LST-class Landing Ship
| Country | United States |
| Laid Down | 10 Jun 1942 |
| Displacement | 1780 tons standard; 3880 tons full |
| Length | 328 feet |
| Beam | 50 feet |
| Draft | 8 feet |
| Machinery | Two General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, two rudders |
| Speed | 12 knots |
| Crew | 115 |
| Armament | 1x76mm, 6x40mm, 6x20mm, 2x12.7mm machine guns, 4x7.62mm machine guns |
| Troop Capacity | 150 |
| Boats | 2-6 LCVP |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
This article refers to the entire LST-class; it is not about an individual vessel.
The LST, short for "Landing Ship, Tank", came about after the Dunkirk evacuation demonstrated a dire need for large seafaring transports for large vehicles. The first attempt at building such ships was done by converting three tankers from Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela with bay doors; they were used during the Operation Torch landings in Algeria in 1942. Meanwhile, experts from both Britain and United States' navies gathered requirements. In 1941, the name LST was born with preliminary specifications. Within a few days, John Niedermair of the US Navy Bureau of Ships completed the first sketch of the design. It called for a large ballast system that could be filled with sea water to give the ship a deep draft for seafaring, or emptied so that the ship could sail very close to beaches to unload its cargo. The design was accepted by the US Navy, then was sent for approval with the Royal Navy on 5 Nov 1941. Almost immediately, the Royal Navy accepted the design and asked for 200 to be built for Britain under the Lend-Lease program. The first LST keel was laid down at Newport News, Virginia, United States, and the first production LST set sail four months later in Oct 1942. From the very first moment, the construction program for LSTs took a very high priority. In some instances, even heavy industry plants inland such as steel yards were converted for LST construction.
The first action that saw LSTs in service was the Solomon Islands Campaign in Jun 1943, and almost immediately they were used in the Sicily landings in the Mediterranean. Although slow and unwieldy, they were tough enough to absorb a tremendous amount of damage. In fact, despite being a valuable target for carrying large amounts of cargo, only 26 were lost in action; of the 26, only 13 were actually sunk by enemy fire. While almost every landing operation employed LSTs, they were also versatile enough to serve in other roles. Some were converted to become repair ships, others into floating barracks for 200 officers and men, while 38 LSTs were converted into hospital ships. In Jun 1944, converted LST hospital ships brought 41,035 wounded men from the Normandy beaches in the first couple days of the invasion.
After the war, hundreds of LSTs were scrapped or sunk, a few were sold to civilian organizations, and most of the remainder were mothballed. 1,051 LSTs were constructed during WW2, 670 of which were built by 5 major inland locations, with the largest being Evansville, Indiana, United States. Of the LSTs exported from the US, Britain was the largest customer with 113 LSTs in service during WW2.
Source: Wikipedia.
Photographs
 |  |  |  |
| | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Visitor Submitted Comments
All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.
» LST-1
Event(s) Participated:
» Invasion of Sicily and Italy's Surrender
» Normandy Campaign, Phase 1
» Battle of Iwo Jima
» Okinawa Campaign
Related Books:
» Flat-Bottom Odyssey: From North Africa to D-Day
|
Advertise on ww2db.com
- » 729 biographies
- » 304 events
- » 27116 timeline entries
- » 668 ships
- » 301 aircraft models
- » 163 vehicle models
- » 254 weapon models
- » 65 historical documents
- » 285 book reviews
- » 209 maps
- » 16244 photos, 1473 in color
Winston Churchill, on the RAF
12 Aug 2007 10:28:20 AM
About the LSTs, I was on LST 357 during the war.reat.
11 Jun 2009 07:42:35 AM
I WAS ABOARD THE ST77 WHEN THE PICTURE AT ANZIO WAS TAKEN. IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN GET A COPY?
13 Apr 2010 11:24:19 AM
My father was on an LST in World War II. How do I find out and get info on which ship he was on>
Thank you.
