USS LST-918 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.

USS LST-918 underway in San Francisco Bay, California, with Mark 6 LCT-1292 on board, c. early 1946.
History
United States
NameLST-918
BuilderBethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number3388[1]
Laid down5 April 1944
Launched7 May 1944
Commissioned29 May 1944
Decommissioned12 June 1946
Stricken31 July 1946
Identification
Honors and
awards
2 × battle star
FateSold for scrapping, 18 December 1947
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeLST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement
  • 1,625 long tons (1,651 t) (light)
  • 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) (full (seagoing draft with 1,675 short tons (1,520 t) load)
  • 2,366 long tons (2,404 t) (beaching)
Length328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft
  • Unloaded: 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward; 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft
  • Full load: 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft
  • Landing with 500 short tons (450 t) load: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
  • Limiting 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
  • Maximum navigation 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed11.6 kn (21.5 km/h; 13.3 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 x LCVPs
Capacity1,600–1,900 short tons (3,200,000–3,800,000 lb; 1,500,000–1,700,000 kg) cargo depending on mission
Troops16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament
Service record
Part of: LST Flotilla 1
Operations:
Awards:

Construction

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LST-918 was laid down on 5 April 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 7 May 1944; and commissioned on 29 May 1944.[3][2]

Service history

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During World War II, LST-918 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and took part in the Leyte landings in October 1944, and the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in March and June 1945.[3]

Following the war, LST-918 performed occupation duty in the Far East until early January 1946. Upon her return to the United States, she was decommissioned on 12 June 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 31 July, that same year. On 18 December 1947, the ship was sold to the Learner Co., Oakland, California, and subsequently scrapped.[3]

Awards

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LST-918 earned three battle star for World War II service.[3]

Notes

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Citations

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Bibliography

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Online resources

  • "LST-918". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 20 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 20 May 2017.
  • "USS LST-918". Navsource.org. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
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