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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LST-117 / LST(H)-117


USNS T-LST-117 was transferred to the Republic of Singapore
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal
LST-1 Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 28 April 1943, at Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Co., Jeffersonville, IN.
  • Launched, 10 July 1943
  • Commissioned USS LST-117, 27 August 1943
  • During World War II USS LST-117 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater LST Flotilla Five (Capt. G.B. Carter, USN), Group Fifteen (Cdr. V. K. Busck, USN) and participated in the:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Guam, July 1944     		Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, October 1944

  • USS LST-117 was redesignated Landing Ship Tank (Hospital) LST(H)-117, 15 September 1945
  • LST(H)-117 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-February 1946
  • Decommissioned, 16 February 1946 and laid up in the reserve fleet
  • Reverted to LST-117, 6 March 1952
  • Withdrawn from reserve and placed in service by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS T-LST-117, 31 March 1952
  • Placed out of service by the Military Sealift Command (MSC) (date unknown)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 10 June 1973
  • Transferred to the Republic of Singapore in 1973
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • USS LST-117 earned two battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications: (as reported by Office of Naval Intelligence-1945)
    Displacement 1,625 t.(lt), 4,080 t.(fl) (sea-going draft w/1675 ton load)
    Length 328' o.a.
    Beam 50'
    Draft
    (light) - 2' 4" fwd, 7' 6" aft
    (sea-going) 8' 3" fwd, 14' 1" aft
    (landing) 3' 11" fwd, 9' 10" aft (landing w/500 ton load)
    Speed 12 kts. (maximum)
    Endurance 24,000 miles @ 9kts. while displacing 3960 tons
    Complement
    7 officers, 104 enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    16 officers, 147 enlisted
    Boats 2 LCVP
    Cargo Capacity (varied with mission - payloads between 1600 and 1900 tons)
    Typical loads
    One Landing Craft Tank (LCT), tanks, wheeled and tracked vehicles, artillery, construction equipment and military supplies. A ramp or elevator forward allowed vehicles access to tank deck from main deck
    Additional capacity included sectional pontoons carried on each side of vessel amidships, to either build Rhino Barges or use as causeways. Married to the bow ramp, the causeways would enabled payloads to be delivered ashore from deeper water or where a beachhead would not allow the vessel to be grounded forward after ballasting
    Armament (varied with availability when each vessel was outfitted. Retro-fitting was accomplished throughout WWII. The ultimate armament design for United States vessels was
    2 - Twin 40MM gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors
    4 - Single 40MM gun mounts
    12 single 20MM gun mounts
    Propulsion two General Motors 12-567, 900hp diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LST 117 37k LST-117 at anchor, Saipan, date unknown. Photo by John H. Kellers GM3/c USS LCT-539
    LST 970 267k LST-117 beached at Leyte, P.I. after unloading her cargo along with LST-970 and LST-822, 12 September 1945. LT William (Bill) S. Barnes
    View the LST-117
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    LST Home Port
    State LST Chapters
    United States LST Association
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Tank Landing Ship (LST) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 31 March 2006