HTMS 712 Chang Wreck, Koh Chang, Thailand

Описание: LTS-898 was a tank landing ship built by Dravo Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and launched on 25 November 1944. With a crew of nine officers and 90-100 enlisted men, she was commissioned a month later for the United States Navy during World War II. During the war she aided with the war effort and shuttled supplies and troops to and from the Philippines to Okinawa, Japan. She also saw lots of action in the Korean War; on the 10 September 1950, loaded with troops and vehicles at Kobe Japan, she set sail to participate in the famous Inchon invasion. The success of the operation prompted General Douglas MacArthur to remark that, "The Navy and Marines have never shone more brightly than this morning". LST-898 continued operations in support of the Korean War, including providing emergency medical care for wounded marines and support for assault forces by shelling enemy positions ashore.

After the Korean War, LST-898 carried out operations in Alaska and then the Western Pacific with amphibious exercises off the west coast of the United States.

On 15 July 1955, LST-898 was officially named USS Lincoln County and spent the next 5 years on three tours with the 7th Fleet including one trip to the Arctic to supply DEW line installations (a system of radar stations) and took part in more exercises off the west coast of the USA.

After serving in two wars with the US Navy and receiving seven battle star awards, USS Lincoln County was decommissioned on 24 March 1961. On 31 August 1962 she was handed over to Thailand under the terms of the Military Assistance Programme. She was renamed 712 HTMS CHANG and served in the Royal Thai Navy for almost 50 years, providing transport for troops and vehicles.

HTMS CHANG got towed to Koh Chang and was sunk on the 22nd November 2012. It is now Thailand's longest wreck with her bottom sitting on the sand at 30m and the crow's nest just below the surface