USS LST-1064

JDS Shiretoko
History
United States
Name	LST-1064 Nansemond County
Namesake	Nansemond County, Virginia
Builder	Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number	3454[1]
Laid down	9 January 1945
Launched	14 February 1945
Commissioned	12 March 1945
Decommissioned	21 August 1946
Renamed	Nansemond County, 1 July 1955
Stricken	1 October 1959
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-1064 Code letters: NKXQ
Fate	Sold to Japan, April 1961
Japan
Name	JDS Shiretoko
Namesake	Shiretoko
Acquired	1 April 1961
Commissioned	1 April 1961
Decommissioned	31 March 1976
Identification	LST-4003
Fate	Returned to the United States, 1975 Transferred to the Philippine Navy, 24 September 1976
Philippines
Name	Samar Del Norte
Namesake	The Providence of Northern Samar
Acquired	24 September 1976
Identification	Hull symbol: LT 510
Status	Fate unknown
General characteristics [2]
Class and type	LST-542-class tank landing ship Ōsumi-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)
Length	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam	50 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 Limiting 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m) Maximum navigation 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
Installed power	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,800 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
Speed	11.6 kn (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph)
Range	24,000 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	2 x LCVPs
Capacity	1,600–1,900 short tons (3,200,000–3,800,000 lb; 1,500,000–1,700,000 kg) cargo depending on mission
Troops	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement	13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament	Varied, ultimate armament 2 × twin 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns 4 × single 40 mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons
Service record
Part of:	LST Flotilla 33
Awards:	American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp

USS LST-1064 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. She was later named Nansemond County, but never saw active service under that name.

She was laid down on 9 January 1945, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 14 February 1945; and commissioned on 12 March 1945.^[3]

Following a shakedown in the Chesapeake Bay area, LST-1064 loaded a cargo of ammunition at Naval Weapons Station Earle, New Jersey, and sailed for the Pacific war front, reaching Ulithi, on 23 June 1945. As the end of the war approached, LST Group 99 advanced its operations to the Philippines, and at Leyte, LST-1064 transferred her cargo to fleet ships while loading new supplies and embarking units of an air service group destined to strengthen the occupation forces in Japan. Two voyages to Yokohama, took place between 4 October and 19 November, before arrival of orders to return home.^[4]

LST-1064 spent Christmas 1945 at Saipan; New Year's Day on the high seas, and before the end of January 1946, liberty in California. After one year of service, inactivation commenced at Astoria, Oregon, culminating on 21 August, when LST-1064 was fully decommissioned and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group.^[4][2]

She was named Nansemond County' on 1 July 1955, after Nansemond County, Virginia, then was slated for disposal on 17 September 1959.^[4]

The ship was purchased by Japan in April 1961, under the terms of the Military Assistance Program and sailed as the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force's Shiretoko. In 1975, she was returned to the United States.^[4][2]

The ship was next transferred to the Philippines on 24 September 1976, and served in the Philippine Navy as Samar Del Norte', after the province of Northern Samar.^[2]

• Photo gallery of USS LST-1064 at NavSource Naval History