USS Chelan County
USS Chelan County (LST-542) was the lead ship of the LST-542-class tank landing ships built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was named after Chelan County, Washington—the only Navy vessel to bear that name. Built in Evansville, Indiana by the Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Company, LST-542 was laid down on 29 November 1943, launched on 28 January 1944, and commissioned on 29 February 1944. She was renamed USS Chelan County (LST-542) on 1 July 1955.
About the ship: LST-542 was the lead ship of her class. The class featured a water-distilling plant and heavier armament than the earlier LST-1 class, which slightly reduced payload. She displaced 1,625 long tons light and 4,080 long tons full. Length was 328 ft, beam 50 ft. Draft: unloaded forward 2 ft 4 in and aft 7 ft 6 in; loaded forward 8 ft 2 in and aft 14 ft 1 in. Propulsion came from two General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, and twin rudders, delivering about 12 knots. She could carry four LCVPs (landing craft) and accommodated 16 officers and 147 enlisted troops, with a crew of 7 officers and 104 enlisted.
Armament included two twin 40 mm gun mounts, four single 40 mm gun mounts, and twelve single 20 mm gun mounts.
Service history: LST-542 served in the European Theater and participated in the Normandy invasion in June 1944. After World War II, she served with the Amphibious Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. She was renamed Chelan County on 1 July 1955, decommissioned in 1956, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 November 1959. Chelan County earned one battle star for World War II service.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 23:16 (CET).