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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USNS T-LST-491
ex
 USS LST-491 (1943 - 1953)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Alpha - Xray
 NPAX
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 (2) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal

USNS T-LST-491 was transferred to the Philippine Navy, named BRP Lanao Del Sur (LT-503)
LST-491 Class Tank Landing Ship;
  • Lead ship of the LST-491 Class
  • Laid down, 29 July 1943, at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville, IN.
  • Launched, 23 September 1943
  • Commissioned USS LST-491, 3 December 1943
  • During World War II USS LST-491 was first assigned to the European Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater participating in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Invasion of Normandy, June 1944 Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, May and June 1945
    Invasion of southern France, August and September 1944 .

  • Decommissioned, 12 January 1946
  • Loaned to the Occupation Government of Japan, 31 March 1952, for operation under the Shipping Control Authority, Japan
  • Placed in service by the Military Sealift Command (MSC), date unknown, redesignated USNS T-LST-491
  • Placed out of service (date unknown)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 30 June 1975
  • Sold to the Philippines Navy, 13 September 1976
  • Final Disposition, converted to a barge for commercial service so time after 1988
  • USS LST-491 earned three 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
    USS LST-491
    LST-491 218k USS LST-491 at Plymouth, England with a calculated list in preparation of launching LCT-554 after completing the North Atlantic crossing in convoy. Photo contributed by Russ Padden, Caption contributed by Dwight W. Blakeslee, MoMM1C USNR, USS LST-491 and USS LST-1089.
    USNS T-LST-491
    LST-491 73k USNS T-LST-491 at anchor, date and place unknown. © Richard Leonhardt
    LST-491 75k USNS T-LST-491 at anchor, date and place unknown. © Richard Leonhardt
    BRP Lanao Del Sur (LT-503)
    LST-491 68k Ex-LST-491 in Republic of the Philippines service as BRP Lanao Del Sur (LT-503) beached at Cavite, Luzon Island, Republic of the Philippines, awaiting sale, 12 July 1988. Edison Sy
    View the USS LST-491
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    The USS LST Ship Memorial
    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 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 9 March 2007