USS Linn County (LST-900)

USS "Linn County" (LST-900) was an "LST-542"-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. Unlike many of her class, which received only numbers and were disposed of after World War II, she survived long enough to be named. On 1 July 1955, all LSTs still in commission were named for US counties or parishes; "LST-900" was given the name "Linn County", after counties in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Oregon.

"LST-900" was laid down on 1 October 1944 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by the Dravo Corp.; launched on 9 December 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Felix R. Konkle; and commissioned on 6 January 1945, Lieutenant Neil A. McClaflin in command.

After completing shakedown off Florida she loaded cargo at New Orleans and sailed for the west coast on 9 February. Arriving at San Francisco on 6 March, she departed 2 days later for Pearl Harbor where she arrived the 17th and began amphibious landing exercises. She cleared Hawaii 24 May; steamed in convoy via Eniwetok, Guam, and Saipan; and reached Okinawa, Ryukyus, 26 June. During the next 2 weeks she discharged cargo and ammunition at Okinawa and Kerama Retto, and, after embarking medical officers and corpsmen, sailed for the Marianas 10 July. She arrived Guam the 16th, thence steamed to Saipan to transport Seabees to the Ryukyus. She debarked her passengers at Ie Shima on 7 August and departed for Saipan 2 days before the end of hostilities.

Between 3 and 9 September "LST-900" steamed from Saipan to Leyte Gulf, Philippines. On the 19th she reached Batangas, Luzon and after embarking Army engineers departed in convoy for Japan 29 September. She reached Tokyo Bay 17 October and discharged occupation troops at Yokohama the next day. On the 28th she departed for the Marianas where she embarked troops at Guam for transfer to the United States. Steaming via Pearl Harbor, she reached Seattle, Washington, 15 December.

"LST-900" operated along the west coast during the next few months and decommissioned 15 May 1946. While berthed in the Columbia River with ships of the Pacific Reserve Fleet, she was named "Linn County" on 1 July 1955.

"Linn County" was leased to the Republic of Korea on 2 December 1958, stricken from the U.S. Naval Vessel Register on 8 February 1959, and sold to Korea on 15 November 1974.

"LST-900" earned one battle star for World War II service.

ROKS "Buk Han"

The ship was transferred to the Republic of Korea on 2 December 1958, and renamed ROKS "Buk Han" (LST-815). [According to [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/unbong.htm globalsecurity.org] , the Korean name of the ship is "Bukhanbong".] She was later redesignated LST-678.She retired on 29 Dec 2005.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l7/linn_county.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Linn County"]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l26/lst-900.htm history.navy.mil: USS "LST-900"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160900.htm navsource.org: USS "Linn County"]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/unbong.htm globalsecurity.org: LST 678 Buk Han LST]