USS LST-972

History
United States
Name	LST-972
Builder	Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number	3442[1]
Laid down	21 November 1944
Launched	22 December 1944
Commissioned	22 January 1945
Decommissioned	25 June 1946
Stricken	15 August 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-972 Code letters: NKKK
Fate	Sold by MARAD for operation, 29 May 1949
United States
Name	Tucupita
Owner	Texas Petro Company
Acquired	29 May 1949
Fate	Converted to a dumb drilling barge
General characteristics [2]
Class and type	LST-542-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
Awards:	American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp

USS LST-972 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-972 was laid down on 21 November 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 22 December 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Margaret Avery; and commissioned on 22 January 1945.^[3][2]

During World War II, LST-972 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in May and June 1945.^[3]

Following World War II, LST-972 performed occupation duty in the Far East until early February 1946. She was decommissioned on 25 June 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 15 August, that same year. On 29 May 1947, the ship was transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for disposal.^[3] On 29 May 1949, she was sold by MARAD to the Texas Petro Company and renamed Tucupita.^[2]

• Photo gallery of USS LST-972 at NavSource Naval History