USS LST 574
From Our Contribution
 USS LST-711, USS LST-1025, USS LST-574 and an unidentified LST beached at Morotai, Halmahera Islands, Netherlands East Indies, 29 May 1945, waiting to load Royal Australian Air Force vehicles for the invasion of Lubuan, British North Borneo.
Australian War Memorial photo # OG2807. | |
 While in Republic of China service as ROCS Chung Yung LST 210 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | USS LST 574 |
| Owner | US Navy |
| Builder | Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Co, Evansvill, Indiana |
| Launched | 5 Jun 1944 |
| Completed | 26 Jun 1944 |
| In service | 26 Jun 1944 |
| Out of service | 25 May 1946 |
| In service | 1949 |
| Out of service | 1959 |
| Fate | Sold to Republic of China |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Landing Ship Tank |
| Tonnage | 4,080 tons |
| Length | 328 ft (99.97 m) |
| Beam | 50 ft (15.24 m) |
| Depth | 14 ft 1 inch (4.29 m) |
| Propulsion | twin propellers |
| Speed | 11.6 knots (21 km/h) |
| Capacity | 13 Officers and 104 enlisted crew with capacity to carry 163 troops |
Contents
Remarks
USS LST 574 operated as the flagship for the US LST Flotilla Fifteen and she participated in both the Leyte and Luzon operations in addition to the landing in North Borneo. She carried six LCVP boats and a typical load comprised One Landing Craft Tank (LCT), tanks, wheeled and tracked vehicles, artillery, construction equipment and military supplies. A ramp or elevator forward allowed vehicles access to the tank deck from the main deck. Additional capacity included sectional pontoons carried on each side of the vessel amidships, to either build Rhino Barges or use as causeways. Married to the bow ramp, the causeways would enabled payloads to be delivered ashore from deeper water or where a beachhead would not allow the vessel to be grounded forward after ballasting.
Following World War II USS LST-574 was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East from 2 Sep 1945 until 25 May 1946. She was sold 5 Nov 1947 to Bosey, in the Philippines and then on sold in March 1949 to the Republic of China who renamed her ROCS Chung Yung (LST 210). Finally disposed of in 1959.
Armament varied with availability when each vessel was outfitted. Retro-fitting was accomplished throughout WWII. The ultimate armament design for United States vessels was:
- 2 - Twin 40MM gun mounts with Mk. 51 directors
- 4 - Single 40MM gun mounts
- 12 - Single 20MM gun mounts
Battle Honours
- Leyte Campaign 5 - 18 Nov 1944
- Mindanao Island 10 Mar - 18 Nov 1944
- Luzon operation 4-18 Jan 1946