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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LST-860

USS LST-860 was transferred to France and named RFS Adour (L9007)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

LST-542 Class Tank Landing Ship

Laid down, 23 September 1944, at Chicago Bridge & Iron Co., Seneca, IL.

Launched, 19 December 1944

Commissioned USS LST-860, 13 January 1945

Decommissioned, 1 June 1946

Struck from the Naval Register, 3 July 1946

Sold for operation, 19 March 1948, to Mechanical Equipment Export Co.

Resold to France, date unknown,

Commissioned into the Republic of France Navy as RFS Adour (L9007), date unknown

Damaged by explosion and beached at Nhatrang, Vietnam in 1951\

Repaired and returned to service circa 1955

Final Disposition, fate unknown

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
RFS Adour (L9007)
	34k	*RFS Adour* (L9007)** ships plaque.	André Pilon quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo
	157k	ex-*LST-860* in the Republic of France service as RFS Adour alongside seaplane tender *RFS Paul Goffeny* (A 754) during French Vietnam War. Adour** exploded while at Nhatrang in 1950.	André Pilon quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo
	60k	Quartermaster (carpenter) Remy Marie RFS Chélif standing on the beach in front of the remains of RFS Adour at Nhatrang in 1951, .	Submitted by André Pilon Quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo Courtesy Michel Marie for his father Quartermaster (carpenter) Remy Marie RFS Chélif
	24k	The remains of RFS Adour on the beach at Nhatrang, Vietnam in 1951 with the French Navy Patrol Vessel *P733* alongside taking on fuel from the hulk. *Adour* exploded on the beach, 17 May 1951 with the loss of 24 sailors and 59 soldiers.	Submitted by André Pilon Quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo Courtesy Adrien Beccia P733.
	84k	The remains of RFS Adour on the beach at Nhatrang, Vietnam in May 1951.	Submitted by André Pilon Quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo Courtesy EV denis Martin RFS Chélif
	34k	The hulk *RFS Adour* (L9007)** on the beach at Nhatrang, Vietnam in 1951.	Submitted by André Pilon Quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo Courtesy Adrien Beccia GC4
	41k	French Patrol Craft *P-33* alongside the hulk *RFS Adour* (L9007)** on the beach at Nhatrang, Vietnam in 1951.	Submitted by André Pilon Quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo Courtesy Adrien Beccia P-33
	52k	The hulk *RFS Adour* (L9007)** on the beach at Nhatrang, Vietnam in 1951.	Submitted by André Pilon Quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo Courtesy Adrien Beccia P-33
	52k	The hulk *RFS Adour* (L9007)** on the beach at Nhatrang, Vietnam in 1951.	Submitted by André Pilon Quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo Courtesy Adrien Beccia P-33
	67k	French Patrol Craft P-33 alongside the hulk *RFS Adour* (L9007)** on the beach at Nhatrang, Vietnam in 1951.	Submitted by André Pilon Quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo Courtesy Adrien Beccia P-33
	46k	The hulk *RFS Adour* (L9007)** on the beach at Nhatrang, Vietnam in 1951.	Submitted by André Pilon Quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo Courtesy Adrien Beccia P-33
	79k	*RFS Adour* (L9007)** moored at Haïphong, Vietnam in 1955 after being pulled from the beach at Nhatrang and having her bow replaced.	Submitted by André Pilon Quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo Courtesy René Collier Quartermaster (machinist)
	90k	*RFS Adour* (L9007)** moored at Haïphong, Vietnam in 1955	Submitted by André Pilon Quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo Courtesy René Collier Quartermaster (machinist)
	93k	*RFS Adour* (L9007)** moored at Saigon, Vietnam in 1955	Submitted by André Pilon Quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo Courtesy René Collier Quartermaster (machinist)