USS LST-488

USS LST-488, underway, date and location unknown.
History
United States
Name	LST-488
Ordered	as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 1008[1]
Builder	Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California
Yard number	4183[1]
Laid down	11 January 1943
Launched	5 March 1943
Commissioned	24 May 1943
Decommissioned	11 January 1946
Reclassified	Landing Ship Tank (Hospital) LST(H)-488, 15 September 1945
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-488 Hull symbol: LST(H)-488 Code letters: NHAS
Honors and awards	4 × battle stars
Fate	assigned to Commander Naval Forces Far East
Japan
Operator	Shipping Control Authority for Japan
In service	11 January 1946
Out of service	unknown
Renamed	Q009
Fate	Transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 12 March 1952
United States
Operator	MSTS
In service	12 March 1952
Out of service	15 July 1972
Identification	Hull symbol: T-LST-488
Fate	Transferred to the Philippine Navy, 15 July 1972
PhilippinesPhilippines
Name	Surigao del Norte
Namesake	The Province of Surigao del Norte
In service	15 July 1972
Identification	Hull symbol: LT-97
Fate	unknown
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 LST Flotilla 3
Operations:	Occupation and defense of Cape Torokina (6–17 November 1943) Capture and occupation of Guam (21–28 July 1944) Leyte landings (20 October 1944) Lingayen Gulf landings (4–15 January 1945)
Awards:	Navy Unit Commendation 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/LST(H)/T-LST-488 was an LST-1-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II.

LST-488 was laid down on 11 January 1943, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1008, by Kaiser Shipyards, Yard No. 4, Richmond, California; launched on 5 March 1943; and commissioned on 24 May 1943.^[1][2]

During World War II, LST-488 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following operations: the Occupation and defense of Cape Torokina in November 1943; the Capture and occupation of Guam in July 1944; the Battle of Leyte landings October 1944; and the Lingayen Gulf landings January 1945.^[3]

Following the war, LST-488 was redesignated LST(H)-488 on 15 September 1945, and performed occupation duty in the Far East until 11 January 1946. Upon her return to the United States, she was decommissioned on 11 January 1946. She was redesignated LST-488 on 6 March 1952, and served with the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS LST-488 in the postwar period. The ship was transferred to the Republic of the Philippines as a lease on 15 July 1972.^[3]

LST-488 earned four battle stars for World War II service.^[3]

Citations

Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS LST-488.

• Photo gallery of USS LST-488 at NavSource Naval History