USS Churchill County (LST-583)

	USS Churchill County (LST-583) follows USS Walworth County (LST-1164) while transiting the Panama Canal, c. 1968
History
United States
Name:	USS LST-583, later USS Churchill County
Namesake:	Churchill County, Nevada
Builder:	Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana
Laid down:	18 May 1944
Launched:	5 July 1944
Sponsored by:	Mrs. D. C. Hollis
Commissioned:	2 August 1944
Decommissioned:	March 1946
Renamed:	USS Churchill County (LST-583), 1 July 1955
Recommissioned:	1 November 1960
Decommissioned:	September 1968
Stricken:	15 September 1974
Identification:	IMO number: 8624187
Honours and; awards:	3 battle stars for World War II
Fate:	Sold, 1 August 1975
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:	2 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;

USS Churchill County (LST-583), originally USS LST-583, was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II and in commission from 1944 to 1946 and 1960 to 1968. Named for Churchill County, Nevada she was the only U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name.

Construction and commissioning

LST-583 was laid down on 18 May 1944 at Evansville, Indiana, by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company. She was launched on 5 July 1944, sponsored by Mrs. D. C. Hollis, and commissioned on 2 August 1944 with Lieutenant Philip E. Acker, USNR, in command.

First period in commission, 1944-1946

During World War II, LST-583 was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations and participated in the Lingayen Gulf landing in January 1945, the Zambales-Subic Bay landing in January 1945, and the Mindanao Island landings in March and April 1945. Following the war, LST-583 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-December 1945.

LST-583 was decommissioned in March 1946. While out of commission, she was renamed USS Churchill County (LST-583) on 1 July 1955.

Second period in commission

Churchill County around 1963

Churchill County was recommissioned on 1 November 1960 and served in Amphibious Force, United States Atlantic Fleet, until she was again decommissioned in September 1968.

Disposal

Struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 September 1974, Churchill County was sold for scrapping by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) on 1 August 1975. However, she was acquired by Minerve Shipping and Trading Corporation, S.A., of Panama, renamed Petrola 131 c. 1976-1977, and placed in commercial service. Her final fate is unknown.

Awards and honors

LST-583 earned three battle stars 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.
"LST-583". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 27 May 2007.
"LST-583 Churchill County". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 27 May 2007.