USS LST-734
Encyclopedia
USS LST-734 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship
in the United States Navy
. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.
LST-734 was laid down on 25 January 1944 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, by the Dravo Corp., Neville Island; launched
on 4 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. W. P. Spofford; and commissioned
on 22 April 1944.
During World War II
, LST-734 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the following operations:
Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands — September and October 1944
Leyte
landings—October and November 1944
Ormoc Bay
landings—December 1944
Zambales
- Subic Bay
— January 1945
Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto—April through June 1945
Following the war, LST-734 performed occupation duty in the Far East until late December 1945. She returned to the United States
and was decommissioned on 7 May 1946 and struck from the Navy list on 5 June that same year. On 24 May 1948, the ship was sold to the Bethlehem Steel Co., of Bethlehem, Pa., and renamed McWilliams. She was then transferred to the Argentine Navy
, where she acquired the designation BDT-14 (Buque Desembarco de Tanques), and was renamed ARA Cabo San Vincente. She was retired in 1969.
LST-734 earned four battle stars for World War II service.
Tank landing ship
Landing Ship, Tank was the military designation for naval vessels created during World War II to support amphibious operations by carrying significant quantities of vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto an unimproved shore....
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.
LST-734 was laid down on 25 January 1944 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, by the Dravo Corp., Neville Island; launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 4 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. W. P. Spofford; and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 22 April 1944.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, LST-734 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the following operations:
Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands — September and October 1944
Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
landings—October and November 1944
Ormoc Bay
Ormoc Bay
Ormoc Bay is a bay on the island of Leyte in the Philippines. The bay is an inlet of the Camotes Sea. The city of Ormoc lies at the head of the bay and exports rice, copra and sugar. The World War II Battle of Ormoc Bay took place from November 11 until mid-December in Ormoc Bay during late 1944....
landings—December 1944
Zambales
Zambales
Zambales is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Iba. Zambales borders Pangasinan to the north, Tarlac and Pampanga to the east, and Bataan to the south. The province lies between the South China Sea and the Zambales Mountains. With a land area of...
- Subic Bay
Subic Bay
Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S...
— January 1945
Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto—April through June 1945
Following the war, LST-734 performed occupation duty in the Far East until late December 1945. She returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and was decommissioned on 7 May 1946 and struck from the Navy list on 5 June that same year. On 24 May 1948, the ship was sold to the Bethlehem Steel Co., of Bethlehem, Pa., and renamed McWilliams. She was then transferred to the Argentine Navy
Argentine Navy
The Navy of the Argentine Republic or Armada of the Argentine Republic is the navy of Argentina. It is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, together with the Army and the Air Force....
, where she acquired the designation BDT-14 (Buque Desembarco de Tanques), and was renamed ARA Cabo San Vincente. She was retired in 1969.
LST-734 earned four battle stars for World War II service.