USS LST-287

USS LST-287
File:330-PS-6135-3 (17233455751).jpg USS T-LST-287 on 25 August 1953
Career (United States)
Name:	LST-287
Builder:	American Bridge Co., Ambridge
Laid down:	30 August 1943
Launched:	31 October 1943
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Agnes Johnston
Commissioned:	15 December 1943
Decommissioned:	13 June 1946
Reclassified:	T-LST-287, 29 May 1951
Identification:	Callsign: NGCA
Honors and awards:	See Awards
Fate:	Transferred to Philippines, 13 September 1976
Career (Philippines)
Name:	Samar Oriental
Namesake:	Samar Oriental
Acquired:	13 September 1976
Commissioned:	13 September 1976
Decommissioned:	1992
Struck:	1992
Identification:	Hull number: LT-502
Fate:	Scrapped
General characteristics
Class & type:	LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement:	1,625 long tons (1,651 t) (light) 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) (full (seagoing draft with 1,675 short tons (1,520 t) load) 2,366 long tons (2,404 t) (beaching)
Length:	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam:	50 ft (15 m)
Draft:	Unloaded: 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward; 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft Landing with 500 short tons (450 t) load: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power:	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion:	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
Speed:	12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range:	24,000 nmi (44,000 km; 28,000 mi) at 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) while displacing 3,960 long tons (4,024 t)
Boats & landing craft carried:	2 x LCVPs
Capacity:	1,600–1,900 st (22,000–27,000 lb; 10,000–12,000 kg) cargo depending on mission
Troops:	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement:	13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament:	Varied, ultimate armament 2 × twin 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns 4 × single 40mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons

USS LST-287 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was transferred to the Philippine Navy as RPS Samar Oriental (LT-502).

Construction and career

LST-287 was laid down on 30 August 1943 at American Bridge Co., Ambridge, Pennsylvania. Launched on 31 October 1943 and commissioned on 15 December 1943, Lt. Frank P. Eldredge in command.

Service in the United States Navy

During World War II, LST-287 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East theater. She then participated in the Invasion of Normandy from 6 to 25 June 1944. She was decommissioned on 13 June 1946.

Transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 29 May 1951, and placed in service as USNS T-LST-287.

LST-287 was struck from the Navy Register and transferred to the Philippines.

Service in the Philippine Navy

She was acquired by the Philippine Navy on 13 September 1976 and renamed RPS Samar Oriental (LT-502). On 19 April 1974, a 20 day marathon on bicycles named Tour of Luzon-Visayas with 200 participants boarded the ship at South Harbor in order to continue the marathon in Tolosa. BRP Samar Oriental was moored at Poro Point, La Union, Luzon Island on 2 September 1991. In 1992, BRP Ilocos Norte (LT-98), BRP Samar Oriental (LT-502), and BRP Tawi-Tawi (LT-512) were stricken.

Awards

LST-287 have earned the following awards:

• American Campaign Medal
• Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1 battle star)
• World War II Victory Medal

Sources

• United States. Dept. of the Treasury (1962). Treasury Decisions Under the Customs, Internal Revenue, Industrial Alcohol, Narcotic and Other Laws, Volume 97. U.S. Government Printing Office. https://books.google.com/books?id=BnfPAAAAMAAJ. 
• Moore, Capt. John (1984). Jane's Fighting Ships 1984-85. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710607959. 
• Saunders, Stephen (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710628886. 
• Fairplay International Shipping Journal Volume 222. United Kingdom: Fairplay Publishing Limited. 1967. https://www.google.co.id/books/edition/Fairplay_International_Shipping_Journal/4b8eAQAAMAAJ.