USS LST-689 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Late in her career she was renamed Daggett County (LST-689)—after Daggett County, Utah, the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name—but never saw active service under that name.

LST-689
LST-689 unloading at sea, date and place unknown
History
United States
NameUSS LST-689
BuilderJeffersonville Boat and Machine Company, Jeffersonville, Indiana
Laid down11 January 1944
Launched9 March 1944
Sponsored byMrs. Edith C. Smith
Commissioned2 May 1944
DecommissionedMarch 1946
Honors and
awards
1 battle star (World War II)
RenamedUSS Daggett County (LST-689), 1 July 1955
NamesakeDaggett County, Utah
Stricken1 October 1959
FateTransferred to Japan, 1961
Japan
Name
  • JDS Ōsumi
  • (おおすみ)
NamesakeŌsumi
Acquired1 April 1961
Commissioned1 April 1961
Decommissioned30 March 1974
FateTransferred to the Philippines, 1975
Philippines
NameBRP Davao Oriental (LT-506)
Acquired1975
FateSold for scrapping
General characteristics
Class and type
Displacement
  • 1,780 long tons (1,809 t) light
  • 3,640 long tons (3,698 t) full
Length328 ft (100 m)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft
  • Unloaded :
  • 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward
  • 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft
  • Loaded :
  • 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward
  • 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft
Propulsion2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried
2 LCVPs
TroopsApproximately 140 officers and enlisted men
Complement8–10 officers, 100–115 enlisted men
Armament

LST-689 was laid down on 11 January 1944 at Jeffersonville, Indiana by the Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Company; launched on 9 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Edith C. Smith; and commissioned on 2 May 1944.

Service history

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During World War II, LST-689 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the Leyte landings in October in the capture and occupation of the southern Palau Islands in September and October, 1944 and the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in April 1945. She was decommissioned on 26 November 1945 and struck from the Navy list on 5 December that same year. On 25 June 1946, the ship was sold to Arctic Circle Exploration, Inc., of Seattle, Washington.

 
LST-689 off Angaur, with Tennessee and Minneapolis bombarding the island.

The tank landing ship performed no active post-World War II service. On 1 July 1955 the ship was redesignated USS Daggett County (LST-689); she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 October 1959.

In 1961, she was donated to Japan and commissioned as the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Ōsumi-class tank landing ship as JDS Ōsumi (LST-4001). Transferred to the Republic of the Philippines in 1975, and named BRP Davao Oriental (LT-506). She was sold for scrapping by the Philippine Navy.

LST-689 earned two battle stars for World War II service.

References

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  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

  • "LST-689". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 12 June 2007.
  • "LST-689 Daggett County". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 12 June 2007.

See also

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