USS Crook County

USS Crook County (LST-611), originally USS LST-611, was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship built during World War II and in commission from 1944 to 1956. Named after Crook County, Oregon, and Crook County, Wyoming, she has been the only U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name.

LST-611, one of four LSTs on beach, unloads at Inchon, 16 September 1950
History
United States
Name	USS LST-611, later USS Crook County
Namesake	Crook County, Oregon, and Crook County, Wyoming
Builder	Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, Seneca, Illinois
Laid down	17 December 1943
Launched	28 April 1944
Sponsored by	Mrs. Ray Hines
Commissioned	15 May 1944
Decommissioned	26 October 1956
Renamed	USS Crook County (LST-611), 1 July 1955
Honors and awards	2 battle stars for World War II 3 battle stars for Korean War
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement	1,780 long tons (1,809 t) light 3,640 long tons (3,698 t) full
Length	328 ft (100 m)
Beam	50 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
Propulsion	2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 LCVPs
Troops	140 officers and enlisted men
Complement	8–10 officers, 100–115 enlisted men
Armament	1 × single 3-inch/50-caliber gun mount 8 × 40 mm guns 12 × 20 mm guns

LST-611 was laid down on 17 December 1943 at Seneca, Illinois, by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company. She was launched on 28 April 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Ray Hines, and commissioned on 15 May 1944.

Service history

During World War II, LST-611 was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations and participated in the Leyte landing in October 1944 and the Mindoro landing in December 1944.

LST-611 operated with the Amphibious Force, United States Pacific Fleet, following World War II and participated in the Inchon landings in September 1950 during the Korean War.

On 1 July 1955, LST-611 was renamed USS Crook County (LST-611). On 26 October 1956 she was placed in service, in reserve, in caretaker status.

Honors and awards

LST-611 earned two battle stars for World War II service and three battle stars for Korean War service.

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• "LST-611". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 29 May 2007.
• "LST-611 Crook County". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 29 May 2007.