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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LST-492


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Bravo - Foxtrot
NPBF
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)
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp)
LST-491 Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 3 August 1943, at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville, IN.
  • Launched, 30 September 1943
  • Accepted by the US Navy and placed in reduced commission, 21 November 1943, for transit to her fitting out yard
  • Placed in full Commission as USS LST 492, 8 December 1943, LT. R. M Newman USNR, in command
  • During World War II LST-492 was first assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participating 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, 26 May to 30 June 1945
    Invasion of southern France, 15 August to 13 September 1944  

  • When assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater USS LST-492 came under the command of:
    LST Flotilla Thirty-Nine, CAPT. D. H. Johnston USN (22);
     LST Group One Hundred-Five, CDR. E. P Wilson USN (20);
     LST Division Two Hundred-Nine
    "Following the southern France Invasion, LST 492 supported the northern Italian Campaign in October 1944 shuttling two trips with RAF and USAF troops and equipment from Bastia, Corsica to Livorno (Leghorn) Italy. On the 18th she left Bastia, Corsica for Sardinia, but a hurricane-like storm drove the ship off course due East towards Naples, Italy. After a short stay in Nesida, Italy the ship departed for Bizerte, North Africa. From there proceeded to Maddelena Island, Sardinia to load up PT supplies for delivery to Oran, Africa. Shortly afterwards, sailed for USA, before readying for the Pacific tour." Art Aregoni - USS LST-492 and USS LST-1010
  • Following World War II LST-492 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 20 September to 7 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, 17 June 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 23 June 1947
  • USS LST-492 earned three battle stars for World War II service
  • Sold, 24 February 1948 to Green's Bayou Transporters, Houston, TX. for non-self propelled operations
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    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
    LST-492
    1016049218    		 62k Launching of LST-492, 30 September 1943, at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville, IN,
    Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co. photo from USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc. LST Shipyard Collection    		 Tommy Trampp
    LST-492 65k USS LST-492 beached, probably in Italy, date unknown.
    Photo from US Army 321st Air Service Sqd.    		 Mike Harpe
    LST-492 72k USS LST-492 port side superstructure, date and location unknown. Ron West for his father Petty Officer James L. West USS LST-492
    LST-492 34k USS LST-492 beached at Omaha Beach, Normandy while embarking German Prisoners of War, 1944. Paul Sullenberger for his father Sam Sullenberger BMC, USS LST-158, USS LST-492, USS LST-512
    LST-492 61k USS LST-492 with German Prisoners of War on the main deck, 1944. Ron West for his father Petty Officer James L. West USS LST-492
    LST-492 32k USS LST-492 beached at either Normandy or in southern France with German Prisoners of War on the main deck, date unknown. Paul Sullenberger for his father Sam Sullenberger BMC, USS LST-158, USS LST-492, USS LST-512
    LST-492
    1016049219    		 105k USS LST-492 and HM LST-402 moored at Mulberry Harbor A off the Omaha Beachhead, Normandy, between 11 June and 19 June 1944.
    Mulberry Harbor A waa only in operation from 11 June to 19 June 1944 when a storm on the 19th caused enough damage that the Allies discontinued it's use.
    A frame from a short film named "Invasion of France: Landing of Equipment and Evacuation of Wounded". National Archives ID 77074. Local ID 428-NPC-4352; Department of the Navy    		 David Upton
    LST-492 68k USS LST-492 beached in southern France, August 1944 LST 492 Web Site
    LST-492 51k USS LST-492 beached at Normandy, September 1944. Ron West for his father Petty Officer James L. West USS LST-492
    LST-492 68k One of USS LST-492's single 40mm AA gun mounts and crew, date and location unknown. Ron West for his father Petty Officer James L. West USS LST-492
    USS LST-492
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Newman, R. M. (Pappy), USNR21 November 1943 - January 1945
    02LTjg. Provost Jr., William Brockkholst, USNRJanuary 1945 - February 1946
    03LTjg. Crowder, Clyde Earl, USNFebruary 1946 - 17 June 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
    USS LST-492 Crew Group Photos
    The USS LST Ship Memorial
    LST Home Port
    State LST Chapters
    United States LST Association
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 26 January 2024