USS LST-929

Vehicles on Iwo Jima's Red Beach, c. 25 February 1945, with LST-884 (center) and USS LST-929 (at left, with H markings on her hull) unloading in the background. Among the vehicles are trucks, mobile cranes, amphibious tractors (LVTs), jeeps and a variety of trailers. A field artillery piece is being pulled along in the right center. Note the pierced steel matting roadways.
History
United States
Name	LST-929
Builder	Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number	3399[1]
Laid down	5 June 1944
Launched	8 July 1944
Commissioned	2 August 1944
Decommissioned	24 May 1946
Reclassified	Landing Ship Tank (Hospital), 15 September 1945
Stricken	3 July 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-929 Hull symbol: LST(H)-929 Code letters: NVSD
Honors and awards	2 × battle star
Fate	Sold to the Chinese Nationalist Navy, 24 May 1946
Republic of China
Acquired	24 May 1946
Status	fate unknown
General characteristics [2]
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 (seagoing draft with 1,675 short tons (1,520 t) load) 2,366 long tons (2,404 t) (beaching)
Length	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Unloaded: 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward; 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft Full load: 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft Landing with 500 short tons (450 t) load: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft Limiting 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m) Maximum navigation 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
Installed power	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,800 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
Speed	11.6 kn (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph)
Range	24,000 nmi (44,000 km; 28,000 mi) at 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) while displacing 3,960 long tons (4,024 t)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 x LCVPs
Capacity	1,600–1,900 short tons (3,200,000–3,800,000 lb; 1,500,000–1,700,000 kg) cargo depending on mission
Troops	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement	13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament	Varied, ultimate armament 2 × twin 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns 4 × single 40 mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons
Service record
Part of:	LST Flotilla 6
Operations:	Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima (19–28 February 1945) Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (1 April–30 June 1945)
Awards:	China Service Medal American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp

USS LST-929/LST(H)-929 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

LST-929 was laid down on 5 June 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 8 July 1944; and commissioned on 2 August 1944.^[3][2]

During World War II, LST-929 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima in February 1945, and the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto from April through June 1945.^[3]

On 15 September 1945, she was redesignated LST(H)-929. Following the war, the ship performed occupation duty in the Far East and saw service in China until late May 1946. LST(H)-929 was decommissioned on 24 May 1946, and turned over to the Chinese Nationalist Navy. She was struck from the Navy list on 3 July 1946.^[3]

LST-929 earned two battle star for World War II service.^[3]

• Photo gallery of USS LST-929 at NavSource Naval History