USS Atchison County (LST-60)

The USS "Atchison County" (LST-60) was an sclass|LST-1|tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for counties in Kansas and Missouri established in honor of David Rice Atchison, a mid-19th century Democratic United States Senator from Missouri, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-60 was laid down on 14 November 1943 at Neville Island, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by the Dravo Corporation; launched on 24 December; sponsored by Mrs. Daniel W. Mack; and placed in reduced commission on 24 January 1944 so that she might descend the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers under her own power to New Orleans where she was placed in full commission on 7 February with Lieutenant Carl E. Ellis in command. The new tank landing ship held shakedown training off Panama City, Florida from 19 February to 4 March; then returned to New Orleans for repairs and loading. She next moved to New York City where she took additional cargo on board for transportation to the United Kingdom. After crossing the Atlantic in convoy, LST-60 safely arrived in Falmouth, England on 2 May. From there, she proceeded to Southend-on-Sea to load for the Normandy invasion. LST-60 sailed from Southend on 5 June with Commander, Group 3, embarked for the initial assault. Following successful unloading of troops and cargo at Normandy the next day, the ship commenced crosschannel operations, making 53 trips to the French mainland without mishap before being ordered back to the United States for overhaul. Escorting a convoy en route, LST-60 safely arrived in Norfolk on 1 July 1945 and continued on to New Orleans for repairs. Originally scheduled to join the Pacific Fleet following overhaul, LST-60 received new orders with the end of the War on 15 August. Instead, she proceeded to Green Cove Springs, Florida for inactivation and was placed out of commission, in reserve, on 27 June 1946. The name USS "Atchison County" was assigned to LST-60 on 1 July 1955. In 1958, the tank landing ship was declared unfit for further naval service. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 November 1958; her final fate is unknown. LST-60 earned one battle star for World War II service.

References

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* cite web|title=LST-60 "Atchison County"|work=Amphibious Photo Archive
url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160060.htm|accessdate=April 2|accessyear=2007LST-60 was destroyed in the nuclear bomb tests conducted at the Bikini Atoll islands in the South Pacific in 1946 during test Baker. A nuclear bomb was suspended below her in the lagoon at Bikini Atoll and detonated. It is unlikely that there is anything left of her.

ee also

* List of United States Navy LSTs