USS Blanco County (LST-344) entering the Grand Harbour at Malta, c. 1957 |
|
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | USS Blanco County (LST-344) |
| Namesake: | Blanco County, Texas |
| Builder: | Norfolk Navy Yard |
| Laid down: | 18 October 1942 |
| Launched: | 15 December 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 14 January 1943 |
| Decommissioned: | 7 June 1946 |
| Recommissioned: | 5 January 1952 |
| Decommissioned: | 28 February 1956 |
| Renamed: | USS Blanco County (LST-344), 1 July 1955 |
| Recommissioned: | 9 June 1966 |
| Decommissioned: | 3 October 1969 |
| Struck: | 15 September 1974 |
| Honours and awards: |
3 battle stars (WWII) 5 battle stars and Navy Unit Commendation (Vietnam) |
| Fate: | Sold for scrapping, July 1975 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | LST-1-class tank landing ship |
| Displacement: | 1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full |
| Length: | 328 ft (100 m) |
| Beam: | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Draft: | Unloaded: Bow: 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) Stern: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) Loaded : Bow: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) Stern: 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) |
| Depth: | 8 ft (2.4 m) forward, 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) aft (full load) |
| Propulsion: | 2 General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders |
| Speed: | 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried: |
Two or six LCVPs |
| Troops: | 14-16 officers, 131-147 enlisted men |
| Complement: | 7-9 officers, 104-120 enlisted men |
| Armament: | • 2 × twin 40 mm gun mounts w/Mk.51 directors • 4 × single 40 mm gun mounts • 12 × single 20 mm gun mounts |
USS Blanco County (LST-344) was an LST-1-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Blanco County, Texas, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
LST-344 was laid down on 18 October 1942 by the Norfolk Navy Yard; launched on 15 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. H. H. Ward; and commissioned on 14 January 1943 with, Lieutenant Maurice G. Jackson, USNR, in command.
Famous quotes containing the word county:
“In the County Tyrone, in the town of Dungannon,”
—Unknown. The Old Orange Flute (l. 1)