LST 13 - 22

 

LST-13

LST-13 was laid down on 1 September 1942 at Pittsburgh, Pa., by the Dravo Corp.; launched on 5

January 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Jean A. Brackmann; and transferred to the United Kingdom on 3 April 1943.

 

LST-13 was returned to the United States Navy on 27 February 1946 and was struck from the Navy list on 5 June 1946. On 14 October 1947, she was sold to Luria Brothers and Co., Inc., of Philadelphia, Pa., for scrapping.

 

LST-14

LST-14 was redesignated AGP-5 and named Varuna (q.v.) on 25 January 1943.

 

LST-15

LST-15 was redesignated ARB-3 and named Phaon (q.v.) on 25 January 1943.

 

LST-1 6

LST-16 was laid down on I September 1942 at Wilmington, Del., by the Dravo Corp.; launched on 19 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Lois M. Alexander; and commissioned on 17 March 1943.

 

During World War 11, LST-16 was ' assigned to the European theater and participated in the following operations:

 

North African occupation:

(a) Tunisian operations-July 1943

Sicilian occupation-September 1943 Salerno landings-September 1943 West coast of Italy operations:

(a) Anzio-Nettuno advanced landings--January and February 1944

 

Invasion of Normandy-June 1944

Following the war, LST-16 performed occupation duty in the Far East in September and November 1945. She was decommissioned on 8 March 1946 and was struck from the Navy list on 12 April 1946. On 5 December 1947, she was sold to Ships and Power Equipi~ent Co., of Barber, N.J., for scrapping.

 

LST 1 6 earned five battle stars for World War 11 service.

 

LST-17

LST-17 was laid down on 21 September 1942 at Pittsburgh, Pa., by the Dravo Corp.; launched on 8 January 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Sarah H. Bankson; and commissioned on 19 April 1943, Lt. H. B. Gallagher, USCGR, in command.

 

During World War II, LST-17 was assigned to the European theater and participated in the following operation:

 

Invasion of Normandy-June 1944

Following the war, LST-17 performed occupation duty in the Far East intermittently from September through December 1945. She was decommissioned on 15 January 1946. On 15 November 1954, she was transferred to Commandant, 13th Naval District, for use as a mobile target, and was sunk on 15 August 1956 by torpedo fire.

 

LST-17 earned one battle star for World War II service.

 

LST-18

LST-18 was laid down on I October 1942 at Pittsburgh, Pa., by the Dravo Corp.; launched on 15 February 1943; sponsored by Miss Ruth Watt; and cornmissioned on 26 April 1943.

 

During World War II, LST-18 served in the AsiaticPacific theater and took part in the following operations:

 

Finschhafen occupation phase of the Eastern New Guinea operation-September 1943

 

Bismarck Archipelago operation:

(a) Cape Gloucester landings on New Britain - December 1943 and January 1944

 

(b) Admiralty Islands landings-March and April 1944

 

Hollandia operation-April and May 1944

Western New Guinea operations:

(a) Toem-Wakde-Sarmi area-May 1944

(b) Biak Island-June 1944

(c) Noemfoor Island-July 1944

(d) Cape Sansapor-July and August 1944

(e) Morotai landings-September 1944

Leyte landings-October and November 1944

Lingayen landings on Luzon-January 1945

Consolidation of the southern Philippines:

(a) Palawan Island landings-March 1945

(b) Visayan Islands landings-March and April 1945

 

Following the war, LST-18 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 17 April 1946 and was sold to the Suwannee Fruit & Steamship Co., of Jacksonville, Fla., on 31 October 1946 for conversion to merchant service.

 

LST-18 earned seven battle stars for World War II service.

 

LST-19

LST-19 was laid down on 22 October 1942 at Pittsburgh, Pa., by the Dravo Corp.; launched on 11 March 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Frances P. Gott; commissioned on 15 May 1943; and redesignated LSTH on 15 September 1945.

 

During World War II, LST-19 was assigned to the Asiatic- Pacific theater and participated in the following operations:

 

Gilbert Islands operation-November and December 1943

 

Marianas operation:

(a) Capture and occupation of Saipan-June and July 1944

 

Tinian capture and occupation-July 1944

Western Caroline Islands operations:

(a) Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands-September and October 1944

 

Following the war, LST-19 performed occupation duty in the Far East in October and December 1945. She was decommissioned on 20 March 1946 and was struck from the Navy list on 1 May 1946. On 5 December 1947, she was sold to Ships and Power Equipment Co., of Barber, N.J., for scrapping.

 

LST-19 earned four battle stars Yor World War Il service.

 

LST-20

LST-20 was laid down on 5 October 1942 at Pittsburgh, Pa., by the Dravo Corp.; launched on 15 February 1943; sponsored by Miss Anne B. Sylvester; and commissioned on 14 May 1943.

 

During World War II, LST-20 served in the AsiaticPacific theater and took part in the following operations:

 

Gilbert Islands operation-November and December 1943

 

Leyte landings-October 1944

Lingayen landings on Luzon-January 1945

Okinawa Gunto operation:

(a) Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto- April 1945

 

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.

 

LST-20 earned four battle stars for World War II service.

 

LST-21

LST-21 was laid down on 25 September 1942 at Wilmington, Del., by the Dravo Corp.; launched on 18 February 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Lillian M. Lloyd; and commissioned on 14 April 1943.

 

The tank landing ship was assigned to the European theater and participated in the Normandy invasion in June 1944.

 

Upon her return to the United States, the ship was decommissioned on 25 January 1946 and struck from the Navy list on 19 June 1946. She was sold to Louis Feldman, of Flushing, N.Y., on 12 March 1948 and was subsequently scrapped.

 

LST-21 earned one battle star for World War II service.

 

LST-22

LST-22 was laid down on 5 November 1942 at Pittsburgh, Pa., by the Dravo Corp.; launched on 29 March 1943; sponsored by Mrs. W. A. Barnes; and commissioned on 29 May 1943, Lt. L. N. Ditlefsen, USCG, in command.

 

During World War II, LST-22 served in the AsiaticPacific theater and took part in the following operations:

 

Eastern New Guinea operation:

(a) Saidor occupation-January and February

1944

Bismarck Archipelago operation:

(a) Cape Gloucester, New Britain-December 1943, January and February 1944

 

(b) Admiralty Islands landings-March and April 1944

 

Hollandia operation-April and May 1944 Western New Guinea operations:

(a) Toem-Wakde-Sarmi area operation-May 1944

 

(b) Biak Island operation-May and June 1944

 

(c) Noemfoor Island operation-July 1944

(d) Cape Sansapor operation-July and August 1944

 

(e) Morotai landings-September 1944

Leyte landings-October and November 1944 Lingayen landings on Luzon-January 1945

LST-22 returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 1 April 1946. She was struck from the Navy list on 17 April 1946 and was sold to MingaSung Industrial Co., Ltd., of Shanghai, China, on 3 February 1947 to be converted for merchant service.

 

LST-22 earned six battle stars for World War II service.