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
NameLST-480
Orderedas a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 1000[1]
BuilderPermanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California
Yard number35[1]
Laid down31 August 1942
Launched29 October 1942
Commissioned3 May 1943
Out of service21 May 1944
Stricken
  • 18 July 1944 or
  • 8 May 1946
Identification
Honors and
awards		 2 × battle stars
FateSunk by accidental explosion of ammunition 21 May 1944
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeLST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement
  • 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load
  • 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft
  • Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft
  • Landing at 2,160 t: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range24,000 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 or 6 x LCVPs
Capacity
  • 2,100 tons oceangoing maximum
  • 350 tons main deckload
Troops16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament
Service record
Operations:
Awards:

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.

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][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] 21°21′26″N 157°59′50″W / 21.35725°N 157.9972°W / 21.35725; -157.9972

Awards

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

Notes

Citations
  1. ^ a b c Kaiser No. 4 2014.
  2. ^ a b Navsource 2016.
  3. ^ a b DANFS.
  4. ^ a b CNIC.
  5. ^ a b c 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.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "Kaiser Permanente No. 4, Richmond CA". ShipbuildingHistory.com. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  • "USS LST-480". Navsource.org. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  • "West Loch Disaster". United States 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

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to LST-480 (ship, 1943).


LST-1-class tank landing ships
MARCOM ships built by Kaiser Shipyards, Richmond Shipyards, Richmond, California during World War II
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