USS Bradley County (LST-400)

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Career
LST-400 at anchor, date and location unknown.
Laid down:	28 September 1942
Launched:	23 November 1942
Commissioned:	7 January 1943
Decommissioned:	Unknown
Fate:	Sold to Taiwan
Struck:	25 April 1960
General characteristics
Displacement:	1,625 tons (light), 4,080 tons (full)
Length:	328 ft 0 in
Beam:	50 ft 0 in
Draft:	Bow 2'-4", stern 7'-6" (unloaded) bow 8'-2", stern 14'-1" (unloaded)
Propulsion:	Two General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed:	12 knots
Depth:	8' fwd; 14'-4" aft (full load)
Complement:	7-9 officers, 104-120 enlisted men
Troop capacity:	14-16 officers, 131-147 enlisted men
Boats:	Two or six LCVPs
Armament:	Two twin 40MM gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors, four single 40MM gun mounts, twelve single 20MM gun mounts

The USS Bradley County (LST-400) was an LST-1-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for counties in Arkansas and Tennessee, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-400 was laid down on 28 September 1942 at the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company; launched on 23 November 1942; sponsored by Miss Judith Flaxington; and commissioned on 7 January 1943. During World War II, LST-400 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Sicilian occupation in July, 1943 and the Invasion of Normandy in June, 1944. Following the War, LST-400 was redesignated USS Bradley County (LST-400) on 1 July 1955 The tank landing ship was transferred to Taiwan as a grant in aid in September, 1958 where she served as Chung Suo (LST-217). She was struck from the Navy Vessel Register on 25 April 1960. Her final fate is unknown.

LST-400 earned two battle stars for World War II service.

[edit] References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

LST-400. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved on April 6, 2007.
LST-400 Bradley County. Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved on April 6, 2007.