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USS LST-512

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USS LST-512 in 1945.
History
United States
Name
  • LST-512 (1943–1955)
  • Burnett County (1955–1957)
NamesakeBurnett County, Wisconsin
BuilderChicago Bridge & Iron Company, Seneca, Illinois
Laid down22 July 1943
Launched10 December 1943
Commissioned8 January 1944
Decommissioned28 March 1947
RenamedBurnett County, 1 July 1955
Stricken18 February 1957
Identification
Honors and
awards		 1 × battle stars (WWII)
FateSold to Peru, 11 October 1957
Peru
NamePaita
Acquired11 October 1957
Decommissioned1983
IdentificationLT-35
FateDeleted 1983
General characteristics [1]
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

USS Burnett County (LST-512) was an LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Burnett County, Wisconsin, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

Construction

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LST-512 was laid down on 22 July 1943, at Seneca, Illinois by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company; launched on 10 December 1943; and conducted her trial runs in the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Sponsored by Mrs. Gerry DeWane, she was sent to New Orleans, Louisiana, for her final fitting out and was commissioned on 8 January 1944.

Service history

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LST-512 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Invasion of Normandy, in June, 1944.[2]

A poster from the World War II era featuring LST-512. The poster is now in the collections of the Library of Congress.

In October 1944, a severe storm in the English channel broached the ship on the beach, "breaking her back." She was towed to England, for temporary repairs, made by welding railroad iron alongside the damaged keel, then returned to the United States, where she was repaired and outfitted to do a war bond tour in the Great Lakes, Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Leaving Norfolk, Virginia, in April 1945, the ship sailed to Miami, Florida, where soil and palm trees were loaded aboard to create a Pacific Island Jungle on a portion of the tank deck. She then moved to New Orleans, and was in that city on VE Day, 8 May 1945. She then began the journey up the Mississippi River to the Illinois River, and was the first LST to make the trip up both those rivers, and was the first and only LST to return to the inland shipyard where she was built. She arrived in Chicago, Illinois, on 21 May 1945, for additional preparation for the tour. The tour commenced in Detroit, Michigan, on 12 June. Displays on the tank deck included a Pacific Island jungle complete with enemy snipers concealed in trees, a map with miniature models of LSTs making amphibious landings in the Pacific, a captured Kamikaze "Baka" plane, and film footage of the war in the Pacific. Visitors could also look into the engine rooms, and tour crew quarters. On the main deck were displays of US armor, vehicles and artillery alongside captured Japanese artillery and vehicles. In addition to the static displays, the ship gave live demonstrations of amphibious landings, which included simulated bombardment and air strikes, followed by Marines landing in LCVPs and Amtracs. Once the landing zone was "secured", the ship would approach the beach and offload additional Amtracs, tanks and vehicles. Invasions were demonstrated in several cities, including Detroit, Rochester, Buffalo, Cleveland, Toledo, Duluth, Milwaukee, and Chicago. The ship was returning from Duluth, and was passing through the Soo Locks, at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, on V-J Day. The tour concluded on 13 January 1946, in New Orleans. During the tour, over two million visitors came aboard.[citation needed]

Decommission

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On 28 March 1947, LST-512 was decommissioned and assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet. On 1 July 1955, the ship was redesignated Burnett County (LST-512), and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 18 February 1957. LST-512 received one battle star for World War II Service.[2]

Peru service

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On 11 October 1957, she was sold to Peru. Renamed BAP Paita (LT-35), and commissioned in the Peruvian Navy. Employed as a training ship for the Peruvian Naval Academy.[3][4] Later renumbered DT-141. Deleted 1983.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Navsource 2017.
  2. ^ a b DANFS.
  3. ^ Couhat 1978.
  4. ^ Janes'.
  5. ^ Gardiner 1995.

Bibliography

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  • "USS LST-512". NavSource Online. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  • "LST-512". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 10 May 2021.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • Couhat, Jean Labayle (1978). Combat Fleets of the World 1978/79. Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-282-8.
  • Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1963). Janes' Fighting Ships 1963-64. Publisher: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd.
  • Gardiner, Robert (1995). Chumbley, Steven (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Conways. ISBN 0-85177-605-1.


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