USS LST-53

USS LST-53 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 Chang Su (LST-811).

History
United States
Name	LST-53
Builder	Dravo Corp., Neville Island
Laid down	24 September 1943
Launched	6 November 1943
Sponsored by	Mrs. Nicholas Spanard
Commissioned	21 December 1943
Decommissioned	22 January 1946
Renamed	APL-59, September 1954 Q021, 19 January 1946
Identification	Callsign: NFCU
Honors and awards	See Awards
Fate	Transferred to South Korea, 11 May 1955
History
South Korea
Name	Chang Su (장수)
Namesake	Chang Su
Acquired	11 May 1955
Decommissioned	18 April 1959
Identification	Pennant number: LST-811
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-53 was laid down on 24 September 1943 at Dravo Corp., Neville Island, Pennsylvania. Launched on 6 November 1943 and commissioned on 21 December 1943. She was in ferrying service to New Orleans to undergo fitting out from 5 December to 21 December 1943.

Service in the United States

During World War II, LST-53 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East theater and later the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She took part in the invasion of Normandy from 6 to 25 June 1944 and the invasion of Southern France from 15 August to 25 September 1944.

She then participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa from 17 to 30 June 1945.

LST-53 was decommissioned on 22 January 1946 and was assigned to Commander Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE) Shipping Control Authority for Japan (SCAJAP) in which she was designated Q021. She was put into the 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 Chang Su was acquired by the South Korean Navy on 11 May 1955 and was commissioned on an unknown date.

She was decommissioned on 18 April 1959 and her fate is unknown.

Awards

LST-53 have earned the following awards:

• American Campaign Medal
• Combat Action Ribbon
• Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (2 battle stars)
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1 battle star)
• 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.