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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Wythe (APB-41)
ex
 USS LST(M)-575 (1945)
 USS LST-575 (1944 - 1945)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Whiskey - Whiskey
 NEWW
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal
LST-542 class Landing Ship Tank / Benewah class Self-propelled Barracks Ship:
  • Laid down, 3 May 1944 at Missouri Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville IN.
  • Launched, 9 June 1944
  • Commissioned at New Orleans, LA, 30 June 1944 as USS LST-575, LT. Patrick H. Shea, USNR, in command
  • Modified to a Benawah Class Self-propelled Barracks Ship, and initially designated LST (Modified) USS LST(M)-575, 15 January 1945
  • Redesignated and named USS Wythe (APB-41), 31 March 1945
  • During World War II USS LST-575(M) / USS Wythe (APB-41) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 28 March to 30 June 1945

  • Following World War II USS Wythe was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    6 September 1945 to 20 April 19466 September 1945 to 20 April 1946
  • Decommissioned, 29 May 1947
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Texas Group, Orange, TX.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 May 1959
  • USS Wythe earned one battle star for World War II service as USS LST(M)-575
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping to Marlene Blouse Corp, 10 September 1959
    APB Specifications:
    Displacement 4,080 t.
    Length 328'
    Beam 50'
    Draft 11' 2"
    Speed 12 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 10
    Enlisted 141
    Troop Capacity
    Officers 40
    Enlisted 300
    Armament
    four single 40mm AA gun mounts
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    twenty .50 and .30 cal machine guns
    Propulsion
    two General Motors 12-567A Diesel engines
    single Falk Main Reduction Gears
    five Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    twin rudders
    two propellers, 1,800shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LST-575 114k USS Wythe (APB-41) at anchor in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, 10 August 1945. She is serving as administrative flagship for Commander, Naval Forces, Ryukyus, providing berthing and messing for 140 men. Note the quonset hut on deck and the open bow doors, possibly with an amphibious vehicle (LVT) exiting or entering.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo. Photo # 80-G-331697, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Robert Hurst
    USS LST-575/ USS LST(M)-575 / USS Wythe (APB-41)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Shea, Patrick Henry, USNR20 June 1944 - 18 November 1944LST-575
    02LT. Wright, Jack L., USNR18 November 1944 - ?LST-575
    03LT. Vaughan, Elwood, USN9 December 1946 - 29 May 1947APB-41
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    The USS LST Ship Memorial
    LST Home Port
    State LST Chapters
    United States LST Association
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Tank Landing Ship (LST) Photo Index Back To The Self-propelled Barracks Ship (APB) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 2 June 2017