USS LST-716

USS LST-716 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was transferred to the Republic of China Navy as ROCS Chung Chien (LST-205).^[1]

History
United States
Name	LST-716
Builder	Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Co., Jeffersonville
Laid down	16 June 1944
Launched	24 July 1944
Sponsored by	Mrs. Nancy L. Duggins
Commissioned	18 August 1944
Decommissioned	12 June 1946
Stricken	12 March 1948
Identification	Callsign: NFST
Fate	Transferred to Republic of China Navy, 7 February 1948
Taiwan
Name	Chung Chien (中建)
Acquired	7 February 1948
Commissioned	7 February 1948
Homeport	Kaohsiung
Identification	Hull number: LST-205
Status	Active
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 1,800 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 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	7 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
Aviation facilities	Deck as helipad

Construction and career

LST-716 was laid down on 16 June 1944 at Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Co., Jeffersonville, Indiana. Launched on 24 July 1944 and commissioned on 18 August 1944.

Service in the United States Navy

During World War II, LST-716 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima from 19 to 26 February and Okinawa Gunto from 2 May and 30 June 1945. Following the war, LST-716 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-September 1945. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned and transferred to United States Army on 12 June 1946.

Under the Lend-Lease Act, she was transferred to the Republic of China on 7 February 1948, and served the ROC navy as Chung Chien (LST-205).

LST-716 earned two battle star for World War II service.^[2]

Service in the Republic of China Navy

On 1 June 2018, ROCS Chung Jian and ROCS Chong He conducted a training maneuver.^[3]

Gallery

• 
  USS LST-716 on 20 February 1945
• 
  ROCS Chung Chien on 17 May 2013