USS LST-996

History
United States
Name:	USS LST-999
Laid down:	[27 March 1944
Launched:	2 May 1944
Commissioned:	23 May 1944
Decommissioned:	22 April 1947
Fate:	Sold, 12 October 1947
Stricken:	8 May 1946
Honours and awards:	two battle stars
General characteristics
Class and type:	LST-542-class LST
Displacement:	1,490 tons (light); 4,080 tons (full load of 2,100 tons)
Length:	328 ft (100 m)
Beam:	50 ft (15 m)
Draft:	8 ft (2.4 m) forward; 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) aft (full load)
Propulsion:	Two diesel engines, two shafts
Speed:	10.8 knots (20 km/h) (max); 9 knots (17 km/h) (econ)
Complement:	7 officers, 204 enlisted
Armament:	8 × 40 mm guns; 12 × 20 mm guns

USS LST-996 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.

LST-996 was laid down on 27 March 1944 at the Boston Navy Yard; launched on 2 May 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Ursula A. Hall; and commissioned on 23 May 1944, Ens. C. A. Leach, Jr., USNR, in command.

During World War II, LST-996 was assigned to the European theater and participated in the Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France, in August and September 1944. Transferred to the Asiatic-Pacific theater, she engaged in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in April through June 1945. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 22 April 1946 and struck from the Navy list on 8 May that same year. On 12 October 1947, the ship was sold to the Hugo Neu Steel Products Corp., New York City, N.Y., for scrapping.

LST-996 earned two battle stars for World War II service.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

• Photo gallery of LST-996 at NavSource Naval History