USS LST-459 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II. As with many of her class, the ship was never named. Instead, she was referred to by her hull designation.

USS LST-459, passed on port side of Blue Ridge during either the Leyte landings or the Lingayen Gulf landings as she heads for the beach.
History
United States
NameLST-459
Orderedas a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 979[1]
BuilderKaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Washington
Yard number163[1]
Laid down22 September 1942
Launched29 October 1942
Commissioned13 February 1943
Decommissioned12 April 1946
Stricken19 June 1946
Identification
Honors and
awards
6 × battle stars
FateSold for scrapping, 31 October 1947
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeLST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement
  • 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load
  • 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam50 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
Propulsion
Speed12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range24,000 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
Troops16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament
Service record
Operations:
Awards:

Construction

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The ship was laid down on 22 September 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 979, by Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington; launched 29 October 1942; and commissioned on 13 February 1943,.[1][2]

Service history

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During World War II, LST-459 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She took part in the Bismarck Archipelago operation, the Cape Gloucester, New Britain, landings December through February 1944, and the Admiralty Islands landings in March 1944; the Hollandia operation in April 1944; the Western New Guinea operations, the Biak Islands operation in May and June 1944, the Noemfoor Island operation in July 1944, the Cape Sansapor operation in August 1944, and the Morotai landing in September 1944; the Leyte operation in November 1944; the Lingayen Gulf landings in January 1945; and the consolidation and capture of the southern Philippines during the Mindanao landings in March 1945, and the Sulu Archipelago landings in April 1945.[3]

Post-war service

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Following the war, LST-459 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-November 1945. Upon her return to the United States, she was decommissioned on 12 April 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 19 June, that same year. On 31 October 1947, the ship was sold to the New Orleans Shipwrecking Co., New Orleans, Louisiana, and subsequently scrapped.[3]

Honors and awards

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LST-459 earned six battle stars for her World War II service.[3]

Notes

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Citations

Bibliography

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Online resources

  • "LST-459". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2017.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "Kaiser Vancouver, Vancouver WA". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  • "USS LST-459". Navsource.org. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
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