USS LST-566

USS LST-566 was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship in commission from 1944 to 1946. From 1952 to 1973, she served in a non-commissioned status in the Military Sea Transportation Service and the Military Sealift Command as USNS LST-566 (T-LST-566).

History
United States
Name: USS LST-566
Builder: Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana
Laid down: 17 March 1944
Launched: 11 May 1944
Sponsored by: Mrs. George C. Martin
Commissioned: 29 May 1944
Decommissioned: 15 March 1946
In service: with Military Sea Transportation Service and Military Sealift Command as USNS LST-566 (T-LST-566) 1952-1973
Fate:
  • Transferred to Philippines,
  • 13 September 1976
Stricken: 1 November 1973
Philippines
Name: BPR Lanao Del Norte (LT-504)
Acquired: 1976
Decommissioned: December 2004
Out of service: December 2004
Fate: Abandoned near Pag-Asa Island, Kalayaan Islands
General characteristics
Class and type: LST-542-class LST
Displacement:
  • 1,490 tons (light);
  • 4,080 tons (full load of 2,100 tons)
Length: 328 ft (100 m)
Beam: 50 ft (15 m)
Draft:
  • 8 ft (2.4 m) forward;
  • 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) aft (full load)
Propulsion: Two diesel engines, two shafts
Speed:
  • 10.8 knots (20 km/h) (max);
  • 9 knots (17 km/h) (econ)
Complement: 7 officers, 204 enlisted
Armament:

Construction and commissioning

LST-566 was laid down on 17 March 1944 at Evansville, Indiana, by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company. launched on 11 May 1944; sponsored by Mrs. George C. Martin; and commissioned on 29 May 1944.

Service history

LST-566 saw no combat action in World War II. Following World War II, LST-566 performed occupation duty in the Far East and saw service in China until early March 1946. She was decommissioned on 11 March 1946.

On 31 March 1952, LST-566 was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service—from 1970 the Military Sealift Command—which placed her in non-commissioned service as USNS LST-566 (T-LST-566) until she was stricken from the Navy List on 1 November 1973.

Transfer to the Philippines

USNS LST-566 was transferred to the Philippine Navy on 13 September 1976 and renamed BPR Lanao Del Norte (LT-504). During December 2004, LT-504 ran aground on the coral reef very near Pag-Asa Island which is part of the Kalayaan Islands chain, during a personnel and resupply mission. Her hulk has been abandoned and aground in 2007. Later in 2017, she was dismantled at her current location for salvaging, only the submerged lower half on the hull remains. On 9 June 2020, a new beaching ramp for Pag-Asa Island was completed right beside where her remaining hull rests.

References
  • This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
  • Friedman, Norman (2002). US Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-250-1.

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