USS LST-950

USS LST-950/LST(H)-950 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.

USS LST-950 at anchor, probably off the beachhead at Okinawa, c. April 1945. LST-950 was used to carry casualties to the hospital ships from the Okinawa beachhead. Note the large "H" painted on her side. The LST and the small boats in the right foreground are also flying an "X" flag to signify their missions.
History
United States
Name	LST-950
Builder	Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number	3420[1]
Laid down	1 September 1944
Launched	4 October 1944
Commissioned	27 October 1944
Decommissioned	18 July 1946
Reclassified	Landing Ship Tank (Hospital), 15 September 1945
Stricken	23 September 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-950 Hull symbol: LST(H)-950 Code letters: NVVA
Honors & awards	1 × battle star
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 8 March 1948
General characteristics [2]
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	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
Part of:	LST Flotilla 25
Operations:	Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (1 April–18 June 1945)
Awards:	American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp

Construction

LST-950 was laid down on 1 September 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 4 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. C. C. Recca; and commissioned on 27 October 1944.^[3][2]

Service history

During World War II, LST-950 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto from April through June 1945.^[3]

On 15 September 1945, she was redesignated LST(H)-950 and performed occupation duty in the Far East until early November 1945. The tank landing ship was decommissioned on 23 September 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 10 June 1947. On 8 March 1948, the ship was sold to the Ships Power & Equipment Corp., of Barber, New Jersey, for scrapping.^[3]

Awards

LST-950 earned one battle star for World War II service.^[3]