USS LST-507

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History
United States
NameUSS LST-507
BuilderJeffersonville Boat & Machine Company, Jeffersonville, Indiana
Laid down8 September 1943
Launched16 November 1943
Commissioned10 January 1944
FateTorpedoed and sunk, 28 April 1944
General characteristics
Class and type LST-491-class tank landing ship
Displacement
  • 1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light
  • 3,640 long tons (3,698 t) full
Length328 ft (100 m)
Beam50 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
Propulsion2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried		2 LCVPs
TroopsApproximately 130 officers and enlisted men
Complement8-10 officers, 89-100 enlisted men
Armament

USS LST-507 was a LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was sunk by a German torpedo attack in April 1944 during Exercise Tiger.

LST-507 was laid down on 8 September 1943 at Jeffersonville, Indiana, by the Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Co.; launched on 16 November 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Raymond C. Fuller; and commissioned on 10 January 1944.

Sinking[]

"Exercise Tiger" was a pre-invasion exercise carried out off the coast of Southern England in April 1944. After having taken on its complement of personnel and vehicles at Brixham, the LST joined the end of a convoy at Torquay.

Just after 0200, whilst circling Lyme Bay, the convoy was attacked by a group of German E-boats. LST-507 was the first to be hit by a torpedo at 0203, and had to be abandoned by 0230. It partially floated till dawn and then the bow was sunk by fire from a British destroyer. It was the only LST (out of the three hit, of which two sank) to go up in flames. Of the 700 estimated US Army and Navy fatalities during Exercise Tiger, 202 were from the sinking of LST-507.[1][2]

Units on board[]

The army units were: 478th Amphibious Truck Company, 557th Quartermaster Railhead Company, 33rd Chemical Company, 440th Engineer Company, 1605th Engineer Map Depot Detachment, 175th Signal Repair Company, 3206th Quartermaster Service Company and 3891st Quartermaster Truck Company. There were two 1/4 ton trucks, one 3/4 ton truck, thirteen 2½ ton trucks, and 22 DUKWs.[3]

Wreck[]

The wreck of the LST now lies at a depth of 50 meters at

 WikiMiniAtlas
50°27.15′N 2°43.55′W / 50.45250°N 2.72583°W / 50.45250; -2.72583Coordinates: 50°27.15′N 2°43.55′W / 50.45250°N 2.72583°W / 50.45250; -2.72583. It is popular as a location for wreck diving.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Combinedops.com - Operation Tiger". Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Exercise Tiger: Disaster at Slapton Sands, 28 April 1944". Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Exercise Tiger Trust". Retrieved 15 August 2008.
  • Photo gallery of USS LST-507 at NavSource Naval History
  • This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
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