USS Chelan County (LST-542)

USS LST–542 was the lead ship of her class of tank landing ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was later named USS Chelan County (LST-542) for the county in Washington, the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. The LST-542-class was built with a water-distilling plant and heavier armament than the earlier LST-1 class, which slightly decreased their payload.

LST-542 underway c. 1950
History
United States
Name: USS LST-542, later USS Chelan County
Namesake: Chelan County, Washington
Builder: Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana
Laid down: 29 November 1943
Launched: 28 January 1944
Commissioned: 29 February 1944
Decommissioned: 1956
Renamed: USS Chelan County (LST-542), 1 July 1955
Stricken: 1 November 1959
Honours and
awards:		 1 battle star (World War II)
General characteristics
Class and type: LST-542-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 :
  • 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:		 4 LCVPs
Troops: 16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement: 7 officers, 104 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
LST-542 underway c. 1951

LST-542 was laid down on 29 November 1943 at Evansville, Indiana by the Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Company; launched on 28 January 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Robert C. Dean; and commissioned on 29 February 1944.

Service history

During World War II, LST-542 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the invasion of Normandy in June 1944. Following the war, LST-542 saw service as a part of the Amphibious Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

She was named Chelan County (LST-542) on 1 July 1955. The ship was decommissioned in 1956 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 November 1959.

LST-542 earned one battle star for World War II service.

References
  • This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
  • "Chelan County". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  • "LST-542 Chelan County". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 1 April 2007.

See also
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