USS LST-512

USS Burnett County (LST-512) was an LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Burnett County, Wisconsin, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS LST-512 in 1945.
History
United States
Name: USS Burnett County (LST-512)
Builder: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, Seneca, Illinois
Laid down: 22 July 1943
Launched: 10 December 1943
Commissioned: 8 January 1944
Decommissioned: 28 March 1947
Renamed: USS Burnett County (LST-512), 1 July 1955
Stricken: 18 February 1957
Honours and
awards:		 1 battle star (WWII)
Fate: Sold to Peru, 11 October 1957
Peru
Name: BAP Paita (LT-35)
Acquired: 11 October 1957
Decommissioned: 1983
Fate: Unknown
General characteristics
Class and type: LST-491-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
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:		 2 LCVPs
Troops: Approximately 130 officers and enlisted men
Complement: 8-10 officers, 89-100 enlisted men
Armament:

LST-512 was laid down on 22 July 1943 at Seneca, Illinois by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company; launched on 10 December 1943; and conducted her trial runs in the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Sponsored by Mrs. Gerry DeWane, she was sent to New Orleans, Louisiana for her final fitting out and was commissioned on 8 January 1944.

Service history

LST-512 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Invasion of Normandy in June, 1944. In October 1944, a severe storm in the English channel broached the ship on the beach, "breaking her back." She was towed to England for temporary repairs, made by welding railroad iron alongside the damaged keel, then returned to the United States where it was repaired and outfitted to do a war bond tour in the Great Lakes, Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Leaving Norfolk, VA in April, 1945, the ship sailed to Miami, FL, where soil and palm trees were loaded aboard to create a Pacific Island Jungle on a portion of the tank deck. It then moved to New Orleans, and was in that city on VE Day, May 8, 1945. It then began the journey up the Mississippi River to the Illinois River, and was the first LST to make the trip up both those rivers, and was the first and only LST to return to the inland shipyard (Seneca, IL) where it was built. It arrived in Chicago, IL on May 21, 1945, for additional preparation for the tour. The tour commenced in Detroit, MI. on June 12. Displays on the tank deck included a Pacific Island jungle complete with enemy snipers concealed in trees, a map with miniature models of LST's making amphibious landings in the Pacific, a captured Kamikaze "Baka" plane, and film footage of the war in the Pacific. Visitors could also look into the engine rooms, and tour crew quarters. On the main deck were displays of US armor, vehicles and artillery alongside captured Japanese artillery and vehicles. In addition to the static displays, the ship gave live demonstrations of amphibious landings, which included simulated bombardment and air strikes, followed by Marines landing in LCVP's and Amtracs. Once the landing zone was "secured", the ship would approach the beach and offload additional Amtracs, tanks and vehicles. Invasions were demonstrated in several cities, including Detroit, Rochester, Buffalo, Cleveland, Toledo, Duluth, Milwaukee, and Chicago. The ship was returning from Duluth and was passing through the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, MI on V-J Day. The tour concluded on January 13, 1946, in New Orleans. During the tour, over two million visitors came aboard.

On 28 March 1947 was decommissioned and assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet. On 1 July 1955 the ship was redesignated USS Burnett County (LST-512), and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 18 February 1957. LST-512 received one battle star for World War II Service.

On 11 October 1957 she was sold to Peru. Renamed BAP Paita (LT-35), and commissioned in the Peruvian Navy. Employed as a training ship for the Peruvian Naval Academy.[1][2] Later renumbered DT-141. Deleted 1983.[1][3]

References
Notes
  1. Janes' Fighting Ships 1963-64
  2. Couhat, Jean Labayle, Combat Fleets of the World 1978/79, Arms and Armour Press, 1978, ISBN 0-85368-282-8
  3. Gardiner, Robert and Chumbley, Steven (ed), Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995, Conways, 1995, ISBN 0-85177-605-1
Bibliography

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

A poster from the World War II era featuring LST-512. The poster is now in the collections of the Library of Congress.
Loading German POWs aboard LST-512 and LST-336 at Normandy in June 1944

4. History of USS LST 512; uncopyrighted booklet prepared by crew members during World War II Bond Tour.

See also
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