 Overhead view of the burning hulk of USS LST-480, in the West Loch, Pearl Harbor, 22 May 1944. The yard craft with her bow on the bow of LST-480 appears to be an LCM, while the ship at her stern is USCGC Woodbine.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | LST-480 |
| Ordered | as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 1000 |
| Builder | Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California |
| Yard number | 35 |
| Laid down | 31 August 1942 |
| Launched | 29 October 1942 |
| Commissioned | 3 May 1943 |
| Out of service | 21 May 1944 |
| Stricken |
|
| Identification |
|
| Honors and awards |  2 × battle stars |
| Fate | Sunk by accidental explosion of ammunition 21 May 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | LST-1-class tank landing ship |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 328 ft (100 m) oa |
| Beam | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Draft |
|
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| 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 |
|
| Troops | 16 officers, 147 enlisted men |
| Complement | 13 officers, 104 enlisted men |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Operations: |
|
| Awards: | |
USS LST-480 was an LST-1-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy used in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II.
Construction
LST-480 was laid down on 31 August 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1000, by Kaiser Shipyards, Yard No. 4, Richmond, California; launched on 29 October 1942; and commissioned on 3 May 1943.
World War II Pacific Theatre operations
During World War II, LST-480 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the following operations:
- Gilbert Islands operation: Capture and occupation of Gilbert Islands, 13 November to 8 December 1943.
- Marshall Islands operation: Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 29 January to 8 February 1944.
Sinking
Further information: West Loch disaster
On 21 May 1944, LST-480 and at least 28 to 33 other LSTs were gathered near Waipio peninsula, in Pearl Harbor's West Loch, loading ammunition and supplies in preparation for the invasion of Saipan.
At 15:08, an explosion onboard LST-353, which may have originated near LCT-963, caused a chain reaction that would eventually sink LST-480, LST-353, and four other LSTs. At least two other LSTs were severely damaged and 163 sailors were killed with another 396 wounded.
While the other ships were removed and sunk at sea, the wreck of LST-480 can still be seen in the West Loch. 21°21′26″N 157°59′50″W / 21.35725°N 157.9972°W / 21.35725; -157.9972
Awards
LST-480 earned two battle stars for World War II service.
Notes
- Citations
- ^ Kaiser No. 4 2014.
- ^ Navsource 2016.
- ^ DANFS.
- ^ CNIC.
- ^ NPS 2001.
- Boston Globe 2009.
Bibliography
Online resources
- "LST-480". 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". ShipbuildingHistory.com. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- "USS LST-480". Navsource.org. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- "West Loch Disaster". United States Navy. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- "West Loch Disaster". National Park Service. 27 April 2001. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- "Memorial Day, 2009". The Boston Globe. 25 May 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
Further reading
- Olson, Wyatt (21 May 2016). "'2nd Pearl Harbor,' kept top secret until 1962, commemorated". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- Shute, Megan (20 January 2017). "The Deadly History of This Hawaii Harbor Is Terrifying But True". Only in Your State. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
External links
- Photo gallery of USS LST-480 at NavSource Naval History
| MARCOM ships built by Kaiser Shipyards, Richmond Shipyards, Richmond, California during World War II | |
|---|---|
| Crater-class cargo ships Type EC2-S-C1 ships |
|
| Type EC2-S-C1 ships Liberty Ships |
|
| Boulder Victory-class cargo ships Type VC2-S-AP2 ships |
|
| Type VC2-S-AP2 ships Victory Ships |
|
| Greenville Victory-class cargo ship VC2-S-AP3 ship | |
| Norwalk-class cargo ship Type VC2-S-AP3 cargo ship |
|
| Type VC2-S-AP3 cargo ships | |
| Haskell-class attack transports Type VC2-S-AP5 ships | |
| General G. O. Squier-class transport ships Type C4-S-A1 ships |
|
| Marine Adder-class transport ship Type C4-S-A3 ship | |
| Type C4-S-A3 ships | |
| Type C4-S-A4 ships | |
| LST-1-class tank landing ships Type S3-M-K2 ships | |
| Achelous-class repair ships Type S2-S2-AQ1 ships | |
| Tacoma-class patrol frigates Type S2-S2-AQ1 ships | |
| Alamosa-class cargo ships Type C1-M-AV1 ships | |
| Miscellaneous Auxiliary Type C1-M-AV1 ships |
|
| Type C1-M-AV1 ships | |