USS LST-521
History
United States
NameUSS LST-521
NamesakeCape May County
BuilderChicago Bridge & Iron Company, Seneca, Illinois
Laid down4 October 1943
Launched13 December 1943
Commissioned3 January 1944
Decommissioned21 October 1945
RenamedUSS Cape May County (LST-521), 1 July 1955
Stricken1 November 1959
Honors and
awards
1 battle star (World War II)
FateStricken 1 November 1959
General characteristics
Class and typeLST-491-class tank landing ship
Displacement
  • 1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light
  • 3,640 long tons (3,698 t) full
Length328 ft (100 m)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft
  • Unloaded :
  • 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward
  • 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft
  • Loaded :
  • 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward
  • 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft
Propulsion2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried
Two LCVPs
Troopsapprox. 130 officers and enlisted
Complement8–10 officers, 89–100 enlisted men
Armament

USS Cape May County (LST-521) was an LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Cape May County, New Jersey, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-521 was laid down on 4 October 1943 at Seneca, Illinois by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company; launched on 13 December 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Ruth Sexton; and commissioned on 9 February 1944.

During World War II, USS LST-521 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Invasion of Normandy in June 1944. Upon her return to the United States, she was decommissioned on 21 October 1945.

Later reactivated (date unknown), assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and placed in service as USNS T-LST-521, the tank landing ship was placed out of service (date unknown) and redesignated USS Cape May County (LST-521) on 1 July 1955. The ship was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 November 1959.

LST-521 earned one battle star for World War II service.

References

  • This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
  • "LST-521". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 12 April 2007.
  • "LST-521 Cape May County". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 12 April 2007.

See also

LST-521, LSM-297 and Krishna (ARL-38) during "Operation Blue Jay" (the construction of Thule Air Force Base in Greenland, c. 1950.


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