USS LST-2

USS LST-2 under way, location unknown, c. January–June 1944.
History
United States
Name	LST-2
Builder	Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Laid down	23 June 1942
Launched	19 September 1942
Sponsored by	Nancy Jane Hughes
Commissioned	22 December 1942
Decommissioned	29 November 1944
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-2 Code letters: NDRU
Honors and awards	4 × battle stars
Fate	Transferred to the Royal Navy, 29 November 1944
British troops disembarking from LST-2 at Salerno on 9 September 1943.
United Kingdom
Name	LST-2
Acquired	29 November 1944
Commissioned	29 November 1944
Decommissioned	11 April 1946
Fate	Returned to US Naval, 13 April 1946
United States
Acquired	13 April 1946
Stricken	5 June 1946
Fate	Sold, 5 December 1947
General characteristics [1]
Type	LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement	4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam	50 ft (15.2 m)
Draft	Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft Landing at 2,160 t: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
Speed	12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range	24,000 nmi (44,000 km; 28,000 mi) at 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) while displacing 3,960 long tons (4,024 t)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 or 6 x LCVPs
Capacity	2,100 tons oceangoing maximum 350 tons main deckload
Troops	163
Complement	117
Armament	Varied, ultimate armament 2 × twin 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns 4 × single 40 mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons
Armor	15-lb. STS splinter protection
Service record
Operations:	North African occupation Invasion of Sicily Salerno landings Invasion of Normandy

USS LST-2 was a LST(2) Landing Ship, Tank of World War II.

One of the first LST-1-class tank landing ships, she served with the United States Navy in before she was transferred to the Royal Navy in November 1944.

At the end of the war she was returned to the US Navy before disposal.

Construction

LST-2 was laid down on 23 June 1942, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by the Dravo Corporation; launched on 19 September 1942; sponsored by Nancy Jane Hughes; and commissioned on 9 February 1943.^[2]

USN service history

LST-2 was assigned to the European Theater. She participated in North African campaign prior to taking part in the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943. This was followed by the Allied invasion of Italy in September the same year. LST-2 then took part in the Invasion of Normandy in June 1944.^[2]

Royal Navy service

LST-2 was decommissioned from the USN and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 29 November 1944, as HM LST-2. She performed sea trials December 1944, in Scotland. She then prepared for Far East service between December 1944 and August 1945, at Tyne. LST-2 sailed from Southampton on 17 August 1945, for Bombay, India, via Port Said, Egypt, and the Suez Canal, arriving at her destination on 21 September 1945. She had railroad tracks installed and made various trips between the ports of Madras, India, Singapore, and Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. She was returned to the US Navy in Subic Bay on 13 April 1946, and struck on 5 June 1947.^[1]

Final disposition

On 5 December 1947, she was sold to Bosey, Philippines.^[2]

Awards

LST-2 earned four battle stars for World War II service.^[2]

References

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS LST-2.

• Photo gallery of USS LST-2 at NavSource Naval History
• http://www.criticalpast.com/stock-footage-video/horgan

This page was last edited on 4 February 2024, at 10:15