# 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". NHHC. 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 :