USS LST-546

History
United States
Name	USS LST-546
Builder	Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana
Laid down	20 December 1943
Launched	16 February 1944
Sponsored by	Mrs. W. J. Barbrick
Commissioned	27 March 1944
Decommissioned	Sometime between January 1946 and March 1952
Fate	Leased to Philippines 15 July 1972; Sold outright to Philippines 1980;
Notes	In non-commissioned service with Military Sea Transportation Service and Military Sealift Command as USNS LST-546 (T-LST-546) 31 March 1952 – 15 July 1972
Philippines
Name	RPS Surigao Del Sur
Acquired	Under lease (15 July 1972); Purchased outright 1980;
Decommissioned	1988
Fate	Sold for Scrap
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-542-class LST
Displacement	1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light; 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full seagoing draft with 1,675-ton load;
Length	328 ft (100 m)
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 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft; Landing with 500-ton load: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft;
Propulsion	Two diesel engines, two shafts
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) (maximum); 9 knots (17 km/h) (economical);
Range	24,000 nautical miles (44,448 kilometerss) at 9 knots while displacing 3,960 tons
Boats & landing ; craft carried	2 x LCVPs
Capacity	1,600-1,900 tons cargo depending on mission
Troops	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement	7 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament	8 × 40 mm guns;; 12 × 20 mm guns;

USS LST-546 was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship in commission from 1944 to sometime between 1946 and 1952. From 1952 until 1972 she served in a non-commissioned status in the Military Sea Transportation Service and Military Sealift Command as USNS LST-546 (T-LST-546).

LST-546 was laid down on 20 December 1943 at Evansville, Indiana, by the Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Co; launched on 16 February 1944; sponsored by Mrs. W. J. Barbrick; and commissioned on 27 March 1944.

Occupation Duty

LST-546 saw no combat action in World War II. Following the war, LST-546 performed occupation duty in the Far East and saw service in China until early January 1946.

Decommissioning

LST-546 was decommissioned sometime between 1946 and 31 March 1952, but the exact date awaits further research.

Service as USNS LST-546

On 31 March 1952, LST-546 was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service, later the Military Sealift Command, where she served in a non-commissioned status as USNS LST-546 until 15 July 1972.

Transfer to the Philippines

On 15 July 1972, LST-546 was taken out of service and transferred under lease to the Republic of the Philippines. The Philippines purchased her outright in 1980. In the Philippine Navy, she served as BRP Surigao del Sur. Her final disposition is unknown.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
Friedman, Norman (2002). US Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-250-1.

External links