Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

USS LST 507

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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

USS LST-507 wwwnavsourceorgarchives10161016050701jpg

Builder
  
Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Company, Jeffersonville, Indiana

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.

References

USS LST-507 Wikipedia