USS LST-662

USS LST-662 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy in World War II. Like most ships of her class, she was not named and properly known only by her designation.

USS LST-662 in drydock, Guam, 29 May 1945
History
United States
Name	USS LST-662
Builder	American Bridge Company Ambridge, Pennsylvania
Laid down	14 January 1944
Launched	5 April 1944
Sponsored by	Miss Louise Leahy
Commissioned	2 May 1944
Decommissioned	19 December 1945
Stricken	8 January 1946
Honors and awards	3 battle stars, World War II
Fate	Sold for commercial use, 25 June 1946
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement	1,780 tons (light) 3,640 tons
Length	328 ft (100.0 m)
Beam	50 ft (15.2 m)
Draft	2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) fwd; 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft (unloaded) 8 feet 2 inches (2.49 m) fwd; 14 feet 1 inch (4.29 m) aft (full load)
Propulsion	Two General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts
Speed	10.8 knots (20.0 km/h) (max) 9 knots (17 km/h) (econ)
Troops	140 officers and enlisted
Complement	8–10 officers, 100–115 enlisted
Armament	8 × 40 mm AA guns 12 × 20 mm AA guns

During World War II, LST-662 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the following operations:

• Battle of Peleliu, September and October 1944
• Zambales-Subic Bay, January 1945
• Battle of Okinawa, April 1945

Following the war, LST-662 was decommissioned on 19 December 1945 and struck from the Navy List on 8 January 1946. On 25 June 1946, the ship was sold to Arctic Circle Exploration, Inc., of Seattle, Washington.

LST-662 earned three battle stars for World War II service.

Photo gallery

• 
  LST-662 ready for launching ceremony
• 
  Miss Louise Leahy poses with the christening bottle
• 
  Miss Louise Leahy christens LST-662
• 
  LST-662 slides into the Ohio River
• 
  USS LST-662 afloat just after launching

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• Priolo, Gary P. (21 January 2005). "LST-662". NavSource Online. NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 12 December 2007.

External links

• LST 662 Memorial Website
• Photo gallery of LST-662 at NavSource Naval History