USS LST-563

	LST-563 broached on Clipperton Island, 22 December 1944
History
United States
Name	USS LST-563
Builder	Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana
Laid down	4 March 1944
Launched	1 May 1944
Sponsored by	Mrs. N. E. Senescall
Commissioned	20 May 1944
Stricken	9 February 1945
Fate	Wrecked 21 December 1944
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement	1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light; 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full;
Length	328 ft (100 m)
Beam	50 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;
Propulsion	2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats & landing ; craft carried	2 or 6 LCVPs
Troops	14–16 officers, 131–147 enlisted men
Complement	7–9 officers, 104–120 enlisted men
Armament	8 × 40 mm guns; 12 × 20 mm guns;

USS LST-563 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was in commission during 1944.

Construction and commissioning

LST-563 was laid down on 4 March 1944 at Evansville, Indiana, by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company. She was launched on 1 May 1944, sponsored by Mrs. N. E. Senescall, and commissioned on 20 May 1944.

Service history

During World War II, LST-563 was grounded on Clipperton Island in the eastern Pacific Ocean, 670 nautical miles (1,241 kilometers) southwest of Mexico, on 21 December 1944 and suffered extensive damage. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to free her, LST-563 was stripped and abandoned on 9 February 1945. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 23 February 1945.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
"LST-563". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 26 June 2007.
"LST-563". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 26 June 2007.