USS LST-20

USS LST-20 beached at Guam, Marianas Islands in 1945 while loading/unloading an M4 medium tank.
History
United States
Name: LST-20
Operator:
Builder: Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Laid down: 5 October 1942
Launched: 15 February 1943
Sponsored by: Miss Anne B. Sylvester
Commissioned: 14 April 1943
Decommissioned: 3 April 1946
Struck: 19 June 1946
Identification:
Honors and
awards:		 4 × battle stars
Fate: transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARCOM), 8 October 1947 for disposal by scrapping
Status: fate unknown
General characteristics
Class and type: LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement:
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:		 2 x LCVPs
Capacity: 1,600–1,900 st (22,000–27,000 lb; 10,000–12,000 kg) cargo depending on mission
Troops: 16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement: 13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament:
Service record
Part of: LST Flotilla Three
Operations:
Awards:

USS LST-20 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used exclusively in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II.

Construction and commissioning

LST-20 was laid down on 5 October 1942 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by the Dravo Corporation. She was launched on 15 February 1943, sponsored by Miss Anne B. Sylvester, and commissioned on 14 May 1943[1] with Lieutenant Charles W. Smith, USCG, in command.[2]

Service history

During the war, LST-20 was manned by the United States Coast Guard. She served exclusively in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from November 1943 until November 1945.[2][1]

Gilbert Islands operation

LST-20 participated in operations in the Gilbert Islands during November and December 1943.[2]

Leyte operation

In October 1944, LST-20 moved to the Philippines to participate in General Douglas MacArthur's promised liberation of the islands from the Japanese occupation. LST-20 participated at the Leyte landings and the Battle of Luzon Lingayen Gulf landings in January 1945.[2]

Okinawa Gunto operation

Main article: Battle of Okinawa

LST-20 finished her combat career with the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in April 1945.[2]

Postwar career

Following the war, LST-20 performed occupation duty in the Far East until early November 1945. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 3 April 1946. She was struck from the Navy list on 19 June 1946 and was transferred to the Maritime Administration on 8 October 1947 for disposal by scrapping.[1]

Honors and awards

LST-20 earned four battle stars for her World War II service.[1]

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

Online sources
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