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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LST-493


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Delta - Delta
NPDD

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
LST-491 Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 9 August 1943, at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville, IN.
  • Launched, 4 October 1943
  • Commissioned USS LST-493, 13 December 1943, LT. Francis P. Rossiter, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS LST-493 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944
  • Final Disposition, lost by grounding at Plymouth, UK, 12 April 1945
  • Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register 19 May 1945
  • USS LST-493 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
    LST-493 71k USS LST-493 off loading at Normandy, circa 7 June 1944 to 9 April 1945 Jim Worth USS LST 493 web site
    LST-493 22k USS LST-493 off loading at Normandy, circa 7 June 1944 to 9 April 1945 Jim Worth USS LST 493 web site
    LST-44 36k USS LST-493 off loading at Normandy, circa 7 June 1944 to 9 April 1945, USS LST-44 is in the foreground LST Home Port web site
    LST-493 35k USS LST-493 heading out to sea in early April, 1945, just before she was lost. She is low in the water in this photo, as she is fully loaded.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    LST-493 36k USS LST-493 hard aground on the Plymouth Harbor breakwater, bow view. Jim Worth USS LST 493 web site
    LST-493 104k USS LST-493 hard aground on the Plymouth breakwater, stern view. Jim Worth USS LST 493 web site
    LST-493 72k USS LST-493 hard aground on the Plymouth breakwater Jim Worth USS LST 493 web site
    LST-493 71k USS LST-493 hard aground on the Plymouth breakwater Jim Worth USS LST 493 web site
    LST-493 54k USS LST-493 hard aground on the Plymouth breakwater Rich Fox
    LST-493 89k USS LST-493 hard aground on the Plymouth breakwater Rich Fox
    USS LST-493
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Rossiter, Francis P., USNR13 December 1943 - 12 April 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
    USS LST 493
    LST Home Port
    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
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 28 November 2014