USS LST-218

USS LST-218 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was later sold to South Korean Navy as ROKS Bi Bong (LST-809).

USS LST-218 at Saipan on 3 August 1944
History
United States
Name	LST-218
Builder	Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., Seneca
Laid down	11 February 1943
Launched	20 July 1943
Sponsored by	Mrs. Don Leach
Commissioned	12 August 1943
Decommissioned	19 January 1946
Renamed	Q020, 19 January 1946
Identification	Callsign: NHAF
Honors and awards	See Awards
Fate	Transferred to South Korea, 3 May 1955
History
South Korea
Name	Bi Bong (비봉)
Namesake	Bibong
Acquired	3 May 1955
Commissioned	13 September 1955
Decommissioned	31 March 1997
Reclassified	LST-673
Identification	Pennant number: LST-809
Fate	Unknown
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement	4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft Landing at 2,160 t: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
Speed	12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range	24,000 nmi (44,000 km; 28,000 mi) at 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) while displacing 3,960 long tons (4,024 t)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 or 6 x LCVPs
Capacity	2,100 tons oceangoing maximum 350 tons main deckload
Troops	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement	13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament	Varied, ultimate armament 2 × twin 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns 4 × single 40 mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons

Construction and career

LST-218 was laid down on 11 February 1943 at Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., Quincy, Massachusetts. Launched on 20 July 1943 and commissioned on 12 August 1943.

Service in the United States

During World War II, LST-218 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She took part in the Gilbert Islands operations from 21 November 8 December 1943. She also participated in the occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls from 31 January to 8 February 1944, the occupation of Eniwetok Atoll from 17 to 23 February 1944, the capture and occupation of Tinian from 24 July to 10 August 1944.

Throughout post-war year service, she was sent for occupation service in the Far East from 17 to 29 October 1945 and 16 November 1945 to 19 January 1946.

LST-218 was decommissioned on 19 January 1946 and was assigned to Commander Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE) Shipping Control Authority for Japan (SCAJAP) from 19 January 1946 to 28 January 1950 in which she was designated Q020. She was put into the Pacific Reserve Fleet following the end of her service there and later loaned to South Korea.

She was struck from the Navy Register.

Service in South Korea

ROKS Bi Bong was acquired by the South Korean Navy on 3 May 1955 and was commissioned on 13 September 1955.

Later in the 1970s, she was designated as LST-673.

She was decommissioned on 31 March 1997 and her fate is unknown.

Awards

LST-218 have earned the following awards:

• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4 battle stars)
• World War II Victory Medal
• Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

Sources

• United States. Dept. of the Treasury (1962). Treasury Decisions Under the Customs, Internal Revenue, Industrial Alcohol, Narcotic and Other Laws, Volume 97. U.S. Government Printing Office.
• Moore, Capt. John (1984). Jane's Fighting Ships 1984-85. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710607959.
• Saunders, Stephen (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710628886.
• Fairplay International Shipping Journal Volume 222. United Kingdom: Fairplay Publishing Limited. 1967.