Name USS LST-507 Commissioned 10 January 1944 Launched 16 November 1943 | Laid down 8 September 1943 Construction started 8 September 1943 Length 100 m | |
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Fate Torpedoed and sunk, 28 April 1944 Class and type LST-491-class tank landing ship | ||
USS LST-507 a LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was sunk by a German torpedo attack in April 1944 during Exercise Tiger.
Contents
LST-507 was laid down on 8 September 1943 at Jeffersonville, Indiana, by the Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Co.; launched on 16 November 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Raymond C. Fuller; and commissioned on 10 January 1944.
Sinking
"Exercise Tiger" was a pre-invasion exercise carried out off the coast of Southern England in April 1944. After having taken on its complement of personnel and vehicles at Brixham, the LST joined the end of a convoy at Torquay.
Just after 0200, whilst circling Lyme Bay, the convoy was attacked by a group of German E-boats. LST-507 was the first to be hit by a torpedo at 0203, and had to be abandoned by 0230. It partially floated till dawn and then the bow was sunk by fire from a British destroyer. It was the only LST (out of the three hit, of which two sank) to go up in flames. 424 US army and navy personnel were killed on board, out of the total of 749 US personnel who died during Exercise Tiger.
Units on board
The army units were: 478th Amphibious Truck Company, 557th Quartermaster Railhead Company, 33rd Chemical Company, 440th Engineer Company, 1605th Engineer Map Depot Detachment, 175th Signal Repair Company, 3206th Quartermaster Service Company and 3891st Quartermaster Truck Company. There were two 1/4 ton trucks, one 3/4 ton truck, thirteen 2½ ton trucks, and 22 DUKWs.
Wreck
The wreck of the LST now lies at a depth of 50 meters at 50°27.15′N 2°43.55′W. It is popular as a location for wreck diving.