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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USNS T-LST-566
ex
 USS LST-566 (1944 - 1952)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Whiskey - Delta
 NEWD
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 - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

USS LST-566 was transferred to the Philippines and named BRP Lanao Del Norte (LT-504)
LST-542 Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 17 March 1944, at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville, IN.
  • Launched, 11 May 1944
  • Commissioned USS LST-566, 29 May 1944
  • During World War II LST-566 was first assigned to the European Theater (convoy HXM 301) and later reassigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, but saw no combat action
  • Following the war USS LST-566 performed occupation duty in the Far East and saw service in China until February 1946
  • Decommissioned, 11 March 1946
  • Transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service, 31 March 1952, placed in service as USNS T-LST-566
  • Placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register, 1 November 1973
  • Transferred to the Republic of the Philippines, 13 September 1976, and named BRP Lanao Del Norte (LT-504)
  • Final Disposition, hulk abandoned and aground in the Kalayaan Islands (Spratly Islands) as reported in 2007
    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
    (2-boat davits) 7 officers, 104 enlisted
    (6-boat davits) 9 officers, 120 enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    (2-boat davits) 16 officers, 147 enlisted
    (6-boat davits) 14 officers, 131 enlisted
    Boats 2 or 6 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 Source
    BRP Lanao Del Norte (LT-504)
    LST-566 52k ex-LST-566 in Republic of the Philippines service as BRP Lanao Del Norte (LT-504) underway, date and location unknown. Zak Yuson
    LST-566 62k BRP Lanao Del Norte (LT-504) in port, date and location unknown. Zak Yuson
    LST-566 88k BRP Lanao Del Norte (LT-504) moored at Keppel Batangas Shipyard, Bauan, Batangas Island, Republic of the PHilippines, 28 May 2000. Edison Sy

    For more photos and information about USS LST-566, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • You Tube - "White sand beach in Spratlys" a video showing BRP Lanao Del Norte (LT-504) grounded and abandoned in the Spratly Islands, 2009
    • 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 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 by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History, All rights reserved.
    Last Updated 29 May 2009