USS LST-953

LST-953 soon after launching at Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Inc., 15 October 1944
History
Name	USS LST-953
Builder	Bethlehem Steel Company, Hingham, Massachusetts
Laid down	15 September 1944
Launched	15 October 1944
Commissioned	7 November 1944
Decommissioned	12 November 1946
Renamed	USS Marinette County (LST-953), 1 July 1955
Stricken	1 November 1958
Honours and awards	1 battle star (World War II)
Fate	Unknown
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement	1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light 3,640 long tons (3,698 t) full
Length	328 ft (100 m)
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Unloaded : 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) aft
Propulsion	2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × LCVPs
Troops	Approximately 130 officers and enlisted men
Complement	8-10 officers, 89-100 enlisted men
Armament	8 × 40 mm guns 12 × 20 mm guns

USS Marinette County (LST-953) was a LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after Marinette County, Wisconsin, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

Originally laid down as USS LST-953 on 15 September 1944 by the Bethlehem Steel Company of Hingham, Massachusetts; launched on 15 October; and commissioned on 7 November with Lieutenant T. W. Sexton in command.

History

World War II, 1944–1945

LST-953 commenced an east coast shakedown on 12 November 1944 and hastened to join LST Flotilla 21, which was already at Pearl Harbor. Three months of intensive training exercises preceded USS Marinette County's April 1945 voyage to Guam. After a series of supply missions in the southern Marianas, she arrived at Okinawa in the War Zone on 26 June. For five weeks Marine Corps troops and vehicles were shuttled around the island to facilitate mop-up operations. The day Japan announced acceptance of surrender terms, LST-953 returned to the Marianas.

Post-war activities, 1945–1946

LST-953 carried elements of the 2nd Marine Division to Nagasaki on 24 September for the occupation of Japan and men of the US Army's 24th Infantry Division to Matsuyama on 27 October. A "Magic Carpet" voyage back to San Diego concluded its duty in the Pacific.

Decommissioning

In July 1946 she transited the Panama Canal and steamed to Beaumont, Texas. Decommissioned on 12 November 1946, the ship served in the Naval Reserve Program until towed to Green Cove Springs, Florida on 17 June 1950 for berthing in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She was renamed USS Marinette County (LST-953) on 1 July 1955. On 1 November 1958, her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register.

Awards

LST-953 received one battle star for World War II service.

References

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

• "Marinette County". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships entry @ "Haze Gray & Underway". Retrieved 13 August 2007.
• "LST-953 Marinette County". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 13 August 2007.