USS LST-480

USS LST-480 was an LST-1-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy used in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II.

Overhead view of the burning hulk of USS LST-480, in the West Loch, Pearl Harbor, 22 May 1944. The yard craft with her bow on the bow of LST-480 appears to be an LCM, while the ship at her stern is USCGC Woodbine.
History
United States
Name: LST-480
Ordered: as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 1000[1]
Builder: Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California
Yard number: 35[1]
Laid down: 31 August 1942
Launched: 29 October 1942
Commissioned: 3 May 1943
Out of service: 21 May 1944
Stricken:
  • 18 July 1944 or
  • 8 May 1946
Identification:
Honors and
awards:		 2 × battle stars
Fate: Sunk by accidental explosion of ammunition
General characteristics [2]
Class and type: LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement:
  • 1,625 long tons (1,651 t) (light)
  • 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) (full (seagoing draft with 1,675 short tons (1,520 t) load)
  • 2,366 long tons (2,404 t) (beaching)
Length: 328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam: 50 ft (15 m)
Draft:
  • Unloaded: 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward; 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft
  • Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft
  • Landing with 500 short tons (450 t) load: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power:
Propulsion:
Speed: 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range: 24,000 nmi (44,000 km; 28,000 mi) at 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) while displacing 3,960 long tons (4,024 t)
Boats & landing
craft carried:		 2 x LCVPs
Capacity: 1,600–1,900 short tons (3,200,000–3,800,000 lb; 1,500,000–1,700,000 kg) cargo depending on mission
Troops: 16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement: 13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament:
Service record
Operations:
Awards:

Construction

LST-480 was laid down on 31 August 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1000, by Kaiser Shipyards, Yard No. 4, Richmond, California; launched on 29 October 1942; and commissioned on 3 May 1943,[1] with Lieutenant W. H. Johnson, in command.[3][2]

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

During World War II, LST-480 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the following operations:

Sinking
Further information: West Loch Disaster
The rusting remains of LST-480.

On 21 May 1944, LST-480 and at least 28 to 33 other LSTs were gathered near Waipio peninsula, in Pearl Harbors West Loch, loading ammunition and supplies in preparation for the invasion of Saipan.[4][5]

At 15:08, an explosion onboard LST-353, which may have originated near LCT-963, caused a chain reaction that would eventually sink LST-480, LST-353, and four other LSTs. At least two other LSTs were severely damaged and 163 sailors were killed with another 396 wounded.[4][5]

While the other ships were removed and sunk at sea,[5] the wreck of LST-480 can still be seen in the West Loch.[6]

Awards

LST-480 earned two battle stars for World War II service.[3]

Notes
    Citations
    1. Kaiser No. 4 2014.
    2. Navsource 2016.
    3. DANFS.
    4. CNIC.
    5. NPS 2001.
    6. Boston Globe 2009.

    Bibliography

    Online resources

    • "LST-480". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 2 February 2017. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
    • "Kaiser Permanente No. 4, Richmond CA". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
    • "USS LST-480". Navsource.org. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
    • "West Loch Disaster". US Navy. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
    • "West Loch Disaster". National Park Service. 27 April 2001. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
    • "Memorial Day, 2009". The Boston Globe. 25 May 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2017.

    Further reading


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