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
↑ "USS LST 579 (LST 579) of the US Navy - American Tank landing ship of the LST (Mk 2) class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
↑ "USS LST-579 (LST-579) Deployments & History". www.hullnumber.com. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
↑ Stevens, David (2007). Strength Through Diversity: The combined naval role in Operation Stabilise (PDF). Working Papers. Vol. 20. Canberra: Sea Power Centre - Australia. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-642-29676-4. ISSN 1834-7231 . Retrieved 7 October 2022.
↑ Eric, Wertheim (30 March 2007). Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (15th ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: US Naval Institute Press. p. 703. ISBN 978-1-59114-955-2 . Retrieved 22 March 2011.
↑ Decom LSTs as CNB floating defense barricade