USS LST-968

File:USS LST - 968 with USS LCT -1230 12 April 1946.jpg USS LST-968 with LCT-1230 having been "toploaded" at Yokohama, Japan, c. 10–12 April 1946, for the return trip to CONUS.
History
United States
Name:	LST-968
Builder:	Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number:	3438
Laid down:	7 November 1944
Launched:	9 December 1944
Commissioned:	3 January 1945
Decommissioned:	2 July 1946
Struck:	15 August 1946
Identification:	Hull symbol: LST-968 Code letters: NKIH
Fate:	Sold for operation, 10 June 1948
General characteristics
Class & 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 1,700 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 st (22,000–27,000 lb; 10,000–12,000 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 40mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons
Service record
Part of:	LST Flotilla 31
Awards:	American Campaign Medal 20px Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp

USS LST-968 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-968 was laid down on 7 November 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 9 December 1944; and commissioned on 3 January 1945, with Lieutenant (junior grade) Rayburn M. Quinn, USNR, in command.

Service history

Following the war, she performed occupation duty in the Far East until early April 1946. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 2 July 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 15 August, that same year. On 10 June 1948, the ship was sold to the Humble Oil and Refining Co., Houston, Texas, for operation.

Bibliography

Online resources

•  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

External links

• Photo gallery of USS LST-968 at NavSource Naval History