USS LST-4

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.

USS LST-4 approaches the shore at Yellow Beach, Pampelonne Bay, France, 16 August 1944.
History
United States
Name: LST-4
Builder: Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Laid down: 4 July 1942
Launched: 9 October 1942
Sponsored by: Mrs. John (Jennie) Bartolo
Commissioned: 14 February 1943
Decommissioned: 23 December 1944
Identification:
Honors and
awards:		 4 × battle stars
Fate: Transferred to the Royal Navy
HM LST-4 entering Malta Harbor in 1944.
United Kingdom
Name: LST-4
Commissioned: 24 December 1944
Decommissioned: 1946
Status: Returned to US Naval custody, 1946
United States
Acquired: 1946
Stricken: 19 June 1946
Fate: Sold for scrapping, 10 September 1947
General characteristics [1]
Type: LST-1-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)
Length: 328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam: 50 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 2 in (2.49 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
Installed power:
Propulsion:
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:		 6 × LCVP
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:
Service record
Operations:
  • Sicilian occupation (9 July 1943)
  • Salerno landings (9–21 September 1943)
  • Anzio-Nettuno advanced landings (22 January–2 February 1944)
  • Invasion of southern France (15 August–25 September 1944)

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] Lieutenant G. L. Reeves in command.[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 10–24 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. Navsource 2014.
  2. DANFS.

Bibliography
  • "LST-4". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 11 August 2017. 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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