USS LST-494 - Building and Commissioning

Building and Commissioning

USS LST 494's keel was laid down on 10 August 1943 at Evansville, Indiana by Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Co.. She was launched on 11 October 1943 and was commissioned on 18 December 1943. Command of the 494 was turned over to Lt. Irving C. Noyes of Colebrook, New Hampshire.

LSTs were 328 feet (100 m) long, 50 feet (15 m) wide with a displacement weight of 1,653 tons (4,080 tons fully loaded). They were powered from a Main Engine Room by two 900 horsepower (670 kW) General Motors V-12 engines (known as GM 567s) which were railroad engines adapted to marine use. Their maximum speed was approximately 11 knots (20 km/h). Additional engines in the Auxiliary Engine Room provided the ships with electricity. LST 494 was armed with a 3 inch/50 cal. gun on her stern (later replaced with a twin 40 mm gun) and multiple 40 mm and 20 mm anti-aircraft guns. In the European Theater LST 494 carried 6 LCVPs (Landing Craft Vehicle, Personnel), also known as “Higgins Boats”, each of which was armed with two .30-cal. machine guns. Invasion bound LSTs were manned by a crew of approximately 150.

LST 494 was first assigned to the European Theater of War. On 10 March 1944, she began her journey across the North Atlantic for England along with 71 other ships in Convoy SC 155. While crossing the Atlantic, LST 494 carried on her main deck LCT (Landing Craft Tank) 776.

• USS LST 494-North Africa 1944

• USS LST 494 on Omaha Beach, Normandy Invasion, June 1944