USS LST-906

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LST-906.jpg
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
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameLST-906
Builder Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number3376 [1]
Laid down24 January 1944
Launched11 March 1944
Sponsored byMrs. Henry Levine
Commissioned27 April 1944
Decommissioned20 May 1945
Stricken22 June 1945
Identification
Honors and
awards		 Bronze-service-star-3d.png 1 × battle star
FateSold for scrap, 22 June 1945
General characteristics [2]
Class and type LST-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
Aircraft carried6 × L-4B "Grasshopper" [3]
Aviation facilitiesCustom-built mesh airstrip [3]

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.

Contents

Construction

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

LST-906 during Invasion of Southern France, Toulon, August 1944 80-G-362841- Invasion of Southern France, Toulon, August 1944.png
LST-906 during Invasion of Southern France, Toulon, August 1944

During World War II, LST-906 was assigned to the European Theatre. [4]

USS LST-906, with US Army Air Force L-4 Grasshopper on her flight deck being prepared for take-off. Note additional L-4 type aircraft stowed alongside the deck. LST Aircraft Carrier.jpg
USS LST-906, with US Army Air Force L-4 Grasshopper on her flight deck being prepared for take-off. Note additional L-4 type aircraft stowed alongside the deck.

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

LST-906 earned one battle star for World War II service. [4]

Notes

    Citations

    Bibliography

    Online resources

    Printed resources

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