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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LST-497

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Juliet - Uniform
NPJU

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal

LST-491 Class Tank Landing Ship:

Laid down, 26 August 1943, at the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville, IN.

Launched, 27 October 1943

Commissioned USS LST-497, 23 December 1943, LT. William D. Steaken, USNR, in command

During World War II USS LST-497 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign:

Campaign and Dates
European-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944

Decommissioned, 18 December 1945

Struck from the Naval Register, 8 January 1946

Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 30 January 1948

Sold for commercial service, 30 January 1948 to the Anglo-Canadian Pulp and Paper Mills, Quebec, Canada, named MV Guy Bartholomew. In service until the late 1960s

Final Disposition, fate unknown

USS LST-497 earned one battle star for World War II service

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

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
	14k	USS LST-497 underway, date and location unknown.		John Ashburn

USS LST-497
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LT. Steaken, William D., USNR	23 December 1943 - February 1944
02	LT. Robb, B. W., USNR	February 1944 - November 1944
03	LT. Thomas, M. L., USNR	November 1944 - September 1945
04	LT. Riley, C. V., USNR	September 1945 - 18 December 1945


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

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 28 November 2014