USS Cassia County (LST-527)

LST-527 (center) and LST-542 (right) off St. Aubin's Bay, Jersey during "Operation Nestegg" with German POWs lining up on the sands ready to embark for England, c. May 1945. LST-521 is just out of the picture to the left.
History
Name: USS LST-527, later USS Cassia County
Namesake: Cassia County, Idaho
Builder: Jeffersonville Boat and Machine Company, Jeffersonville, Indiana
Laid down: 23 October 1943
Launched: 3 January 1944
Commissioned: 17 February 1944
Decommissioned: 28 February 1945
Recommissioned: 21 September 1950
Decommissioned: 21 December 1956
Renamed: USS Cassia County (LST-527), 1 July 1955
Struck: 1 October 1958
Honours and
awards:
Fate: Sunk as a target, 3 March 1959
General characteristics
Class and type: LST-491-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: Approximately 140 officers and enlisted men
Complement: 8-10 officers, 100-115 enlisted men
Armament:

USS Cassia County (LST-527) was an LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Cassia County, Idaho she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-527 was laid down on 23 October 1943 at Jeffersonville, Indiana by the Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Company; launched on 3 January 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Bliss A. Fox; and commissioned on 17 February 1944 with Lieutenant W. R. Hammock in command.

Service history

During World War II, LST-527 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Invasion of Normandy in June 1944. On 28 February 1945 she was decommissioned and, as a result of hostilities in Korea, recommissioned on 21 September 1950. She served in the Korean War and took part in the following campaigns: Second Korean Winter (January and February 1952) and Korea, Summer 1953 (May and June 1953). Following her Korean service, she returned to the United States. She was named USS Cassia County (LST-527) on 1 July 1955.

On 21 December 1956 the ship was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 October 1958. She was sunk as a target on 3 March 1959.

LST-527 earned one battle star for World War II service and two battle stars for Korean service.

References

See also

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