Name USS Buchanan County Commissioned 18 December 1943 Struck 11 August 1955 Launched 19 October 1943 Beam 15 m | Laid down 21 July 1943 Decommissioned 22 January 1946 Construction started 21 July 1943 Length 100 m | |
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Namesake Buchanan County, Iowa, Missouri, and Virginia | ||
USS LST-504 was an LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Renamed USS Buchanan County (LST-504) for counties in Iowa, Missouri, and Virginia on 1 July 1955, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
LST-504 was laid down on 21 July 1943 at Jeffersonville, Indiana by the Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Company; launched on 19 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. W. J. Griffin; and commissioned on 18 December 1943. During World War II, LST-504 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Invasion of Normandy in June, 1944 and the invasion of southern France in August and September, 1944. She was then assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and took part in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in April and June, 1945. Following the War, LST-504 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-January, 1946.She was decommissioned on 15 January 1946 in Tokyo Bay. The decommissioning ceremony took place on the main deck of the 504 at 5 minutes after 4 o'clock (1605 hours). At that time 19 officers and 30 enlisted men of the Japanese navy came aboard and the 504 was given to the Japanese. .
LST-504 earned three battle stars for World War II service.