USS LST-849
 ROKS Wi Bong (LST-676) as a museum ship in 2018 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Johnson County (LST-849) |
| Laid down | 10 November 1944 |
| Launched | 30 December 1944 |
| Commissioned | 16 January 1945 |
| Decommissioned | 13 June 1946 |
| Fate | Transferred to Korea in January 1959 |
 South Korea | |
| Name |
|
| Acquired | 22 December 1958 |
| Decommissioned | 31 December 2006 |
| Fate | Educational Display, Jinpo Maritime Park, Gunsan, South Korea |
| Status | Museum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | LST-542-class LST |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 328 ft (100 m) |
| Beam | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Draft |
|
| Propulsion | Two diesel engines, two shafts |
| Speed |
|
| Complement | 7 officers, 204 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
USS LST-849 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. Late in her U.S. Navy career, she was renamed Johnson County (LST-849)—after counties in Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming—but never saw active service under that name.
LST-849 was laid down on 10 November 1944 at Ambridge, Pennsylvania, by the American Bridge Co.; launched on 30 December 1944; sponsored by Mrs. William B. Hetzel; and commissioned on 16 January 1945.
During World War II, LST-849 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in May and June 1945. Following the war, LST-849 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-September 1945. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 13 June 1946 and assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet. While berthed in the Columbia River with the Pacific Reserve Fleet, she was named Johnson County 1 July 1955, after counties in 12 states.
Under provisions of the Military Assistance Program, she was transferred to the Republic of Korea January 1959, and served the ROK navy as Wi Bong (LST-812).
LST-849 earned one battle star for World War II service.[1][2]
ROKS Wi Bong
The ship was transferred to the Republic of Korea on 22 December 1958, and renamed ROKS Wi Bong (LST-812).[3] She was later redesignated LST-676.
The ship participated in 16 combat missions in Vietnam.
On 31 December 2006 LST-676 was retired from active service in the Korean Navy.
On 25 December 2007 Gunsan city signed a contract with the Korean Navy to move the ship to Jinpo Maritime Park (35°59′23″N 126°43′02″E / 35.98966°N 126.71716°E / 35.98966; 126.71716) to serve as an educational landmark.
References
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entries can be found [www.history.navy.mil/danfs/j4/johnson_county.htm here] and here.
External links
- Photo gallery of USS LST-849 at NavSource Naval History
- globalsecurity.org: LST 671 Un Bong LST
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LST-542-class tank landing ships
LST-542 – LST-599 | |
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LST-600 – LST-699 | |
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LST-700 – LST-799 | |
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LST-800 – LST-899 | |
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LST-900 – LST-999 | |
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LST-1000 – LST-1099 | |
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LST-1100 – LST-1152 | |
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Other operators | |
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 Argentina (merchant marine) |
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| Argentine Navy |
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 Brazilian Navy |
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 Chilean Navy |
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 Republic of China Navy |
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 People's Liberation Army Navy |
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 Ecuadorian Navy |
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 French Navy |
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 German Navy |
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 Hellenic Navy |
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 Indonesian Navy |
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 Imperial Iranian Navy |
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 Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force |
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 Republic of Korea Navy |
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 Royal Malaysian Navy |
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 Mexican Navy |
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 Royal Netherlands Navy |
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 Philippine Navy |
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 Republic of Singapore Navy |
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 Royal Thai Navy |
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 Turkish Naval Forces |
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 Royal Navy (United Kingdom) |
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 United States Army |
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 Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela |
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 Republic of Vietnam Navy |
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 Vietnam People's Navy |
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- Preceded by: LST-491 class
- Followed by: Talbot County class
