USS LST-573 was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship used in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II.

History
United States
NameLST-573
BuilderMissouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana
Laid down15 April 1944
Launched31 May 1944
Sponsored byMrs. Ernest C. Strpebe
Commissioned21 June 1944
Decommissioned24 January 1946
History
OperatorCommander Naval Forces Far East
In servicedate unknown
Out of servicedate unknown
RenamedQ027
Stricken31 October 1947
History
OperatorMaritime Commission (MARAD)
Acquired26 May 1948
Identification
Honors and
awards
3 × battle stars
FateSold for scrapping, 26 May 1948
General characteristics
Class and typeLST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement
Length328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam50 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 2 in (2.49 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
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 x LCVPs
Capacity1,600–1,900 st (22,000–27,000 lb; 10,000–12,000 kg) cargo depending on mission
Troops16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement7 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament
Service record
Operations:
Awards:

Construction and commissioning

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LST-573 was laid down on 15 April 1944 at Evansville, Indiana, by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company. She was launched on 31 May 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Ernest C. Strpebe, and commissioned on 21 June 1944.[1][2]

Service history

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During the war, LST-573 was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations. She took part in the Philippines campaign, participating in the Battle of Leyte landing in October and November 1944, the Battle of Mindoro in December 1944, the Battle of Mindanao in March 1945, and the Battle of the Visayas in March and April 1945.[1]

Following the war, LST-573 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-January 1946. Upon her return to the United States, she was decommissioned on 24 January 1946 and struck from the Navy list on 31 October 1947. On 26 May 1948, the ship was sold to the Bethlehem Steel Co., of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.[1]

Honors and awards

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LST-573 earned three battle stars for her World War II service.[1]

Notes

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Citations

Bibliography

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Online sources
  • "LST-573". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2016.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "USS LST-573". NavSource Online. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
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