USS LST-39

USS LST-39 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used exclusively in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

USS LST-39 and USS LST-480 still ablaze on 22 May 1944.
History
United States
Name	LST-39
Builder	Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Laid down	23 April 1943
Launched	29 July 1943
Commissioned	2 September 1943 (Partial commission) 8 September 1943 (Full commission)
Stricken	18 July 1944
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-39 Code letters: NGXV
Fate	Sunk, 21 May 1944, later refloated
United States
Name	YF-1079
Out of service	c. July 1945 – January 1946
Reclassified	Spare Parts Issue Barge
Stricken	25 February 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: YF-1079
Fate	Destroyed, 1946
General characteristics [1]
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
Awards:	American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal

Construction

LST-39 was laid down on 23 April 1943, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by the Dravo Corporation; launched on 29 July 1943; sponsored by Mrs. L. A. Mertz; and commissioned on 8 September 1943.^[2]

Service history

During World War II, LST-39 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater, but saw no combat action.^[2] She sank 21 May 1944, as part of the West Loch disaster and she was struck from the Navy list on 18 July 1944.^[1]

YF-1079 beached and damaged in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, after Typhoon Louise ravaged that port in October 1945. Photographed in November 1945. The image shows the after portion of her starboard side, which was damaged by a collision with another YF during the storm. Another service craft, possibly YF-757, lies sunken to the left.

She was later refloated, converted to a spare parts issue barge, and redesignated YF-1079.^[2] In early October 1945, YF-1079 was in Buckner Bay, when Typhoon Louise passed over. She was one of over 200 US military vessels to be grounded or severely damaged. During the storm she was struck by another ship, severely damaging her starboard side. She was again struck from the Navy list 25 February 1946, and destroyed August 1946.^[1]

See also

• Landing craft
• List of United States Navy LSTs