The USS LST-652 was a LST-542-class tank landing ship constructed during World War II, embodying the typical design of its class with a focus on amphibious warfare capabilities. Laid down on 24 July 1944 by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company in Seneca, Illinois, and launched on 19 October 1944, the vessel was commissioned into the U.S. Navy on 1 January 1945. Its primary service during the war was within the Asiatic-Pacific theater, where it played a role in supporting amphibious operations. In September 1945, shortly after the conclusion of hostilities, LST-652 was reclassified as a hospital ship, designated LST(H)-652. It participated in occupation service in the Far East from September 11, 1945, until her decommissioning on March 5, 1946. During this period, she was assigned to the Commander Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE) Shipping Control Authority for Japan (SCAJAP), with the designation Q086. The ship was returned to her original designation on March 6, 1952, and soon after, on March 31, 1952, transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), where she was designated USNS T-LST-652. She was in service until she was struck from the Naval Register on May 1, 1961. Under the Military Assistance Program, the vessel was transferred to Indonesia in 1961, where she was renamed KRI Teluk Kau (504). She was commissioned into the Indonesian Navy on June 17, 1961, with her first commander being Marine Major (P) Handayana Sukendar. The vessel served as part of Indonesia’s Military Seaborne Command, including operations under the Surabaya Military Seaborne Unit (Satlinlamil), until her decommissioning on March 19, 2011. Following her decommissioning, the ship was disposed of in an Indonesian Navy SINKEX (sinking exercise) on April 20, 2012. The wreck, known as KRI Teluk Bayur, was subsequently salvaged and recycled into usable objects, including a land generator utilizing the ship’s generator, notably after being targeted and sunk during missile testing. Throughout her service, LST-652 earned various awards, marking her contributions to wartime and post-war service across multiple navies. Her long operational history highlights her significance as an amphibious vessel adapted for multiple roles over several decades.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.