USS Dukes County (LST-735)

The USS "Dukes County" (LST-735) was an sclass|LST-542|tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after Dukes County, Massachusetts, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-735 was laid down on 30 January 1944 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by the Dravo Corporation of Neville Island; launched on 11 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. G. W. Fearnside; and commissioned on 26 April 1944 at New Orleans, Louisiana with Lieutenant Theodore F. Aldous in command. During World War II, LST-735 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the following operations: Capture and occupation of Saipan (August, 1944); Lingayen Gulf landing (January, 1945); Zambales-Subic Bay (January, 1945); and the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (March through June, 1945). LST-735 was decommissioned in March, 1946 and reactivated on 3 November 1950 when she performed service during the Korean War and after with Commander Mine Forces, Pacific.

Assigned as a minesweeper support ship in July, 1951, she made a Korean War deployment in 1952-53 and had additional Western Pacific tours in 1953-54 and 1955-56. Renamed USS "Dukes County" (LST-735) 1 July 1955, the ship was subsequently decommissioned (date unknown) and leased to the Republic of China (Taiwan) in May 1957 and again renamed "Chung Hai" (LST-219). Struck from the Naval Vessel Register 1 November 1974, she was sold to Taiwan in 1974 and renamed "Kao Hsiung" (AGC-1); her final fate is unknown.

LST-735 earned four battle stars for World War II service and three for Korean service.

References

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* cite web|title=LST-735 "Dukes County"|work=Amphibious Photo Archive
url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160735.htm|accessdate=June 12|accessyear=2007

ee also

* List of United States Navy LSTs