USS LST-38 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used exclusively in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.
Left to Right; LST-122, LST-38, LST-221 and LST-456 beached at Finschhaven, New Guinea, April 1944.
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History | |
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United States | |
Name | LST-38 |
Builder | Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
Laid down | 12 May 1943 |
Launched | 27 July 1943 |
Commissioned | 3 September 1943 |
Decommissioned | 26 March 1946 |
Reclassified | Tank Landing Ship (Hospital), 15 September 1945 |
Stricken | 1 May 1946 |
Identification |
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Honors and awards | 4 × battle stars |
Fate | Sold for scrapping, 5 December 1947 |
General characteristics [1] | |
Type | LST-1-class tank landing ship |
Displacement |
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Length | 328 ft (100 m) oa |
Beam | 50 ft (15 m) |
Draft |
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Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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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 |
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Troops | 16 officers, 147 enlisted men |
Complement | 13 officers, 104 enlisted men |
Armament |
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Service record | |
Part of: | LST Flotilla 13 |
Operations: |
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Awards: |
LST-38 was laid down on 14 April 1943, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by the Dravo Corporation; launched on 27 July 1943; sponsored by Bertha Karpinski; and commissioned on 3 September 1943.[2]
During World War II, LST-38 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She took part in the Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls in January and February 1944; the Admiralty Islands landings in March and April 1944, the Battle of Hollandia in April 1944; and the Battle of Guam in July 1944.[2]
Following the war, LST-38 was redesignated LST(H)-38 on 15 September 1945. She performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-November 1945.[2]
Upon her return to the United States, the ship was decommissioned on 26 March 1946 and struck from the Navy list on 1 May 1946. On 5 December 1947, she was sold to the Ships and Power Equipment Co., of Barber, New Jersey, and subsequently scrapped. [2]
LST-38 earned four battle stars for World War II service.[2]