USS Cheboygan County (LST-533)

USS Cheboygan County (LST-533) was an LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Cheboygan County, Michigan, she has so far been the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. The name Cheboygan also means "Big Boat".

History
United States
Name:	USS LST-533
Namesake:	Cheboygan County, Michigan
Builder:	Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana
Laid down:	29 September 1943
Launched:	1 December 1943
Commissioned:	27 January 1944
Decommissioned:	1 December 1955
Renamed:	USS Cheboygan County (LST-533), 1 July 1955
Recommissioned:	18 November 1961
Decommissioned:	May 1969
Stricken:	15 September 1974
Honours and awards:	1 battle star (World War II)
Fate:	Sold for scrapping, 1 December 1975
General characteristics
Class and type:	LST-491-class tank landing ship
Displacement:	1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full
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 Loaded : 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft
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:	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement:	7 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament:	1 × single 3"/50 caliber gun mount 4 × twin 40 mm guns 12 × single 20 mm guns

LST-533 was laid down on 29 September 1943 at Evansville, Indiana, by the Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Company; launched on 1 December 1943; sponsored by Mrs. H. D. Peoples; and commissioned on 27 January 1944 with Lieutenant C. E. Hanks in command.

Service history

During World War II, LST-533 was assigned to the European Theater. She participated in the Invasion of Normandy. LST-533 departed Trebah near Falmouth[1] Cornwall, United Kingdom on 5 June 1944, transporting units of the 29th Infantry Division. Following the War, LST-533 performed occupation duty in Europe until early February 1953. She was named USS Cheboygan County (LST-533) on 1 July 1955. The ship was decommissioned on 1 December 1955, recommissioned on 18 November 1961, and performed duties for the Service Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. The tank landing ship was again decommissioned in May, 1969, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 September 1974. The ship was sold for scrapping 1 December 1975 by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS).

LST-533 earned one battle star for World War II service.

References

1. Army vehicles being loaded aboard LSTs (Landing Ship, Tank) near Falmouth, Englan...HD Stock Footage on YouTube

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

• "LST-533". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 11 May 2007.
• "LST-533 Cheboygan County". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 11 May 2007.

See also

• List of United States Navy LSTs

LST-310 (2nd LST from the right) along with other ships putting cargo ashore on one of the invasion beaches, at low tide during the first days of the Invasion of Normandy in June, 1944. Among identifiable ships present are Chase County (LST-532) (in the center of the view); LST-262 (3rd LST from right); LST-533 (partially visible at far right); and LST-524. Note the barrage balloons overhead and Army "half-track" convoy forming up on the beach.