History
United States
Name	LST-482
Ordered	as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 1002[1]
Builder	Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California
Yard number	37[1]
Laid down	14 September 1942
Launched	17 December 1942
Commissioned	20 March 1943
Decommissioned	23 February 1946
Reclassified	Landing Ship Tank (Hospital) LST(H)-482, 15 September 1945
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-482 Hull symbol: LST(H)-482 Code letters: NGTL
Honors and awards	6 × battle stars
Fate	assigned to Commander Naval Forces Far East
Japan
Operator	Shipping Control Authority for Japan
In service	23 February 1946
Out of service	unknown
Renamed	Q072
Fate	returned to USN
United States
Name	Q072
Renamed	LST-482, 11 March 1952 Branch County, 1 July 1955
Namesake	Branch County, Michigan
Stricken	11 August 1955
Fate	Sunk as target, March 1956
General characteristics [2]
Class and type	LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement	4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam	50 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	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
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 or 6 x LCVPs
Capacity	2,100 tons oceangoing maximum 350 tons main deckload
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 3
Operations:	Gilbert Islands operation (12 November–8 December 1943) Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls (31 January–8 February 1944) Battle of Hollandia (21–26 April 1944) Capture and occupation of Guam (21–28 July 1944) Leyte landings (20 October 1944) Lingayen Gulf landings (4–15 January 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/LST(H)-482/Branch County (LST-482) was an LST-1-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Later renamed for Branch County, Michigan, she was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name.

Construction

LST-482 was laid down on 14 September 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1002, by Kaiser Shipyards, Yard No. 4, Richmond, California; launched on 17 December 1942; and commissioned on 20 March 1943.^[1][3]

Service history

During World War II, LST-482 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following operations: the Gilbert Islands operation in November and December 1943; the Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls in January and February 1944; the Battle of Hollandia April 1944; the Battle of Guam July 1944; the Battle of Leyte landings October 1944; and the Lingayen Gulf landings January 1945.^[3]

Post-war service

Following the war, LST-482 was redesignated LST(H)-482 on 15 September 1945. She performed occupation duty in the Far East in November and December 1945. Upon her return to the United States, she was decommissioned on 23 February 1946 and redesignated LST-482 on 6 March 1952. The tank landing ship was subsequently renamed USS Branch County (LST-482) on 1 July 1955. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 11 August 1955. In early March, 1956 the ship was sunk by naval gunfire and submarine-launched torpedoes in an exercise off San Diego, California.^[3]

Awards

LST-482 earned six battle stars for World War II service.^[3]