USS Calaveras County (LST-516)

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Career
LST-516 underway off Point Loma, San Diego, after refit in 1952.
Laid down:	6 September 1943
Launched:	7 January 1944
Commissioned:	31 January 1944
Decommissioned:	1 October 1958
Fate:	Unknown
Struck:	1 October 1958
General characteristics
Displacement:	1,625 tons (light), 3,640 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:	8-10 officers, 89-100 enlisted men
Troop capacity:	Approximately 130 officers and enlisted
Boats:	Two LCVPs
Armament:	One single 3"/50 gun mount., eight 40mm guns, twelve 20mm guns

The USS Calaveras County (LST-516) was an LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Calaveras County, California, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-516 was laid down on 6 September 1943 at Seneca, Illinois, by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company; launched on 7 January 1944; sponsored by Mrs. R. R. Hansen; and commissioned on 31 January 1944 with Lieutenant M. J. Miller in command. During World War II, LST-516 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Invasion of Normandy in June, 1944. On 28 February 1947 she was decommissioned and, as a result of hostilities in Korea, recommissioned on 22 September 1950. She served in the Korean War and took part in the following campaigns: U.N. Summer-Fall Offensive (November, 1951); Second Korean Winter (January and February, 1952); Third Korean Winter (December, 1952 and January through April, 1953); Korea, Summer 1953 (June through July, 1953). Immediately following the Korean War, she continued to serve in the Korean area until 20 September 1953. Following her Korean service, she returned to the United States. She was named USS Calaveras County (LST-516) on July 1, 1955. On 21 December 1955 the ship was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 October 1958. Her final fate is unknown.

LST-516 received one battle star for World War II service and four battle stars for Korean War service.

[edit] References

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

LST-516. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved on April 7, 2007.
LST-516 Calaveras County. Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved on April 7, 2007.