USS LST-504

LST-504 beached at Chim Wan, Okinawa 8 June 1945 while being unloaded by Navy Seabees.
History
United States
Name: USS Buchanan County
Namesake: Buchanan County, Iowa, Missouri, and Virginia
Laid down: 21 July 1943
Launched: 19 October 1943
Commissioned: 18 December 1943
Decommissioned: 22 January 1946
Struck: 11 August 1955
Fate: Sunk as a target
General characteristics
Class and type: LST-491-class tank landing ship
Displacement:
  • 1,625 tons (light),
  • 4,080 tons (full)
Length: 328 ft
Beam: 50 ft
Draft:
  • Bow 2'-4", stern 7'-6" (unloaded)
  • bow 8'-2", stern 14'-1" (unloaded)
Depth: 8' fwd; 14'-4" aft (full load)
Propulsion: Two General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed: 12 knots
Boats & landing
craft carried:		 Two or six LCVPs
Troops: 14-16 officers, 131-147 enlisted men
Complement: 7-9 officers, 104-120 enlisted men
Armament: Two twin 40MM gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors, four single 40MM gun mounts, twelve single 20MM gun mounts

USS LST-504 was an LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Renamed USS Buchanan County (LST-504) for counties in Iowa, Missouri, and Virginia on 1 July 1955, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-504 was laid down on 21 July 1943 at Jeffersonville, Indiana by the Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Company; launched on 19 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. W. J. Griffin; and commissioned on 18 December 1943. During World War II, LST-504 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Invasion of Normandy in June, 1944 and the invasion of southern France in August and September, 1944. She was then assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and took part in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in April and June, 1945. Following the War, LST-504 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-January, 1946.She was decommissioned on 15 January 1946 in Tokyo Bay. The decommissioning ceremony took place on the main deck of the 504 at 5 minutes after 4 o'clock (1605 hours). At that time 19 officers and 30 enlisted men of the Japanese navy came aboard and the 504 was given to the Japanese. .

LST-504 earned three battle stars for World War II service.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

See also

LST-504 standing at inspection, between Guam and Saipan, date unknown.


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