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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LST-503

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Delta - Xray - Hotel
NDXH

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal

USS LST-503 was transferred the Republic of China, named ROCS Chung Kuang (LST-216)

LST-491 Class Tank Landing Ship:

Laid down, 29 July 1943, at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville, IN.

Launched, 8 October 1943

Commissioned USS LST-503, 8 December 1943, LT. Sam H. Jones, USNR, in command

During World War II USS LST-503 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the following campaign:

Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
Campaign and Dates
Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944 "On June 6, 1944 at about 12:01 A.M. the LST-503 departed the English Channel and headed for Normandy, Gold Beach. At about 2:00 P.M. on June 6, 1944 the LST-503 was approximately 6 kilometers from Gold beach. At this time, Lt. Seiwert left the LST-503 with six LCVP boats and a compliment of four crewmen per boat to assist in unloading English troops and equipment from cargo ships that had arrived earlier in the day and were anchored closer to Gold Beach. Between June and August of 1944 the LST-503 continued to ferry men and materials across the English Channel to Normandy. After General George S. Patton and his 3rd Army secured the port of Cherbourg about September 1, 1944 the small LCVP boats were no longer used and Lieutenant Seiwert and his boat crews returned to the LST-503 and became part of her crew. From about Sept 1, 1944 to November 1, 1944 the LST-503 made approximately 20 additional crossings of the English Channel transporting men and materials to the allies in Normandy. About November 1, 1944, Lieutenant Seiwert was transferred off the LST-503 with three LCVP boats and a compliment of four men of his choosing per boat. Lieutenant Seiwert’s LCVP boat crews joined LCVP Unit 2 for the crossing of the Rhine River in April of 1945 by General Patton’s 3rd Army. On about May 1, 1945 after the Rhine River crossing mission was completed Lieutenant Seiwert and his boat crew members proceeded to La Harve for further transport back to the United States. After arrival at La Harve we were surprised to learn that the LST-503 would provide the transportation stateside back to Southampton." LT. Hilbert H.N. Seiwert, USNR, Retired USS LST-503 Boat Officer

Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign

Campaign and Dates

Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944

"On June 6, 1944 at about 12:01 A.M. the LST-503 departed the English Channel and headed for Normandy, Gold Beach. At about 2:00 P.M. on June 6, 1944 the LST-503 was approximately 6 kilometers from Gold beach. At this time, Lt. Seiwert left the LST-503 with six LCVP boats and a compliment of four crewmen per boat to assist in unloading English troops and equipment from cargo ships that had arrived earlier in the day and were anchored closer to Gold Beach.
Between June and August of 1944 the LST-503 continued to ferry men and materials across the English Channel to Normandy. After General George S. Patton and his 3rd Army secured the port of Cherbourg about September 1, 1944 the small LCVP boats were no longer used and Lieutenant Seiwert and his boat crews returned to the LST-503 and became part of her crew. From about Sept 1, 1944 to November 1, 1944 the LST-503 made approximately 20 additional crossings of the English Channel transporting men and materials to the allies in Normandy. About November 1, 1944, Lieutenant Seiwert was transferred off the LST-503 with three LCVP boats and a compliment of four men of his choosing per boat. Lieutenant Seiwert’s LCVP boat crews joined LCVP Unit 2 for the crossing of the Rhine River in April of 1945 by General Patton’s 3rd Army. On about May 1, 1945 after the Rhine River crossing mission was completed Lieutenant Seiwert and his boat crew members proceeded to La Harve for further transport back to the United States. After arrival at La Harve we were surprised to learn that the LST-503 would provide the transportation stateside back to Southampton."
LT. Hilbert H.N. Seiwert, USNR, Retired USS LST-503 Boat Officer

Decommissioned, 11 June 1946

Laid up in reserve in Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs, FL.

Recommissioned, 9 January 1951, homeported at NAB Little Creek, VA.

