HM LST-421

Summary

HMS LST-421 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship that was transferred to the Royal Navy during World War II. As with many of her class, the ship was never named. Instead, she was referred to by her hull designation.

History
United Kingdom
NameLST-421
Orderedas a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 941[1]
BuilderBethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland
Yard number2193[1]
Laid down11 November 1942
Launched5 December 1942
Commissioned26 January 1943
Decommissioned29 November 1946
IdentificationHull symbol: LST-421
FateReturned to USN custody, 29 November 1946
United States
NameLST-421
Acquired29 November 1946
Stricken1 August 1947
FateSold for conversion to merchant service, 7 October 1947
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeLST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement
  • 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load
  • 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam50 ft (15 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
Propulsion
Speed12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range24,000 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
Troops163
Complement117
Armament

Construction edit

LST-421 was laid down on 11 November 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 941, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; launched 5 December 1942; then transferred to the United Kingdom and commissioned on 26 January 1943.[3]

Service history edit

LST-421, in company with sister ships LST-324 and LST-412, left New York, 13 March 1943, with refinery equipment bound for Curaçao, she then sailed to Freetown, Sierra Leone. LST-412 participated with the Royal Navy during the invasion of Sicily, the Salerno landings, the Anzio landings, and the invasion of Normandy, June 1944. [2]

LST-421 saw no active service in the United States Navy. She was decommissioned and returned to United States Navy custody on 29 November 1946, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 August 1947. The tank landing ship was sold to the Tung Hwa Trading Co., Singapore, on 7 October 1947 and converted for merchant service.[3]

See also edit

Notes edit

Citations

Bibliography edit

Online resources

  • "LST-421". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 12 May 2017.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "Bethlehem-Fairfield, Baltimore MD". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  • "USS LST-421". Navsource.org. 3 November 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2017.

External links edit

  • Photo gallery of LST-421 at NavSource Naval History