Laid down on 10 April 1944 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by the Dravo Corporation, Neville Island; launched on 20 May 1944; sponsored by Mrs. George W. Scott; and commissioned on 23 June 1944.
Service history
During World War II, LST 749 was assigned to the Pacific theater and participated in the Leyte landings in October and November 1944. On the way to Mindoro, Philippines, in the Sulu Sea, she was struck by a Japanesekamikaze on 21 December 1944. The plane crashed into the bridge of the LST, instantly killing many of the navy personnel on board. The LST floundered and a first attempt at rescue was abandoned for fear of an explosion. Eventually many of the survivors were rescued by the crew of the destroyer USS Converse(DD-509). The ship was struck from the Navy list on 19 January 1945.
LST-749 earned one battle star for World War II service.
Edward A. Ferguson WWII correspondence, digital collection at Utah State University
January 07, 2023
class, tank, landing, ship, united, states, navy, like, many, class, named, properly, referred, hull, designation, historyunited, statesnamebuilderdravo, corporation, neville, island, pittsburghlaid, down10, april, 1944launched20, 1944commissioned23, june, 194. USS LST 749 was an LST 542 class tank landing ship in the United States Navy Like many of her class she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation HistoryUnited StatesNameUSS LST 749BuilderDravo Corporation Neville Island PittsburghLaid down10 April 1944Launched20 May 1944Commissioned23 June 1944Stricken19 January 1945Honours andawards1 battle star World War II FateSunk in kamikaze attack 21 December 1944General characteristicsClass and typeLST 542 class tank landing shipDisplacement1 625 long tons 1 651 t light 4 080 long tons 4 145 t fullLength328 ft 100 m Beam50 ft 15 m DraftUnloaded 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 aftPropulsion2 General Motors 12 567 diesel engines two shafts twin ruddersSpeed12 knots 22 km h 14 mph Boats amp landing craft carried4 LCVPsTroops16 officers 147 enlisted menComplement7 officers 104 enlisted menArmament2 twin 40 mm gun mounts w Mk 51 directors 4 single 40 mm gun mounts 12 single 20 mm gun mountsLaid down on 10 April 1944 at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania by the Dravo Corporation Neville Island launched on 20 May 1944 sponsored by Mrs George W Scott and commissioned on 23 June 1944 Service history EditDuring World War II LST 749 was assigned to the Pacific theater and participated in the Leyte landings in October and November 1944 On the way to Mindoro Philippines in the Sulu Sea she was struck by a Japanese kamikaze on 21 December 1944 The plane crashed into the bridge of the LST instantly killing many of the navy personnel on board The LST floundered and a first attempt at rescue was abandoned for fear of an explosion Eventually many of the survivors were rescued by the crew of the destroyer USS Converse DD 509 The ship was struck from the Navy list on 19 January 1945 LST 749 earned one battle star for World War II service References EditNaval Historical Center LST 749 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Retrieved 2007 09 13 LST 749 Amphibious Photo Archive Retrieved 2007 09 13 External links EditEdward A Ferguson WWII correspondence digital collection at Utah State University Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS LST 749 amp oldid 1122050361, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
