USS LST‑1128 was a United States Navy tank landing ship (LST) of the LST‑542 class. Built during World War II, the vessel was employed primarily for the transport of vehicles, cargo, and troops directly onto unimproved shorelines.
Construction
- Shipyard: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, Seneca, Illinois
- Keel laid: 28 October 1944
- Launched: 20 December 1944
- Commissioned: 30 January 1945
Design and specifications (typical of the LST‑542 class)
- Displacement: 1,625 tons (light), 4,080 tons (full load)
- Length: 328 ft (100 m) overall
- Beam: 50 ft (15 m)
- Draft: 2 ft (0.6 m) forward, 8 ft (2.4 m) aft (light)
- Propulsion: Two General Motors 12‑567 diesel engines, twin shafts, 1,700 bhp
- Speed: 12 knots (22 km/h)
- Armament: Typically 2 × 40 mm guns, 6 × 20 mm guns (subject to change during service)
- Complement: Approximately 104 officers and enlisted personnel
Operational history
After commissioning, LST‑1128 underwent shakedown training in the United States before proceeding to the Pacific Theater. The ship participated in logistical and transport operations supporting the final stages of the war against Japan, including the movement of troops, vehicles, and supplies to forward bases. Following the Japanese surrender, LST‑1128 was involved in occupation duties, assisting in the redeployment of personnel and equipment throughout the western Pacific.
Post‑war service and disposition
- Decommissioned: 6 March 1946, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
- Struck from the Naval Vessel Register: 1 October 1958
- Final fate: Sold for scrapping to a private purchaser on 30 May 1960
Legacy
USS LST‑1128 did not receive a formal name, as was customary for many vessels of the LST‑542 class, and is primarily recorded in naval archives and ship registers. The ship’s service contributed to the United States’ amphibious capabilities during the concluding months of World War II and the immediate post‑war occupation period.