29 Apr 2010 04:01:53 PM
My dad was also on an LST as a Lt.JG, off Peleliu and the Paluas Fall, 1944. How do I find info on which LST? He returned with a Japanese officers sword (as many did) ... I am researcing for a book on the subject. Any info would be helpful...Thanks, TB
8 Jul 2010 06:41:42 PM
I was stationed on the USS Boulder LST-1190 from 1978 - 1983. I made chief on her and also picked up surface warfare. It was one of the best duty stations of my career. I now volenteer on the LST-393 in Muskegon Mi.g
29 Jul 2010 07:07:08 PM
My uncle was on one of the LSTs in the second wave at Utah beach on 5 June. Where do I find the name of the LST he was on?
20 Aug 2010 08:57:20 AM
I was a SM 1/c on LST 740 and have set up a web site showing photos, telling the story and the history of the ship.
www.usslst740.com
I hope you will take a look and link it to this site.
4 Sep 2010 05:37:51 AM
MY Grandfather who recently passed was on the LST 25. IS there a website where I can find a photo of this ship?
15 Sep 2010 04:52:38 AM
My father, G.L. "Bud" Austing, was assigned to USS LST-818 in the Pacific in 1945 and 1946 until she was decommissioned in Seattle, WA. The 818 was built at Evansville, IN laid down 8 Sep 44 by MO Valley Bridge/Iron Co sponsored by Mrs. Roscoe H. Huffman commissioned 9 Nov 44 with Lieutenant j.g. Robert B. Bradley in command. Among other service in the Pacific Theater of Operations, she took part in the assault & occupation of Okinawa from March through June 1945 returned to CONUS, was decommissioned 16 Jul 46 struck from the Navy List 28 Aug 46 was sold to Consolidated Builders, Seattle, WA 17 Sep 47 and scrapped. She earned one battle star.
18 Dec 2010 09:37:47 PM
my father was a pow and left england for new york on may 29th, 1945 aboard a us navy LST. Is there anyway to find out the lst number
28 Dec 2010 12:13:27 PM
My late Father was on LST # 833. He was a twin anti-aircraft gunner,frogman and served in the battle for Okanawa Gunto. I would like to find a photo of 833 and maybe someone else who has info also. Thanks
4 Jan 2011 06:18:42 PM
My late father was on LST#833 plus he was assigned to LCT (6) #1397 and in the group #62. Wish I had wrote down his stories before he passed away. Hopefully someone out there will share info with me.
29 Jan 2011 04:41:23 AM
When did they start naming LST's?
16 Mar 2011 01:18:28 PM
My grandfather was on the LST-76. He says in 1945 (he has Alzheimer's and Dementia so remembering can be fuzzy at times). I have been searching for a actual picture of the LST-76 and the list of the crews names to see if I can find more pictures. Any Ideas? I have googles- LST-76 the date 1945 his name...
Thank you for any help,
Valerie
(John Hugh Taylor, Jr.'s Granddaughter)
Kapaula1@bellsouth.net
17 May 2011 10:09:00 AM
My grandfather was on an LST during WWII. I can't think of the number right off. I'm trying to find more information on the LSTs. if anyone can help me please email me familyhistorydigger79 at yahoo.com. thanks
20 Jun 2011 09:48:05 AM
My father served on the LST 25. I would be interested to hear more from the person whose grandfather served on that ship and recently passed away. As was the nature of those who served in WWII, there wasn't much ever said about that time. I may have some pictures of my dad with other sailors on that ship.
arusse@hotmail.com
12 Oct 2011 05:33:25 PM
My brother S/1c Richard E. Clark served on LST 818 in 44-45 in so South pacific.He passed on in 1982. I believe he told me his ship shot down one japanese plane.
20 Nov 2011 12:24:57 PM
My father, Clifford Bigwood, served on LST 704 in the Pacific.
3 Feb 2012 05:35:18 PM
after WWII my father sailed as merchant captain LST 1104 Samba under panamenian flag to argentina and were sold . Do you have some information abaut american quarterman corporation and this ship?
23 Feb 2012 07:47:27 PM
My aunt's husband, GM1c Walter Baranick who was on LST-314. Survived Sicily and Salerno Invasions, survived D-Day Jun 06, 1944. On the second trip, sunk by torpedoes from a German Schnell Boote (pt boat), died, buried in England. The British Destroyer that picked up the survivors was HMS Beagle.
