USS LST-449

USS LST-449 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II.

USS LST-449, loading equipment and supplies from a Guadalcanal beach for her journey north to Bougainville Island, in November 1943, soon after Marines landed there.
History
United States
Name	LST-449
Ordered	as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 969
Builder	Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Washington
Yard number	153
Laid down	10 July 1942
Launched	30 September 1942
Commissioned	31 December 1942
Decommissioned	16 March 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-449 Code letters: NFDG
Honors and awards	5 × battle stars
Fate	Sold, 27 January 1947
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
Service record
Part of:	LST Flotilla 5
Operations:	Consolidation of the southern Solomons (7 April 1943) Occupation and defense of Cape Torokina (11 November, 3–4 and 15 December 1943) Assault and occupation of Guam (21–28 July 1944) Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima (19–25 February 1945) Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (1–15 April 1945)
Awards:	Combat Action Ribbon Navy Unit Commendation American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp

Construction

LST-449 was laid down on 10 July 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 969, by Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington; launched on 30 September 1942; and commissioned on 31 December 1942.

Service history

During the war, LST-449 was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations. She took part in the consolidation of the southern Solomons in April 1943; the occupation and defense of Cape Torokina November and December 1943; the assault and occupation of Guam July 1944; the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima in February 1945; and the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto April 1945.

Post-war service

Following the war, LST-449 performed occupation duty in the Far East until early November 1945. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 16 March 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 28 March, that same year. On 27 January 1947, the tank landing ship was sold to a private purchaser for scrapping.

Honors and awards

LST-449 earned five battle stars for her World War II service.

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

Online resources

• "LST-449". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 1 April 2017. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
• "Kaiser Vancouver, Vancouver WA". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
• "USS LST-449". Navsource.org. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2017.

External links

• Photo gallery of USS LST-449 at NavSource Naval History