USS LST-47

For other ships with the same name, see BRP Tarlac (LD-601).

USS LST-47 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was transferred to the Philippine Navy as BRP Tarlac (LT-500).^[2]

USS LST-47 on 1 June 1944
History
United States
Name	LST-47
Builder	Dravo Corp., Neville Island
Laid down	30 July 1943
Launched	24 September 1943
Sponsored by	Mrs. Clarence H. Vant
Commissioned	8 November 1943
Decommissioned	11 January 1946
Reclassified	Q007, 11 January 1946 T-LST-47, 31 March 1952
Stricken	30 June 1975
Identification	Callsign: NXUX
Honors & awards	See Awards
Fate	Transferred to Philippines, 13 September 1976
Philippines
Name	Tarlac
Namesake	Tarlac
Acquired	13 September 1976
Decommissioned	1980s[1]
Homeport	Subic Bay
Identification	Hull number: LT-500
Fate	Presumed scrapped
General characteristics
Class & 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

Construction and career

LST-47 was laid down on 30 July 1943 at Dravo Corporation, Neville Island, Pennsylvania. Launched on 24 September 1943 and commissioned on 8 November 1944.^[3]

Service in the United States Navy

During World War II, LST-47 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle theater but later changed to Asiatic-Pacific theater. She then participated in the Invasion of Normandy from 6 to 25 June 1944.

She participated in the invasion of Okinawa and later took occupation there from 26 to 30 June 1945. She assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 14 to 25 September 1945, 15 to 25 October 1945 and 25 November 1945 to 11 January 1946.

She was decommissioned on 11 January 1946 and came under the Commander Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE) Shipping Control Authority for Japan (SCAJAP), redesignated Q007.

Transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 31 March 1952, and placed in service as USNS T-LST-47.

LST-47 was struck from the Navy Register on 30 June 1975 and transferred to the Philippines.

Service in the Philippine Navy

She was acquired by the Philippine Navy on 13 September 1976 and renamed BRP Tarlac (LST-500).

On 21 September 1981, BRP Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76) was caught in the strong wind and heavy seas thus she ran aground off Calayan Point, Cagayan Valley and flipped to her side. The bad weather was caused by the ongoing Typhoon Clara. On the next day as the weather has recovered, BRP Rajah Lakandula (PF-4), BRP Rizal (PS-69), BRP Tarlac (LT-500), BRP Aurora (LT-508), BRP Mactan (TK90) and USS Mount Hood (AE-29) were dispatched to the scene.^[4]

The ship was decommissioned in the late 1980s.

• 
  Tarlac (left) in Subic Bay on 28 August 1981
• 
  Tarlac (left) in Subic Bay on 19 October 1981

Awards

LST-47 have earned the following awards:

• American Campaign Medal
• Combat Action Ribbon
• European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (2 battle star)
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1 battle star)
• Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp)
• World War II Victory Medal