USS LST-979

LST-542 underway c. 1951, same model as USS LST-979
History
United States
Name	LST-979
Builder	Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number	3449[1]
Laid down	19 December 1944
Launched	23 January 1945
Sponsored by	Mrs. A. H. Balsley
Commissioned	20 February 1945
Decommissioned	5 July 1946
Stricken	28 August 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-979 Code letters: NKXQ
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 4 November 1947
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:	China Service Medal American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp

USS LST-979 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-979 was laid down on 19 December 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 23 January 1945; sponsored by Mrs. A. H. Balsley; and commissioned on 20 February 1945.^[3][2]

Following World War II, LST-979 performed occupation duty in the Far East and saw service in China until late March 1946. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 5 July 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 28 August, that same year. On 4 November 1947, the ship was sold to the Moore Drydock Co., Oakland, California, for scrapping.^[3]

• Photo gallery of USS LST-979 at NavSource Naval History