USS LST-53 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was later sold to South Korean Navy as ROKS Chang Su (LST-811).[1]

History
United States
NameLST-53
BuilderDravo Corp., Neville Island
Laid down24 September 1943
Launched6 November 1943
Sponsored byMrs. Nicholas Spanard
Commissioned21 December 1943
Decommissioned22 January 1946
Renamed
  • APL-59, September 1954
  • Q021, 19 January 1946
Identification
Honors and
awards
See Awards
FateTransferred to South Korea, 11 May 1955
History
South KoreaSouth Korea
Name
  • Chang Su
  • (장수)
NamesakeChang Su
Acquired11 May 1955
Decommissioned18 April 1959
IdentificationPennant number: LST-811
FateUnknown
General characteristics
Class and typeLST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement
  • 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load
  • 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam50 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
Propulsion
Speed12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range24,000 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
Troops16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament

Construction and career

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LST-53 was laid down on 24 September 1943 at Dravo Corp., Neville Island, Pennsylvania. Launched on 6 November 1943 and commissioned on 21 December 1943. She was in ferrying service to New Orleans to undergo fitting out from 5 December to 21 December 1943.[2]

Service in the United States

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During World War II, LST-53 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East theater and later the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She took part in the invasion of Normandy from 6 to 25 June 1944 and the invasion of Southern France from 15 August to 25 September 1944.

She then participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa from 17 to 30 June 1945.

LST-53 was decommissioned on 22 January 1946 and was assigned to Commander Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE) Shipping Control Authority for Japan (SCAJAP) in which she was designated Q021. She was put into the Reserve Fleet following the end of her service there and later loaned to South Korea.

She was struck from the Navy Register.[1]

Service in South Korea

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ROKS Chang Su was acquired by the South Korean Navy on 11 May 1955 and was commissioned on an unknown date.

She was decommissioned on 18 April 1959 and her fate is unknown.

Awards

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LST-53 have earned the following awards:

Citations

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  1. ^ a b "Tank Landing Ship LST". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ "LST-53". NHHC. Retrieved 17 November 2021.

Sources

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