HM LST-8

Summary

HM LST-8 was a Landing Ship, Tank of the Royal Navy during World War II. Built as a LST-1-class tank landing ship in the US, she was transferred to the Royal Navy in March 1943,

HM LST-8 off-loading at Port Dickson, Malaya, 12 September 1945.
History
NameLST-8
BuilderDravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Laid down26 July 1942
Launched29 October 1942
Sponsored byMrs. Anne H. Johnson
FateTransferred to the Royal Navy, 22 March 1943
United Kingdom
NameLST-8
Acquired22 March 1943
Commissioned23 March 1943
Decommissioned4 May 1946
FateReturned to US Naval custody, 1 June 1946
United States
Acquired1 June 1946
Stricken3 July 1946
FateSold for scrapping, 5 December 1947
General characteristics [1]
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
Service record
Operations:

Post war she was transferred to the United States Navy before disposal.

Construction edit

LST-8 was laid down on 26 July 1942, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by the Dravo Corporation; launched on 29 October 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Anne H. Johnson; and transferred to the Royal Navy on 22 March 1943,[2] and commissioned the following day.[1]

Service history edit

LST-8 sailed from Hampton Roads, Virginia, for the Mediterranean on 14 May 1943, with convoy UGS 8A, arriving in Oran, Algeria, sometime before 8 June 1943.[3]

She participated in the invasion of Sicily, landings at Reggio, the Salerno landings, and the Anzio landings, in the Mediterranean Theatre and the Normandy landings in the European Theatre. She was refitted at Liverpool in September 1944, and was transferred to the Eastern Fleet. LST-8 also participated in the landings in Malaya, Operation Zipper. She was paid off on 4 May 1946, at Subic Bay.[1]

Final disposition edit

LST-8 was returned from the United Kingdom on 1 June 1946, and was struck from the Navy list on 3 July 1946. On 5 December 1947, she was sold to Bosey, Philippines.[2]

References edit

Bibliography edit

  • "LST-8". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 12 August 2017.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "LST-8". Navsource. Navsource.org. 23 June 2006. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  • "Convoy UGS.8A". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 12 August 2017.

External links edit

  • Photo gallery of HM LST-8 at NavSource Naval History