USS LST-223 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was later sold to France as Rance (L9004).[1]

USS LST-223 (middle) at Leyte, October 1944
History
United States
NameLST-223
BuilderChicago Bridge & Iron Co., Seneca
Laid down31 March 1943
Launched24 August 1943
Sponsored byMrs. George S. Trees
Commissioned17 September 1943
Decommissioned1 May 1946
ReclassifiedLST(H)-223, 15 September 1945
Identification
Honors and
awards
See Awards
FateTransferred to France, March 1947
History
FranceFrance
NameRance
NamesakeRance
CommissionedMarch 1947
Decommissioned8 March 1961
IdentificationPennant number: L9004
FateScrapped
General characteristics
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
Troops16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament

Construction and career

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LST-223 was laid down on 31 March 1943 at Chicago Bridge & Iron Co., Seneca, Illinois. Launched on 24 August 1943 and commissioned on 17 September 1943.[2]

Service in the United States

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During World War II, LST-223 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She took part in the Battle of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls from 31 January to 8 February 1944 and the Leyte landings from 20 October and 19 to 29 November 1944. She also participated in the invasion of Saipan from 15 to 24 June 1944.

On 15 September 1945, she was redesignated as LST(H)-223.

LST-223 was decommissioned on 1 May 1946 and later struck from the Navy Register.[1]

Service in France

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She was transferred to the French Navy and commissioned in March 1947 with the name Rance (L9004).[3]

The ship was beached at the Suez Canal during the Suez Crisis on 8 November 1956.

Rance took part in the Algerian War between 1 November 1954 to 19 March 1962 and the First Indochina War between 19 December 1946 to 1 August 1954.

The ship was out of service on 8 March 1961 and later sold for scrap.

Awards

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LST-223 have earned the following awards:

Citations

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  1. ^ a b "Tank Landing Ship LST-223". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ^ "LST-223". NHHC. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  3. ^ "LST Rance". lst.france.free.fr. Retrieved 13 November 2021.

Sources

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