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Wednesday 25 February 2015

South Korean landing ship (ex-American , LST 849 1944-1955, USS Johnson County 1955-1959) Wi Pong or Wee Bong (LST 812, later 676) 1959-museumship

Laid down at the shipyard of American Bridge Company, Ambridge, Pennsylvania, USA on 10 November 1944, launched on 30 December 1944, commissioned on 16 January 1945, betweeen 9-25 September serving in the Far East, decommissioned on 13 June 1946, renamed Johnson County on 1 July 1955, handed over by the USA to South Korea in January 1959, still existing as a museum ship at Gunsan. A LST=Tank Landing Ship. Displacement 1.625 (light)-2.366 beaching)-4.080 (full load) tons, cargo capacity 2.100 tons and as dimensions 103.6 (waterline)-107.5(over all) x 16.4 x 4.6 metres or 316-318 x 50 x 14. Crew in South Korean service around 80-110 men, in US navy service 117. Able to transport 163 soldiers. The armament in South Korean service consisted of 8/10-4cm anti aircraft guns, in US Navy Second World War service 2x2-4cm guns, 4x1-4cm guns and 12x1-2cm guns. The diesels supplied 1.700 bhp allowing with the two shafts a speed of 11,6 knots.