USS LST-944

Eleven LSTs moored at the Yonabaru Pier, Okinawa, 23 July 1945. From right to left: LST-819, LST-879, LST-681, LST-926, LST-944, LST(H)-?, LST-715, LST-918, LST-871, ?, ?. US Navy photo 21st USNCB Neg. No. 204.
History
United States
Name	LST-944
Builder	Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number	3414
Laid down	11 August 1944
Launched	3 September 1944
Commissioned	4 October 1944
Decommissioned	9 December 1945
Stricken	8 January 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-944 Code letters: NEGF
Honors and awards	2 × battle star
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 26 September 1947
General characteristics
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 25
Operations:	Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima (20–28 February 1945) Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (17 April–7 June 1945)
Awards:	American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal

USS LST-944 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.

Construction

LST-944 was laid down on 11 August 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 3 September 1944; and commissioned on 4 October 1944.

Service history

During World War II LST-944 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima in February 1945, and the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto from April through June 1945.

She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 19 December 1945, and struck from the Navy list on 8 January 1946. On 26 September 1947, the ship was sold to the Boston Metals Co., of Baltimore, Maryland, for scrapping.

Awards

LST-944 earned two battle star for World War II service.

Bibliography

Online resources

• "LST-944". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 3 June 2017. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
• "Bethlehem-Hingham, Hingham MA". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
• "USS LST-944". Navsource.org. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2017.

External links

• Photo gallery of USS LST-944 at NavSource Naval History