USS LST-263

LST-263 at anchor in Naples Bay, Italy as part of the assault group, date unknown.
History
Name	USS LST-263
Builder	American Bridge Company, Ambridge, Pennsylvania
Laid down	7 September 1942
Launched	27 February 1943
Commissioned	30 June 1943
Decommissioned	29 May 1946
Honors and awards	2 battle stars (WWII)
Renamed	USS Benton County, 1 July 1955
Namesake	Benton County
Stricken	1 November 1958
Fate	Unknown
General characteristics
Class and type	Template:Sclass-
Displacement	1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full
Length	328 ft (100 m)
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Unloaded: Bow: 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) Stern: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) Loaded : Bow: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) Stern: 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
Depth	8 ft (2.4 m) forward, 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) aft (full load)
Propulsion	2 General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats & landing craft carried	Two or six LCVPs
Troops	14-16 officers, 131-147 enlisted men
Complement	7-9 officers, 104-120 enlisted men
Armament	2 × twin 40 mm gun mounts w/Mk.51 directors 4 × single 40 mm gun mounts 12 × single 20 mm gun mounts

USS Benton County (LST-263) was an Template:Sclass- built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for nine counties of the United States, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-263 was laid down on 7 September 1942 at Ambridge, Pennsylvania by the American Bridge Company; launched on 27 February 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Charles G. Baumgartner; and commissioned on 30 June 1943.

Service history

During World War II, LST-263 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in Convoy UGS-37 in April 1944 and the invasion of southern France in August and September 1944. She was decommissioned on 29 May 1946 and assigned to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. On 1 July 1955 the ship was redesignated USS Benton County (LST-263); she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 November 1958. Her final fate is unknown.

LST-263 earned two battle stars for World War II service.

References

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

• "LST-263". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
• "LST-263 Benton County". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 3 April 2007.

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