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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LST-279 Berkley County


USS Berkley County (LST-279) was transferred to the Republic of China and renamed Chung Chie (LST-218)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1)
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal
LST-1 Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 2 July 1943, at Ambridge, Pa., by the American Bridge Co.
  • Launched, 19 September 1943
  • Commissioned USS LST-279, 25 October 1943, Lt. Charles A. Palm, USNR, in command
  • LST-279 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the:
  • Decommissioned, 14 June 1955
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet
  • Named USS Berkley County (LST-279), 1 July 1955
  • Transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan), 30 June 1955, renamed Chung Chie (LST-218)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 25 April 1960
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • USS Berkley County earned one battle star for World War II service as USS LST-279
    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-279 23k LST-279 at anchor off Weymouth, England, circa 1945 Bob Benvenuto
    LST-279 51k LST-279 at New Orleans, August 1945 Bob Benvenuto
    LST-279 83k LST-279 at anchor, date and place unknown. Bob Benvenuto
    LST-279 37k LST-279 at anchor, circa 1954 Bob Benvenuto
    View the Berkley County (LST-279)
    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 Homeport
    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 15 April 2005