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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LST-508

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Delta - Xray - Xray
NDXX

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

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

USS LST-508 was transferred to France and renamed RFS Orne (L9002)

LST-491 Class Tank Landing Ship:

Laid down, 18 September 1943, at Jeffersonville, IN., by the Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Co.

Launched, 10 November 1943

Commissioned USS LST-508, 14 January 1944, LT. John G. Holmes, USNR, in command

During World War II USS LST-508 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign:

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

Decommissioned, 2 August 1946

Struck from the Naval Register, 28 January 1947

Transferred by the State Department to France, 25 March 1947, named RFS Orne (L9002)

Final Disposition, scrapped by France in 1957

USS LST-508 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.

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
USS LST-508
	66k	USS LST-508 commissioning crew, 14 January 1944 at Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Co., Jeffersonville, IN.	Robert Scarpa for his father Frank J. Scarpa, Cox, USS LST-508
	43k	USS LST-508 at anchor, date and place unknown.	LST Home Port web site
RFS Orne (L9002)
	33k	Ex-USS LST-508 in French service as *RFS Orne* (L9002) alongside the transport Pasteur** off the coast of Vietnam during the French-Indochina War, circa 1945 to 1954.	André Pilon RFS Golo
	62k	*RFS Orne* (L9002) alongside the transport Pasteur** off the coast of Vietnam during the French-Indochina War, circa 1945 to 1954.	André Pilon RFS Golo
	50k	*RFS Orne* (L9002)** operating along the coast of Vietnam during the French-Indochina War, circa 1948 to 1950. Photos courtesy Jean Lecomte, bossman RFS Orne	André Pilon RFS Golo
	46k
	47k
	57k
	81k
	57k	*RFS Orne* (L9002)** underway in rough seas, date and location unknown. Photo from Marine Nationale.	Robert Hurst
1016050809	152k	*RFS Orne* (L9002)** underway, date and location unknown.	Jacques Druel and Robert Hurst
	100k	*RFS Orne* (L9002)** on the Penfeld River at Brest, France, date unknown.	André Pilon RFS Golo
	71k	ex-*RFS Orne* (L9002)** at anchor awaiting scrapping, probably at La Seyne, near Toulon, date unknown.	André Pilon RFS Golo
	104k	ex-*RFS Orne* (L9002)** being scrapped probably at La Seyne, near Toulon, date unknown.	André Pilon RFS Golo
	11k	*RFS Orne* (L9002)** ship's badges.	André Pilon RFS Golo
	62k	*RFS Orne* (L9002)** ship's badges.	André Pilon RFS Golo
	45k	*RFS Orne* (L9002)** cap ribbon.	Submitted by André Pilon RFS Golo Courtesy QM timonier Loic Pairel RFS Orne

USS LST-508
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LT. Holmes, John Grier, USNR	14 January 1944 - 1 August 1945
02	LT. Allen, Blevins P., USNR	1 August 1945 - December 1945
03	LTjg. Levey, A. W., USNR	December 1945 - 2 August 1946.08.1946


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
"Life" magazine photo archive - LST-506 Fitting Out and Mississippi River passage.
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 20 October 2023