USS Douglas County (LST-731)
USS LST-731 with LCT-971 loaded on her main deck, entering a harbor probably in 1946. This is possibly San Francisco Bay. |
|
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | USS LST-731 |
| Builder: | Dravo Corporation, Neville Island, Pittsburgh |
| Laid down: | 27 December 1943 |
| Launched: | 12 February 1944 |
| Commissioned: | 30 March 1944 |
| Decommissioned: | 2 June 1950 |
| Renamed: | USS Douglas County (LST-731), 1 July 1955 |
| Reclassified: | LSTH-731, 15 September 1945 LST-731, 6 March 1952 |
| Struck: | 1 November 1958 |
| Honours and awards: |
2 battle stars (World War II) |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | LST-542-class tank landing ship |
| Displacement: | 1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light 3,640 long tons (3,698 t) full |
| Length: | 328 ft (100 m) |
| Beam: | 50 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 |
| Propulsion: | 2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders |
| Speed: | 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried: |
2 LCVPs |
| Troops: | Approximately 130 officers and enlisted men |
| Complement: | 8-10 officers, 89-100 enlisted men |
| Armament: | • 1 × single 3"/50 caliber gun mount • 8 × 40 mm guns • 12 × 20 mm guns |
USS Douglas County (LST-731) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in 12 states, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
LST-731 was laid down on 27 December 1943 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by the Dravo Corporation of Neville Island; launched on 12 February 1944; sponsored by Mrs. A. J. Ackerman; and commissioned on 30 March 1944 with Ensign K. S. McCann, Jr., in command.
Read more about USS Douglas County (LST-731): Service History
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for they are falling into two legends
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)