Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USNS T-LST-491
ex
USS LST-491 (1943 - 1953)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Alpha - Xray NPAX

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (2) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal

USNS T-LST-491 was transferred to the Philippine Navy, named BRP Lanao Del Sur (LT-503)

LST-491 Class Tank Landing Ship;

Lead ship of the LST-491 Class

Laid down, 29 July 1943, at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville, IN.

Launched, 23 September 1943

USS LST-491 was placed in reduced commission, 23 November 1943 and fully commissioned, 3 December 1943, LT. Robert E. Fahnestock, USNR, in command

During World War II USS LST-491 was first assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater;

While assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater USS LST-491 came under the command of:
LST Flotilla Thirty-Six, CAPT. D.F.J. Shea USN (23);
LST Group One Hundred Seven, CDR. L. F. Teuscher USN (23);
LST Division Two Hundred Fourteen and participated in the following campaigns:

Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944	Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 30 May to 18 June 1945
Invasion of southern France, 15 August to 25 September 1944

Following World War II USS LST-491 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal
15 to 25 October 1945
25 November 1945 to 12 January 1946

Decommissioned, 12 January 1946 and transferred to Commander Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE) Shipping Control Authority (SCAJAP), redesignated Q010

Transferred to Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 31 March 1952 and placed in service as USNS T-LST-491

Placed out of service, date unknown

Struck from the Naval Register, 30 June 1975

USS LST-491 earned three battle stars for World War II service

Sold to the Philippines Navy, 13 September 1976

Final Disposition, converted to a barge for commercial service some time after 1988

Specifications:

Displacement

1,625 t.(lt)

4,080 t.(fl) (sea-going draft w/1675 ton load)

2,366 t. (beaching displacement)

Length 328' o.a.

Beam 50'

Draft

light 2' 4" fwd, 7' 6" aft

sea-going 8' 3" fwd, 14' 1" aft

landing 3' 11" fwd, 9' 10" aft (landing w/500 ton load)

limiting 11' 2"

maximum navigation 14' 1"

Speed 11.6 kts. (trial)

Endurance 24,000 miles @ 9kts. while displacing 3960 tons

Complement

13 officers

104 enlisted

Troop Accommodations

16 officers

147 enlisted

Boats 2 LCVP

Cargo Capacity (varied with mission - payloads between 1600 and 1900 tons)

Typical loads

One Landing Craft Tank (LCT), tanks, wheeled and tracked vehicles, artillery, construction equipment and military supplies. A ramp or elevator forward allowed vehicles access to tank deck from main deck

Additional capacity included sectional pontoons carried on each side of vessel amidships, to either build Rhino Barges or use as causeways. Married to the bow ramp, the causeways would enabled payloads to be delivered ashore from deeper water or where a beachhead would not allow the vessel to be grounded forward after ballasting

Armament (varied with availability when each vessel was outfitted. Retro-fitting was accomplished throughout WWII. The ultimate armament design for United States vessels was

2 - Twin 40MM gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors

4 - Single 40MM gun mounts

12 single 20MM gun mounts

Fuel Capacity

Diesel 4,300 Bbls

Propulsion

two General Motors 12-567A, 900hp Diesel engines

single Falk Main Reduction Gears

three Diesel-drive 100Kw 230V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

two propellers, 1,700shp

twin rudders

Photo 1016049103 contributed by Russ Padden,

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS LST-491
1016049103	218k	USS LST-491 loaded LCT(6)-554)* 22 February 1945 at Brooklyn, N.Y. and launched her, 15 June 1945, at Okinawa, Japan.*	Photo 1016049103 contributed by Russ Padden Photo 1016049105 contibuted by David Upton pg. 40, USS LST-491 Cruise Book
1016049105	319k
USNS T-LST-491
1016049101	73k	USNS T-LST-491 at anchor, 25 May 1971, at Vung Tau , Vietnm.	© Richard Leonhardt
1016049102	75k		© Richard Leonhardt
BRP Lanao Del Sur (LT-503)
	68k	Ex-LST-491 in Republic of the Philippines service as *BRP Lanao Del Sur* (LT-503)** beached at Cavite, Luzon Island, Republic of the Philippines, awaiting sale, 12 July 1988.	Edison Sy

USS LST-491
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LT. Fahnestock, Robert E., USNR	3 December 1943 - October 1944
02	LT. Hemphill, Wylie Miller, USNR	October 1944 - 21 October 1945
03	LT. Knox, James W., USNR	21 October 1945 - 12 January 1946


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
The USS LST Ship Memorial
LST Homeport
State LST Chapters
United States LST Association

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To the Amphibious Ship Type Index

Back To The Tank Landing Ship (LST) Photo Index

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.

This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 11 October 2024

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USNS T-LST-491ex USS LST-491 (1943 - 1953)

USNS T-LST-491
ex
USS LST-491 (1943 - 1953)