USS LST-493 was an LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

USS LST-493 off loading at Normandy, c. 7 June 1944 to 9 April 1945.
History
United States
NameLST-493
BuilderMissouri Valley Bridge & Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana
Yard number48 [1]
Laid down9 August 1943
Launched4 October 1943
Commissioned13 December 1943
Decommissioned19 May 1945
Stricken19 May 1945
Identification
Honors and
awards
1 × battle star (WWII)
FateGrounded at Plymouth, United Kingdom, 12 April 1945
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeLST-491-class tank landing ship
Displacement
  • 1,625 long tons (1,651 t) (light)
  • 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) (full (seagoing draft with 1,675 short tons (1,520 t) load)
  • 2,366 long tons (2,404 t) (beaching)
Length328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft
  • Unloaded: 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward; 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft
  • Full load: 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft
  • Landing with 500 short tons (450 t) load: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range24,000 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
6 x LCVPs
Capacity1,600–1,900 short tons (3,200,000–3,800,000 lb; 1,500,000–1,700,000 kg) cargo depending on mission
Troops16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament

Construction and commissioning

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LST-493 was laid down on 9 August 1943, at Evansville, Indiana, by the Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Company; launched on 4 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Charles M. Hoagland; and commissioned on 13 December 1943.[3]

Service history

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During World War II, LST-493 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Invasion of Normandy in June 1944. She grounded while attempting to enter Plymouth Harbor, England, on 12 April 1945, and was broken up and destroyed. The ship was struck from the Navy list on 19 May 1945.[3]

Honors and awards

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LST-493 earned one battle star for World War II service.[3]

References

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Bibliography

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  • "USS LST-493". NavSource Online. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  • "MISSOURI VALLEY BRIDGE Evansville IN". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  • "LST-493". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 20 December 2021.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

See also

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