Assigned to Operation "Blue Bird" (Greenland) August 1951

Decommissioned, and transferred to the Republic of China, 4 April 1955, named ROCS Chung Kuang (LST-216)

USS LST-503 earned one battle star for World War II service

Struck from the Naval Register, 25 April 1960

Decommissioned, by the Republic of China, 16 February 2009, during a ceremony at Kaohsiung Harbor, Taiwan.

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:

Displacement

1,625 t.(lt)

4,080 t.(fl) (sea-going draft w/1675 ton load)

2,366 t. (beaching displacement)

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)

limiting 11' 2"

maximum navigation 14' 1"

Speed 11.6 kts. (trial)

Endurance 24,000 miles @ 9kts. while displacing 3960 tons

Complement

9 officers, 120 enlisted

Troop Accommodations

14 officers, 131 enlisted

Boats 6 LCVPs

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

Fuel Capacity

Diesel 4,300 Bbls

Propulsion

two General Motors 12-567A, 900hp Diesel engines

single Falk Main Reduction Gears

three Diesel-drive 100Kw 230V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

two propellers, 1,700shp

twin rudders

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
USS LST-503
	113k	British troops watching lorries being loaded aboard USS LST-58 with USS LST-503 alongside at the hards in the port of Hamburg, prior to embarking on Operation Apostle, the Liberation of Norway, May 1945. Photo taken by Sgt. J. Mapham, No 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit. Photo No. BU 7048, from the collections of the Imperial War Museums. Part of the War Office Second World War Official Collection.	Robert Hurst
	32k	USS LST-503 underway in August 1951 enroute to Greenland for operation "Blue Bird"	Pat Harris, USS LST-503
	20k	USS LST-503 beached while unloading vehicles during operation "Blue Bird" at Greenland, in 1951.	Pat Harris, USS LST-503
	45k		Pat Harris, USS LST-503
ROCS Chung Kuang (LST-216)
	309k	Ex-USS LST-503 in the service of the Republic of China as *ROCS Chung Kuang* (LST-216)** off loads Chinese Nationalist troops on Quemoy Island during a seven day Communist Chinese cease fire. ROCS Chung Kuang was unescorted during her supply run from the Pescadores, 8 October 1958. AP Wirephoto.	Tommy Trampp
	412k	*ROCS Chung Kuang* (LST-216) ending her 53 years of naval service during decommissioning ceremonies while moored at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 16 February 2009. This is the third time Chung Kuang** has been decommissioned.	Waldo
	387k		Waldo
	453k	The 35th and last commanding officer of *ROCS Chung Kuang* (LST-216)**, CDR. Chi Bin Kuo, being interviewed by the press after decommissioning the ship at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 16 February 2009. Photo from ROC Military News Agency	Waldo
	25k	*ROCS Chung Kuang* (LST-216)** decommissioning crew photo taken at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 16 February 2009. Photo from ROC Military News Agency	Waldo
	724k	CDR. Chi Bin Kuo and VADM Chung Wei Lee (Fleet Commander) during decommissioning ceremonies for *ROCS Chung Kuang* (LST-216)** at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 16 February 2009. Photo from ROC Military News Agency	Waldo
	55k	Lowering the flag for the last time aboard *ROCS Chung Kuang* (LST-216)** at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 16 February 2009. Photo from ROC Military News Agency	Waldo

USS LST-503
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LT. Jones, Sam H., USNR	8 December 1943 - August 1945
02	LT. Russell, H. E., USNR	August 1945 - 5 November 1945
03	LTjg. Moore, Shirley P., USNR	5 November 1945 - 2 February 1946
04	LTjg. Faloon, Albert V., USNR	2 February 1946 - 11 June 1946
	Decommissioned	11 June 1946 - 9 January 1951
05	LT.Mitchell, P. M.	1953
06	LCDR. Day, Lawrence Ames, USN	1957


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
The USS LST Ship Memorial
LST Home Port
State LST Chapters
United States LST Association

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This page is created by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 28 November 2014