USS LST-4 approaches the shore at Yellow Beach, Pampelonne Bay, France, 16 August 1944.
History
United States
NameLST-4
BuilderDravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Laid down4 July 1942
Launched9 October 1942
Sponsored byMrs. John (Jennie) Bartolo
Commissioned14 February 1943
Decommissioned23 December 1944
Identification
Honors and
awards		 4 × battle stars
FateTransferred to the Royal Navy
HM LST-4 entering Malta Harbor in 1944.
United Kingdom
NameLST-4
Commissioned24 December 1944
Decommissioned1946
FateReturned to US Naval custody, 1946
United States
Acquired1946
Stricken19 June 1946
FateSold for scrapping, 10 September 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		6 × LCVP
Capacity
  • 2,100 tons oceangoing maximum
  • 350 tons main deckload
Troops163
Complement117
Armament
Service record
Operations:

USS LST-4 was an LST-1-class tank landing ship of the United States Navy built during World War II. She was transferred to the Royal Navy in December 1944. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

Construction

LST-4 was laid down on 4 July 1942, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by the Dravo Corporation; launched on 9 October 1942; sponsored by Mrs. J. Bartolo; and commissioned on 14 February 1943.[2][1]

USN service history

LST-4 was assigned to the Mediterranean Theatre and participated in the following operations: the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943; the Salerno Landings in September 1943; the Anzio-Nettuno advanced landings on the west coast of Italy from January to February 1944; and the Invasion of southern France from August to September 1944.[2]

Royal Navy service

LST-4 was decommissioned from the USN on 23 December 1944, in Bizerte, Tunisia, and commissioned into the Royal Navy the next day. On 14 January 1945, while on sailing between Taranto, Italy, and Piraeus, Greece, she struck a mine, but was still able to make Piraeus. She transferred to Alexandria, Egypt, in June, before making way for Malta, for repairs from 10 to 24 October 1945.[1]

She was returned to the United States in early 1946, by a Royal Navy crew. En route she lost her port side screw and had to be towed by another LST to Norfolk, Virginia. She was turned back over to USN custody.[1]

Final disposition

LST-4 was struck from the Navy list on 19 June 1946. On 10 September 1947, she was sold to the Boston Metals Company, of Baltimore, Maryland, for scrap.[2]

Awards

LST-4 earned four battle stars for World War II service.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Navsource 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 DANFS.

Bibliography

  • "LST-4". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 11 August 2017.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "LST-4". Navsource. Navsource.org. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
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