History
United States
Name	LST-970
Builder	Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number	3440[1]
Laid down	14 November 1944
Launched	16 December 1944
Commissioned	13 January 1945
Decommissioned	10 July 1946
Stricken	15 August 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-970 Code letters: NKIT
Honors and awards	1 × battle star
Fate	Sold for operations, 25 April 1947
United States
Name	New York
Owner	American Overseas Chartering Trailerships, Inc.
Route	New York City to Albany, New York
Acquired	25 April 1947
Out of service	September 1955
Fate	Confiscated by US Marshals, September 1955
United States
Name	New York
Owner	McAllister Brothers
Acquired	September 1955
Fate	Sold, March 1957
United States
Name	Old Point Comfort
Owner	Chesapeake Bay Ferry District
Acquired	March 1957
Fate	Sold
United States
Name	Old Point Comfort
Owner	Chesapeake Bridge and Tunnel District
Fate	Sold, 16 December 1964
Uruguay
Name	Atlantico
Owner	Navegacion, Atlantida, S.A.
Route	Buenos Aires, Argentina and Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
Acquired	16 December 1964
Identification	IMO number: 5262081
Fate	Abandoned c. 1993–1994
General characteristics [2]
Class and type	LST-542-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 3 in (2.51 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 Limiting 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m) Maximum navigation 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
Installed power	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,800 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
Speed	11.6 kn (21.5 km/h; 13.3 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 short tons (3,200,000–3,800,000 lb; 1,500,000–1,700,000 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 40 mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons
Service record
Part of:	LST Flotilla 31
Operations:	Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (21 May–30 June 1945)
Awards:	China Service Medal American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp

USS LST-970 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

Construction

LST-970 was laid down on 14 November 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 16 December 1944; sponsored by Major Anne B. Cowan, WAC; and commissioned on 13 January 1945.^[3][2]

Service history

During World War II, LST-970 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in May and June 1945.^[3]

Following the war, she performed occupation duty in the Far East and saw service in China until late February. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 10 July 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 15 August, that same year. On 25 April 1947, the ship was sold to Trailerships, Inc., for operation.^[3]

Awards

LST-970 earned one battle star for World War II service.^[3]

Notable crew

Character actor Harry Dean Stanton, famous for roles in films like Alien and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, was assigned to the 970 for the whole of his wartime service.^[4]

Notes

Bibliography

External links

• Photo gallery of USS LST-970 at NavSource Naval History

33°19′48″S 60°12′32″W / 33.329885°S 60.208885°W / -33.329885; -60.208885