24 Feb 2012 10:19:03 PM
My father, George Johnson, served as Fire Controlman on LST 704. Okinawa Gunto.
20 May 2012 08:32:55 AM
My dad was on LST 1146 in World War II. Anyone else who was on this ship, or how can I find out more about it? My dad never talked about his war years. He passed away in 1989. Thank you.
2 Aug 2012 05:11:32 PM
My father was a Boatswains Mate aboard an LST called the "Gray Raider". I do not know the number of that LST. It had been involved in Kwajlein, Eniwitok, Leyte Gulf, Linguyan Strait. I am seeking the number of his LST and any historic info for this ship. Please help?
Tom Lacovara Toms River, NJ
24 Aug 2012 11:24:56 AM
I was on LST 940. Went aboard at ship yard in Boston, MA. then to P.Canal & to battle in Iwo JIma and Okinawa and visited Tokyo. What is status of LSTL 940 now?
4 Sep 2012 07:21:16 PM
My father, David Herrman, was aboard LST 727 from 26 Sept 1944 when it left the ship yard to its decommissioning in 26 July 1946. I was able to find the status of LST 727 at the following site: http://historycentral.com/navy/patrol/26.html
3 Nov 2012 02:58:28 PM
My father sailed from Falmouth England on board LST 336, captained by a Captain Roberts from Texas who had taken troops in at Sicily and Italy. My father, serving with combat engineers, went ashore at Omaha 7 June. He wrote a descriptiion of their crossing and landing in his book, Chappie WWII Diary of a Combat Chaplain.
9 Nov 2012 09:23:09 AM
My Dad, Gerard C. Lacey served as an ensign on LST 818. He recalls the 1 plane shot down for which they got the battle start saying that there were indeed several ships gunning for it. At the Battle of Okinawa Kamikazes were plentiful, so I don't doubt that there was a lot of lead flying.
He's only ever told me about one casualty, and it was not in battle. A young sailor was painting and a spark from a welding torch ignited the paint. He was flown into Pearl but didn't survive.
4 Feb 2013 07:55:48 PM
How can you find the name off a Ship someone was on in WW11 he was in the Phillipines. He was Richard James Campbell from pennsylvania.my husbands dad. I would love to replace the two medals that are missing if I can find the Ship. thanks for any help, Barbara
25 Feb 2013 03:52:18 PM
How do I find out which ship my father, William John Engel, was on during world war II. My son, Bill's grandson, is asking questions for which I have no answers.
10 Mar 2013 08:39:23 AM
I wose on the LST 626 in ww2 shee carned 4 battle stars.
22 Mar 2013 09:05:44 PM
My Grandfather was on a hospital ship in WWII. I am looking for some info on it. We have a picture of it in San Francisco Bay,and we knoe he was in port there. The name of the ship was the Alkarad (KA8). We definatly know that the name ship number was KA8 because we can see the number on the picture, we are going on what he said that the name was.
Thank you
24 Mar 2013 12:42:48 AM
Jenny:
You are almost certainly referring to AKA-8, USS Algorab.
29 Mar 2013 07:11:33 AM
Hi,
I am looking for infomation on my grandfather. He was on the LST 175. THat is all we ever knew. I have no clue what he did, and would love to find out. Upon doing research, I discoverd he was at Normandy. Is there anyone out there who can help me? Is there anyone else who was or had a family member on this ship? He has been gone since 1996. He never spoke about the war. If he did it was to my grandmother, and she never said a word.
31 Mar 2013 06:37:45 PM
My father, Richard Craig (deceased) was stationed aboard the LST 704. I have just discovered about 40-50 pictures of this time in an old album. There are several pictures of what appears to be the entire crew. Is there anywhere that I may donate these pictures? As most of his generation, he rarely spoke of this time frame in his life.
11 Jun 2013 11:45:15 AM
Patti McGuigan,
Im not sure if you will see this. I would love a few pictures. I only have one picture of grandpa with some of the crew of the LST 704. As with your father, grandpa, Fred (Fredrick Joseph) Seely did not talk much of this time. When he did, it was very little and through choked breath. Occasionally when you looked at him, he would be off somewhere and there would be tears in his eyes.