USS LST-507 facts for kids
The USS LST-507 was a special kind of ship called a tank landing ship. It was built for the United States Navy during World War II. Sadly, a German torpedo sank it in April 1944. This happened during a practice mission called Exercise Tiger.
The ship started being built on September 8, 1943, in Jeffersonville, Indiana. It was launched, meaning put into the water for the first time, on November 16, 1943. Mrs. Raymond C. Fuller was its sponsor. The USS LST-507 officially joined the Navy on January 10, 1944.
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 United States |
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| Name | USS LST-507 |
| Builder | Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Company, Jeffersonville, Indiana |
| Laid down | 8 September 1943 |
| Launched | 16 November 1943 |
| Commissioned | 10 January 1944 |
| Fate | Torpedoed and sunk, 28 April 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | LST-491-class tank landing ship |
| Displacement |
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| Length | 328 ft (100 m) |
| Beam | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Draft |
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| Propulsion | 2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders |
| Speed | 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried |
2 LCVPs |
| Troops | Approximately 130 officers and enlisted men |
| Complement | 8-10 officers, 89-100 enlisted men |
| Armament |
|
Contents
The Sinking of LST-507
Exercise Tiger was a very important practice mission. It happened off the coast of Southern England in April 1944. This exercise was a rehearsal for the D-Day landings, which would happen later.
The Convoy Attack
The LST-507 had picked up soldiers and vehicles at Brixham. It then joined a group of ships, called a convoy, near Torquay. Just after 2:00 AM, while the ships were moving in a circle in Lyme Bay, German E-boats attacked. E-boats were small, fast attack boats used by the German Navy.
The LST-507 was the first ship hit by a torpedo. This happened at 2:03 AM. The crew had to leave the ship by 2:30 AM. The ship floated partly until morning. Then, a British destroyer sank its front part by firing at it.
Loss of Life
The LST-507 was the only ship among three that caught fire. Two of the three ships sank. During Exercise Tiger, about 700 American soldiers and sailors lost their lives. Of these, 202 were from the sinking of the LST-507.
What Was On Board?
The LST-507 carried several army units. These included companies that handled trucks, supplies, chemicals, and engineering tasks. It also carried different types of vehicles. There were two small trucks, one medium truck, thirteen larger trucks, and 22 DUKWs. DUKWs were special amphibious vehicles that could travel on both land and water.
The Ship's Wreck Today
The remains of the LST-507 now rest on the seabed. It lies about 50 meters (164 feet) deep at coordinates 50°27.15′N 2°43.55′W. The wreck is a popular spot for wreck diving. This is when divers explore sunken ships.
