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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Mineral County (LST-988)
ex
 USS LST-988 (1944 - 1955)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Romeo - Lima
 NVRL
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 (1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia or Europe clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
LST-542 Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 10 February 1944, at Boston Navy Yard, Boston, MA.
  • Launched, 12 March 1944
  • Commissioned USS LST-988, 25 April 1944, LTjg. Charles E. Craig, USN in command
  • During World War II USS LST-988 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East participated in the following campaign:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Invasion of southern France, 15 August to 21 September 1944

  • Following World War II USS LST-988 was assigned Asiatic-Pacific Theater and came under the command of:
    LST Flotilla Thirty-Six, CAPT. D. F. J. Shea USN (23);
     LST Group One Hundred Eight, LCDR. W. R. Peeler USN (34);
     LST Division Two Hundred Sixteen
  • USS LST-988 performed Occupation service in both Asia and Europe for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    Asia
    Europe
    8 to 25 October 194510 November 1952 to 4 April 1953
    18 November 1945 to 12 April 194620 October to 8 November 1953
  • Decommissioned, 13 June 1950
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned, 7 June 1951
    From Wikipedia: "Shortly after her berthing at Green Cove Springs, the reopening of hostilities in Asia and high tension in Europe and the Middle East resulted in an increased demand for ships of her type. LST-988 was ordered reactivated. On 7 June 1951 she recommissioned, and 13 days later reported to ServLant for duty as a troop and cargo carrier. Her assignments during the next year took her as far east as the Mediterranean and as far north as sailing beyond the arctic circle on 9 July 1952. In May 1952 she was fitted out with a helicopter pad and then ordered to Iceland for special projects with the United States Air Force. Returning to Norfolk in September, she prepared for her first extended overseas deployment since World War II, six months with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean, after which she resumed operations for the 2nd Fleet."

  • Named USS Mineral County (LST-988), 1 July 1955
  • Decommissioned, 11 October 1957
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 27 September 1957
  • USS LST-988 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sunk as a target
    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
    USS LST-988
    LST-988 294k USS LST-988 and USS LST-907 moored at Civitavecchia, Italy while loading the US Army Air Force's 523rd Fighter Squadron's ground crew and equipment for sea lift to Corcisa, circa 13 July 1944. Photo by Haven Sanborn, Radio Mechanic, 523rd Fighter Squadron USAAF. Murray Sanborn for his father Haven Sanborn
    LST-988 75k A protective balloon flies above an USS LST-988 as she approaches the shore of southern France in August, 1944.
    Imperial War Museum Admiralty Official Collection, Photo No. © IWM (A 25260)    		 Mike Green
    LST-988 58k USS LST-988 entering the harbor at Valletta, Malta, date unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    LST-988
    1016098805    		 213k USS LST-988 in the harbor at Valletta, Malta with tug Expert alongside, 19 November 1952.
    Original copyright, Anthony and Joseph Pavia, 6 St John's St, Valletta, Malta    		 Brian Miller
    USS Mineral County (LST-988)
    Constellation 182k USS Mineral County (LST-988) is to the left on Pier 5 at Boston Naval Shipyard while USS Constellation (IX-20) sits moored in the dock of floating dry dock USS ARD-16 at Pier 6 of the Boston Naval Shipyard on 5 August 1955. The harbor tug Chegodega (YTB-542) is seen at right, with Wawasee (YTB-367) at left. (U.S. Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10726) Stephen P. Carlson Preservation Specialist Boston NHP Charlestown Navy Yard Boston, MA
    LST-988 1016098804 225k USS Mineral County LST-988 under way, circa 1950s.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 84880. Courtesy of William H. Davis, 1976,.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    USS Mineral County (LST-988)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Craig, Charles Edward, USN25 April 1944 - November 1944
    02LT. Sturges, Walter K., USNRNovember 1944 - March 1945
    03LT. Burnett, Robert Charles, USNRMarch 1945 - 24 November 1945
    04LTjg. Wintter, William A., USNR24 November 1945 - 1946
    05LTjg. Mahoney, William M., USNR1946
    06LT. Fidler, Harold Joseph, USN1952
    07LT. Pearson, Jack Boggan, USN1955 - 27 August 1956
    08LT. Kochis, Peter Charles, USN (USNA 1947)27 August 1956 - 11 October 1957
    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 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 1 March 2024