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USS

LST511

The Chicago Bridge & Iron Company put down the foundation for the USS LST511 on July 22nd, 1943, in Seneca, Ill. She was launched on November 30th, 1943, and Mrs. James V. Gaynor was the sponsor. The ship was commissioned on January 3rd, 1944, with Lieutenant John Yacevich serving as the commander.

In the course of World War II, the LST511 was used in the European theatre of operations and took part in the invasion of Normandy in the month of June 1944.

As soon as she arrived back in the United States, she was decommissioned on December 19th, 1945, and then on January 8th, 1946, she was finally removed from the Navy list.

Anglo-Canadian Pulp & Paper Mills, located in Quebec, Canada, purchased the ship on February 17th, 1948, with the intention of putting her into business.

A single battle star was awarded to LST-511 for its service during World War II.

Specifications:
  • Displacement:
    1,625 t.(lt)
    4,080 t.(fl) (sea-going draft w/1675 ton load)
    2,366 t. (beaching displacement)
  • 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)
    limitin:g 11′ 2″
    maximum navigation: 14′ 1″
  • Speed: 11.6 kts. (trial)
  • Endurance: 24,000 miles @ 9kts. while displacing 3960 tons
  • Complement:
    13 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:
    1. 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
    2. 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 x Twin 40MM gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors
    4 x Single 40MM gun mounts
    12 x single 20MM gun mounts
  • Fuel Capacity: Diesel 4,300 Bbls
  • Propulsion:
    two General Motors 12-567A, 900hp Diesel engines
    single Falk Main Reduction Gears
    three Diesel-drive 100Kw 230V D.C. Ship’s Service Generators
    two propellers, 1,700shp
    twin rudders
History
LST-491 Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid Down: 22nd July 1943, at Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., Seneca, IL.
  • Launched: 30 November 1943.
  • Commissioned: USS LST511, 3 January 1944, LT. John Yacevich in command.
  • During World War II: USS LST511 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the Invasion of Normandy, from 6th to 25th June 1944.
  • Action:
  • Decommissioned: 19th December, 1945.
  • Deregistered: Struck from the Naval Register, 8th January, 1946.
  • Commendations: USS LST-511 earned one battle star for World War II service.
  • Merchant Service:
    1. Sold in 1947 to the St. Charles Transportation Co., Ltd. of Quebec, Province of Quebec, Canada and named MV Guy Bartholomew
    2. Sold in 1948 to Corporation Maritime Rive-Nord, Ltd. of Quebec
    3. Sold in 1969 to Agence Maritime, Inc. of Quebec and renamed MV Fort Kent
    4. Sold in 1979 to Logisec Navigation, Inc. of Quebec
    5. Final Disposition, fate unknown
Commanding Officer(s)
  • LT. Yacevich, John
    3rd January, 1944 – 10th June, 1945
  • LT. McAuley Jr., John Joseph
    10th June, 1945 – 29th October, 1945
  • LT. Jackson, Lyle W.
    29th October, 1945 – 19th December, 1945

Images

Gallery
CREDIT(S): Data Source and images courtesy of NavSource Naval History, the U.S. National Archives, and the US Navy.