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USS LST-849

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History
United States
NameUSS Johnson County (LST-849)
Laid down10 November 1944
Launched30 December 1944
Commissioned16 January 1945
Decommissioned13 June 1946
FateTransferred to Korea in January 1959
Honors and
awards		one battle star
Republic of Korea Naval JackSouth Korea
NameWi Bong
Acquired22 December 1958
Decommissioned31 December 2006
FateEducational Display, Jinpo Maritime Park, Gunsan, ROK
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and typeLST-542-class LST
Displacement
  • 1,490 tons (light);
  • 4,080 tons (full load of 2,100 tons)
Length328 ft (100 m)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft
  • 8 ft (2.4 m) forward;
  • 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) aft (full load)
PropulsionTwo diesel engines, two shafts
Speed
  • 10.8 knots (20 km/h) (max);
  • 9 knots (17 km/h) (econ)
Complement7 officers, 204 enlisted
Armament

USS LST-849 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. Late in her U.S. Navy career, she was renamed Johnson County (LST-849)—after counties in Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming—but never saw active service under that name.

LST-849 was laid down on 10 November 1944 at Ambridge, Pennsylvania, by the American Bridge Co.; launched on 30 December 1944; sponsored by Mrs. William B. Hetzel; and commissioned on 16 January 1945, Lt. Emil C. Hetzel in command.

During World War II, LST-849 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in May and June 1945. Following the war, LST-849 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-September 1945. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 13 June 1946 and assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet. While berthed in the Columbia River with the Pacific Reserve Fleet, she was named Johnson County 1 July 1955, after counties in 12 states.

Under provisions of the Military Assistance Program, she was transferred to the Republic of Korea January 1959, and served the ROK navy as Wi Bong (LST-812).

LST-849 earned one battle star for World War II service.[1][2]

ROKS Wi Bong

The ship was transferred to the Republic of Korea on 22 December 1958, and renamed ROKS Wi Bong (LST-849).[3] She was later redesignated LST-676.

The ship participated in 16 combat missions in Vietnam.

On December 31, 2006 LST-676 was retired from active service in the Korean Navy.

On December 25, 2007 Gunsan city signed a contract with the Korean Navy to move the ship to Jinpo Maritime Park to serve as an educational landmark.

References

Public Domain This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entries can be found [www.history.navy.mil/danfs/j4/johnson_county.htm here] and here.

  1. ^ "LST-849". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval Historical Center. 14 November 2008.
  2. ^ "USS Johnson County". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval Historical Center. 14 November 2008.
  3. ^ According to globalsecurity.org, the Korean name of the ship is Weebong.


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