USS LST-594

USS LST-594 was an LST-542 class tank landing ship, built for the United States Navy during World War II.

History
LST-594 was laid down on July 1, 1944 at Evansville, Indiana by the Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Co. It was launched on August 12, 1944, and was sponsored by Mrs. Everett B. Wiley. It was commissioned September 6, 1944, with Lt. Edgar Y. M. Henderson, USNR, in command. During World War II, LST-594 received some awards, citations, and campaign ribbons for it's service. Those awards were the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal,Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp), and the Philippines Liberation Medal.

Following the end of World War II, LST-594 performed occupation duty in the Far East. It also serviced in China until mid-February 1946. The ship was decommissioned on February 21, 1946, and was struck from the United States Navy list on March 5, 1947. On June 4 1947, LST-594 was then sold to the government of South Korea. The final fate of LST-594 is unknown.

Specifications for LST-594: (as reported by Office of Naval Intelligence-1945) -Displacement: 1,625 t.(lt), 4,080 t.(fl) (sea-going draft w/1675 ton load) -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) -Speed: 12 kts. (maximum) -Endurance: 24,000 miles @ 9kts. while displacing 3960 tons -Complement: 7 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,Propulsion two General Motors 12-567, 900hp diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders