LST-926 at Chinese Navy Museum on 16 July 2005
History
United States
Name	LST-1008
Builder	Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy
Laid down	16 February 1944
Launched	23 March 1944
Commissioned	18 April 1944
Decommissioned	4 May 1946
Stricken	19 June 1946
Fate	Transferred to Republic of China Navy, 19 June 1946
Republic of China
Acquired	19 June 1946
Renamed	from Wanling and Zhong 112
Fate	Seized by People's Liberation Army Navy, 1950
People's Republic of China
Name	Dabie Shan (大别山)
Namesake	Dabie Shan
Acquired	1950
Decommissioned	14 April 1999
Identification	Pennant number: LST-502/926
Fate	Scrapped, ca.2005-2007
General characteristics
Class & 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	7 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
Aviation facilities	Deck as helipad

USS LST-1008 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was transferred to Republic of China and then taken over by People's Liberation Army and renamed Dabie Shan.

Construction and commissioning

LST-1008 was laid down on 16 February 1944 at Bethlehem Steel Company, Quincy, Massachusetts. Launched on 23 March 1944 and commissioned on 18 April 1944.

Construction and career

During World War II, LST-1008 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East and later Asiatic-Pacific theater. While in Europe, she participated in the assault of Normandy. From 8 to 9 June was disembarked at Easy White Beach. After the Normandy landing, she was assigned to the Far East as Occupation and China service from 1945 to 1946. On 24 May 1945, USS LCT-614 was hoisted aboard LST-1008 in Norfolk Navy Yard and on 16 September 1945, LCT-614 was launched from LST-1008 in Jinsen, Korea as part of Flotilla 15, Group 115.^[1]

She was decommissioned on 4 May 1946 and stricken on 19 June 1946. US State Department then transferred her to the Chinese National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and later China Merchants Steam Navigation Company, serving in merchant service under the name Wanling and Zhong 112. In 1950, the People's Liberation Army found her abandoned in Shanghai. She was recommissioned into People's Liberation Army Navy after repair.^[2]

She sat at the Chinese Navy Museum as a museum ship in Qingdao, China from 1999 to 2005.^[3] From 2005 to 2007, she was towed for dismantling.

LST-1008 earned one battle star for World War II service.^[4]

References