USS ''LST-556'' was a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

in commission from 1944 to 1946.

Construction and commissioning

''LST-556'' was laid down on 4 February 1944 at

Evansville Evansville is a city in, and the county seat of, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, United States. The population was 118,414 at the 2020 census, making it the state's third-most populous city after Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, the largest city in S ...

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...

, by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company. She was Ship naming and launching, launched on 7 April 1944, sponsored by Mrs. James C. Bradshaw, and Ship commissioning, commissioned on 1 May 1944.

Service history

During World War II, ''LST-556'' was assigned to the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II, Pacific Theater of Operations. She participated in the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign, capture and occupation of the southern Palau Islands in September and October 1944. She then took part in the Philippines Campaign (1944–45), Philippines campaign, participating in the Battle of Leyte, Leyte landings in October and November 1944, the Battle of Ormoc Bay#Ormoc Bay U.S. troop landings, landings at Ormoc Bay in December 1944, the Battle of Mindoro, landings at Mindoro in December 1944, and the landings at Zambales and Subic Bay in January 1945. She then participated in the Battle of Okinawa, assault on and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in April and May 1945. Following the war, ''LST-556'' returned to the United States.

Decommissioning and disposal

''LST-556'' was Ship decommissioning, decommissioned on 14 March 1946 and stricken from the Navy List on 12 April 1946. On 26 April 1948, she was sold to the Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company of Chester, Pennsylvania, Chester, Pennsylvania, for scrapping.

Honors and awards

''LST-556'' earned five battle stars for her World War II service.

References

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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive LST-556
{{DEFAULTSORT:LST-0556 LST-542-class tank landing ships World War II amphibious warfare vessels of the United States Ships built in Evansville, Indiana 1944 ships