LST-491 Class Tank Landing Ship

Laid down, 19 October 1943, at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville, IN.

Launched, 21 December 1943

Commissioned USS LST-535, 4 February 1944. LT. Martin L. Olson, USNR, in command

During World War II USS LST-535 was first assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

While assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater USS LST-535, LT. M. L. Olson USNR in command, came under the command of;

LST Flotilla Thirty-Six, CAPT. D. F. J. Shea USN (23)

LST Group One Hundred Six, CDR. O. P Thomas Jr., USN (26);

LST Division Two Hundred-Twelve and participating in the following campaigns:

Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign

Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944 Okinawa Gunto operation

Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 30 May to 10 June 1945

Following World War II USS LST-535 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East for the following periods;

Navy Occupation Service Medal

10 to 28 September 1945

1 to 14 January 1946

Decommissioned, 14 January 1946 and assigned to Commander Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE) Shipping Control Authority for Japan (SCAJAP), redesignated Q014

Transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 31 March 1952 and placed in service by MSTS as USNS T-LST-535

Placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register, 1 October 1958

USS LST-535 earned two battle stars for World War II service

Transferred to the Republic of China, 1 October 1958, named ROCS Chung Wan (LST-229)

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:

Displacement

1,625 t.(lt)

4,080 t.(fl) (sea-going draft w/1675 ton load)

2,366 t.

Length 328' o.a.

Beam 50'

Draft

light 2' 4" fwd, 7' 6" aft

sea-going 8' 3" fwd, 14' 1" aft

landing 3' 11" fwd, 9' 10" aft (landing w/500 ton load)

limiting 11' 2"

maximum navigation 14' 1"

Speed 11.6 kts. (trial)

Endurance 24,000 miles @ 9kts. while displacing 3960 tons

Complement

13 officers

104 enlisted

Troop Accommodations

16 officers

147 enlisted

Boats 2 LCVP

Cargo Capacity (varied with mission - payloads between 1600 and 1900 tons)

Typical loads

One Landing Craft Tank (LCT), tanks, wheeled and tracked vehicles, artillery, construction equipment and military supplies. A ramp or elevator forward allowed vehicles access to tank deck from main deck

Additional capacity included sectional pontoons carried on each side of vessel amidships, to either build Rhino Barges or use as causeways. Married to the bow ramp, the causeways would enabled payloads to be delivered ashore from deeper water or where a beachhead would not allow the vessel to be grounded forward after ballasting

Armament (varied with availability when each vessel was outfitted. Retro-fitting was accomplished throughout WWII. The ultimate armament design for United States vessels was

2 - Twin 40MM gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors

4 - Single 40MM gun mounts

12 single 20MM gun mounts

Fuel Capacity

Diesel 4,300 Bbls

Propulsion

two General Motors 12-567A, 900hp Diesel engines

single Falk Main Reduction Gears

three Diesel-drive 100Kw 230V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

two propellers, 1,700shp

twin rudders