USS LST-973 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.

History
United States
NameLST-973
BuilderBethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number3443[1]
Laid down25 November 1944
Launched27 December 1944
Commissioned27 January 1945
Decommissioned24 May 1946
Stricken29 September 1947
Identification
Fate
  • Transferred to US Army custody
  • Reinstated in the Naval Register, 6 September 1950
Commissioned6 September 1950
Decommissioned7 November 1951
Stricken20 November 1951
Honors and
awards
4 × battle stars
FateTransferred to France, 7 November 1951
FranceFrance
NameGolo
Acquired7 November 1951
Stricken1960
Identification
FateSold for scrapping, 1959
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeLST-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)
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 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
Propulsion
Speed11.6 kn (21.5 km/h; 13.3 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 short tons (3,200,000–3,800,000 lb; 1,500,000–1,700,000 kg) cargo depending on mission
Troops16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament
Service record
Awards:

Construction

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LST-973 was laid down on 25 November 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 27 December 1944; and commissioned on 27 January 1945.[3][2]

Service history

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Following World War II, LST-973 performed occupation duty in the Far East until early February 1946. She was decommissioned on 24 May 1946, and transferred to the US Army. The ship was struck from the Navy list on 29 September 1947, but reinstated on 6 September 1950, for service during the Korean War. Decommissioned again on 7 November 1951, LST-973 was transferred to the French Navy that same date. She was struck from the Navy list for the second time on 20 November 1951.[3]

Awards

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LST-973 earned four battle stars one award of the Navy Unit Commendation for Korean service.[3]

Notes

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Citations

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Bibliography

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Online resources

  • "LST-973". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 22 June 2017.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "Bethlehem-Hingham, Hingham MA". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  • "USS LST-973". Navsource.org. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
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