USS LST-487

Forward port quarter view of USS LST-487, off Mare Island, 14 August 1945.
History
United States
Name	LST-487
Ordered	as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 1007[1]
Builder	Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California
Yard number	42[1]
Laid down	2 January 1943
Launched	23 January 1943
Commissioned	27 April 1943
Decommissioned	15 March 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-487 Code letters: NGYQ
Honors and awards	5 × battle stars
Fate	Sold for merchant service conversion, 20 February 1948
General characteristics [2]
Class and type	LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement	4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft Landing at 2,160 t: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
Speed	12 kn (22 km/h; 14 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 or 6 x LCVPs
Capacity	2,100 tons oceangoing maximum 350 tons main deckload
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 5 (1943–1944) LST Flotilla 13 (1945)
Operations:	Capture and occupation of Saipan (15 June–30 July 1944) Tinian Capture and occupation (24–30 July 1944) Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands (6 September–14 October 1944) Lingayen Gulf landings (4–15 January 1945) Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (2–9 April 1945)
Awards:	American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Philippine Liberation Medal

USS LST-487 was an LST-1-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II.

LST-487 was laid down on 2 January 1943, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1007, by Kaiser Shipyards, Yard No. 4, Richmond, California; launched on 23 January 1943; and commissioned on 27 April 1943,^[1][2]

During World War II, LST 487 was assigned to the Asian/Pacific theater and participated in the following operations: the Capture and occupation of Saipan in June and July 1944; the Tinian capture and occupation in July 1944; the Capture and occupation of southern Palau Island in September and October 1944; the Lingayen Gulf landing in January 1945; and the Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in May 1945.^[3]

At Saipan, she discharged vehicles and personnel for the attacking waves against the beach "Yellow Two". While on station, she received casualties from the beaches for treatment or burial. She suffered air attacks on 17 and 24 June, in which she was undamaged.^[4]

At Tinian, she discharged LVTs and troops to the beaches of Tinian. She remained on the beach throughout the day of 25 July, performing recovery operations.^[4]

Following the war, LST-487 performed occupation duty in the Far East from 15 October, until 3 November 1945.^[2] Upon her return to the United States, she was decommissioned on 15 March 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 1 May 1946. On 20 February 1948, the ship was sold to Brown & Root, of Houston, Texas, for merchant service.^[3]

LST-487 earned five battle stars for World War II service.^[3]

• 
  LST-487 Looking aft
• 
  Manning the 20mm on LST-487
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  Image from a landing craft of LS-487 during the invasion of Saipan
• 
  Landing craft from LST-487 launched during the Invasion of Saipan. The island is covered in smoke from shelling
• 
  Landing craft from LST-487 launched during the invasion of Saipan
• 
  LST-487 on commissioning day in Richmond CA
• 
  LST-487 pulling up alongside 564 at sea to exchange movies and records. Taken from 564.
• 
  LST-487 crew searching for a Japanese pilot in the water
• 
  Small boat from LST-487 accepting a sick man from a destroyer
• 
  Church services aboard LST-487 in 1943
• 
  LST-487 Looking aft
• 
  Deck of LST-487 while it is in a convoy on the way to Luzon Philippines
• 
  Manning the 20mm on LST-487
• 
  Image from a landing craft of LS-487 during the invasion of Saipan
• 
  Landing craft from LST-487 launched during the Invasion of Saipan. The island is covered in smoke from shelling
• 
  Landing craft from LST-487 launched during the invasion of Saipan
• 
  LST-487 pulling up alongside 564 at sea to exchange movies and records. Taken from 564.
• 
  LST-487 crew searching for a Japanese pilot in the water
• 
  Small boat from LST-487 accepting a sick man from a destroyer
• 
  Church services aboard LST-487 in 1943

Citations

• Photo gallery of USS LST-487 at NavSource Naval History