USS LST-946

USS LST-946 under way in San Francisco Bay after passing under the Golden Gate Bridge, c. early 1946 with LCT-1376 on board.
History
United States
Name	LST-946
Builder	Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number	3416[1]
Laid down	15 August 1944
Launched	20 September 1944
Commissioned	12 October 1944
Decommissioned	25 June 1946
Stricken	31 July 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-946 Code letters: NVUD
Honors and awards	1 × battle star
Fate	Sold for operation, 25 May 1948
General characteristics [2]
Class and type	LST-542-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 3 in (2.51 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 Limiting 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m) Maximum navigation 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
Installed power	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,800 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
Speed	11.6 kn (21.5 km/h; 13.3 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	Varied, ultimate armament 2 × twin 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns 4 × single 40 mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons
Service record
Part of:	LST Flotilla 21
Operations:	Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (26 March–7 May 1945)
Awards:	American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp Philippine Liberation Medal

USS LST-946 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

LST-946 was laid down on 15 August 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 20 September 1944; and commissioned on 12 October 1944.^[3][2]

During World War II LST-946 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto from March through May 1945.^[3]

Following the war, she performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-February 1946. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 25 June 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 31 July, that same year. On 25 May 1948, the ship was sold to the California Co., for operation.^[3]

LST-946 earned one battle star for World War II service.^[3]

• Photo gallery of USS LST-946 at NavSource Naval History