USS LST-503
# USS LST-503

USS LST-503 was a LST-491-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was transferred to the Republic of China Navy as ROCS Chung Kuang (LST-216).

## Construction and career

LST-503 was laid down on 29 July 1943 at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, Evansville, Indiana. Launched on 8 October 1943 and commissioned on 8 December 1943.

### Service in the United States Navy

During World War II, LST-503 was assigned to the European theater. She then participated in the Invasion of Normandy from 6 to 25 June 1944.

She was decommissioned on 11 June 1946 and laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs, Florida.

On 9 January 1951, she was recommissioned and was homeported at NAB Little Creek, Virginia. In August, she was assigned to Operation Blue Bird in Greenland.

On 4 April 1955, the ship was decommissioned and transferred to the Republic of China.

LST-503 was struck from the Navy Register on 25 April 1960.

### Service in the Republic of China Navy

She was commissioned into the Republic of China Navy on 29 April 1955 and renamed ROCS Chung Kuang (LST-216).

The ship had participated in the transportation and replenishment missions of Kinmen Island many times during the 1958, 823 artillery battle.

In 1976, she was reclassified as LST-646 but was later reverted in the same year. So far, her main tasks are transportation of personnel and vehicles, and transportation to other islands.

Chung Kuang was decommissioned on 16 February 2009.

On 11 April 2016, the Ministry of National Defense agreed to display Chung Kuang's anchor at the Taoyuan National Home of Honor (桃園榮譽國民之家), Bade District.

On 29 July 2019, her together with her sister ship Chung Pang served as a target ship for multiple F-16s fired Harpoon missiles and was hit.

## Awards

LST-503 have earned the following awards:

* American Campaign Medal
* European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1 battle star)
* World War II Victory Medal

## Citations

* 1 2 "Tank Landing Ship LST". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
* ↑ "LST-503". public1.nhhcaws.local. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
* 1 2 3 4 "LST-216中光軍艦山字海錨前錨除役~ 桃園榮家陳展揭幕~". vac.gov.tw. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
* ↑ 自由時報電子報 (16 May 2016). "海軍中士的遺願完成了 中光艦海錨落腳桃園榮家 - 生活". 自由時報電子報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 13 September 2021.
* ↑ "F-16戰機試射魚叉飛彈命中靶艦 成功驗證對海戰術 | 政治 | 中央社 CNA". 29 July 2019. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2021.

## Sources

* United States. Dept. of the Treasury (1962). Treasury Decisions Under the Customs, Internal Revenue, Industrial Alcohol, Narcotic and Other Laws, Volume 97. U.S. Government Printing Office.
* Moore, Capt. John (1984). Jane's Fighting Ships 1984-85. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710607959.
* Saunders, Stephen (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710628886.
* Fairplay International Shipping Journal Volume 222. United Kingdom: Fairplay Publishing Limited. 1967.

vteLST-491-class tank landing ships :

LST-491 / T-LST-491

LST-492

LST-493

LST-494

LST-495

LST-496

LST-497

LST-498

LST-499

LST-500

LST-501

LST-502

LST-503

LST-504 / Buchanan County

LST-505

LST-506

LST-507

LST-508

LST-509 / Bulloch County

LST-510 / Buncombe County

LST-511

LST-512 / Burnett County

LST-513 / Endymion

LST-514 / Midas

LST-515 / Caddo Parish

LST-516 / Calaveras County

LST-517

LST-518 / Nestor

LST-519 / Calhoun County

LST-520

LST-521 / T-LST-521 / Cape May County

LST-522

LST-523

LST-524

LST-525 / Caroline County

LST-526

LST-527 / Cassia County

LST-528 / Catahoula Parish

LST-529 / Cayuga County

LST-530

LST-531

LST-532 / Chase County

LST-533 / Cheboygan County

LST-534

LST-535

LST-536

LST-537

LST-538

LST-539

LST-540

LST-541 :

Preceded by: LST-1 class

Followed by: LST-542 class :

List of United States Navy LSTs

List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships :

