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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LST-557


USS LST-557 was transferred to the Republic of China and named ROCS Chung Hsing (LST-215)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippine Liberation Medal
LST-542 Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 8 February 1944, at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville, IN.
  • Launched, 11 April 1944
  • Commissioned USS LST-557, 5 May 1944
  • During World War II LST-557 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands,
    September and October 1944
    		 Luzon operations
    Lingayen Gulf landings, January 1945
    Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, October and November 1944
    		 Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, April 1945

  • Following World War II LST-557 performed occupation duty in the Far East and saw service in China until early May 1946
  • Decommissioned, 29 May 1946
  • Transferred to the Republic of China and named ROCS Chung Hsing (LST-215)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 12 March 1948
  • Final Disposition (fate unknown)
  • LST-557 earned four 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
    9 officers, 120 enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    14 officers, 131 enlisted
    Boats (US)-6 LCVP, (Taiwan)-4
    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 Source
    USS LST-557
    LST-660 47k LST-557 and LST-660, beached, date and location unknown. Submitted by Phil Lobato for his grandfather H. Fiorella GM2/c USS LST-660
    ROCS Chung Hsing (LST-215)
    LST-557 45k ex-LST-557 underway in the service of the Republic of China as ROCS Chung Hsing (LST-215), date and location unknown. Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    LST-557 37k ex-LST-557 underway in the service of the Republic of China as ROCS Chung Hsing (LST-215), circa 1962, location unknown.
    Official Republic of China Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    View the LST-557
    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
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    This page is created by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History, All rights reserved.
    Last Updated 2 February 2007