>From the "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships," 

(1976) Vol. 6, p.649





STRAFFORD COUNTY





	A county in New Hampshire.





LST-1142

Displacement:  3,960 t.

Length:  328'

Beam:  50'

Draft:  11’2”

Speed:  11.6 k.

Complement:  119

Troop Capacity:  147

Armament:  8 40mm

Class:  LST-542



	STRAFFORD COUNTY (LST-1142) was laid down on 25 January 

1945 by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., Seneca, Ill.; 

launched on 23 April 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Emily S. 

Ekdahl; and commissioned on 12 May 1945.



	The LST moved down the Mississippi River to Gulfport, 

Miss., for fitting out and a brief shakedown cruise, 

followed by a yard period from 6 to 11 June.  She then 

sailed for the Pacific and was routed from Pearl Harbor to 

Guam, via Eniwetok.  The 1142 arrived at Apra Harbor, Guam, 

on 12 August.  During the next six months, she shuttled 

between Okinawa; Sasebo, Japan; and Shanghai, China.  The 

ship stood out of Pearl Harbor on 6 March 1946 bound for the 

west coast and inactivation.  She arrived at Seattle, Wash., 

on 17 March and, a week later, moved to Astoria, Oreg., 

where she joined the 19th Fleet on 24 March and was placed 

in an inactive status.



	STRAFFORD COUNTY was placed in reserve, in commission, 

on 10 June 1946 and assigned to the Columbia River Group.  

On 15 November 1946, she was decommissioned.  The name 

STRAFFORD COUNTY was assigned to the LST on 1 July 1955.



	STRAFFORD COUNTY was struck from the Navy list on 

1 November 1958.  In 1963, the ship was sold to the Foss 

Launch & Tug Co., Seattle, Wash.  She was reduced to a barge 

and operated under the name FOSS 202.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com