Summary
USS LST-906 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.
 Undated photo of LST-906 underway in the Mediterranean. She is fitted with a 220 ft × 16 ft (67.1 m × 4.9 m) temporary flight deck for launching USAAF Piper L-4 Grasshopper observation aircraft, one of which is shown, ready for launching.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | LST-906 |
| Builder | Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts |
| Yard number | 3376[1] |
| Laid down | 24 January 1944 |
| Launched | 11 March 1944 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. Henry Levine |
| Commissioned | 27 April 1944 |
| Decommissioned | 20 May 1945 |
| Stricken | 22 June 1945 |
| Identification |
|
| Honors and awards |  1 × battle star |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 22 June 1945 |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Class and type | LST-542-class tank landing ship |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 328 ft (100 m) oa |
| Beam | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Draft |
|
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 11.6 kn (21.5 km/h; 13.3 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 x LCVPs |
| Capacity | 1,600–1,900 short tons (3,200,000–3,800,000 lb; 1,500,000–1,700,000 kg) cargo depending on mission |
| Troops | 16 officers, 147 enlisted men |
| Complement | 13 officers, 104 enlisted men |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 6 × L-4B “Grasshopper”[3] |
| Aviation facilities | Custom-built mesh airstrip[3] |
Construction edit
LST-906 was laid down on 24 January 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 11 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Henry Levine; and commissioned on 27 April 1944.[4][2]
Service history edit
During World War II, LST-906 was assigned to the European Theatre.[4]
While in the Mediterranean, Seabees converted LST-906 into a makeshift aircraft carrier sporting a custom-built mesh airstrip above deck. She was the base for six USAAF L-4B "Grasshoppers" flown as artillery spotters for the US 3rd Infantry Division during the invasion of southern France in September 1944.[2] LST-906 was one of six LSTs to be converted. The others being LST-16, LST-158, LST-337, LST-386, and LST-525.[3]
While at anchor at Leghorn, Italy, heavy seas on 18 October 1944 caused LST-906 to drag anchor and run aground. On 6 December a storm caused further damage to the still-grounded ship.[5]
The ship was decommissioned on 20 May 1945, struck from the Navy list on 22 June 1945, and sold for scrap soon thereafter.[4]
Awards edit
LST-906 earned one battle star for World War II service.[4]
Notes edit
Citations edit
- ^ Bethlehem-Hingham 2011.
- ^ a b c Rottman & Bryan 2005, p. 47.
- ^ a b c d DANFS.
- ^ Cressman 2000.
Bibliography edit
Online resources
- "LST-906". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - "Bethlehem-Hingham, Hingham MA". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- "USS LST-906". Navsource.org. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
Printed resources
- Cressman, Robert (2000). "Chapter VI: 1944". The official chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-55750-149-3. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
- Rottman, Gordon L.; Bryan, Tony (2005). Landing ship, tank (LST) 1942-2002. Oxford: Osprey. p. 47. ISBN 978-1-84176-923-3.
External links edit
- Photo gallery of LST-906 at NavSource Naval History