USS LST-493

USS LST-493 was an LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

USS LST-493 off loading at Normandy, c. 7 June 1944 to 9 April 1945.
History
United States
Name	LST-493
Builder	Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana
Yard number	48 [1]
Laid down	9 August 1943
Launched	4 October 1943
Commissioned	13 December 1943
Decommissioned	19 May 1945
Stricken	19 May 1945
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-493 Code letters: NPDD
Honors & awards	1 × battle star (WWII)
Fate	Grounded at Plymouth, United Kingdom, 12 April 1945
General characteristics [2]
Class & type	LST-491-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
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	6 x LCVPs
Capacity	1,600–1,900 short tons (3,200,000–3,800,000 lb; 1,500,000–1,700,000 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 40 mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons

Construction and commissioning

LST-493 was laid down on 9 August 1943, at Evansville, Indiana, by the Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Company; launched on 4 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Charles M. Hoagland; and commissioned on 13 December 1943.^[3]

Service history

During World War II, LST-493 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Invasion of Normandy in June 1944. She grounded while attempting to enter Plymouth Harbor, England, on 12 April 1945, and was broken up and destroyed. The ship was struck from the Navy list on 19 May 1945.^[3]

Honors and awards

LST-493 earned one battle star for World War II service.^[3]