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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LST-56

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Foxtrot - Quebec - Papa
NFQP

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is left to right
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal

LST-1 Class Tank Landing Ship:

Laid down, 17 October 1943, at Dravo Corp., Neville Island, PA.

Launched, 27 November 1943

Commissioned USS LST-56, 10 January 1944, LT. R. F. Willett, USN, in command

During World War II USS LST-56 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign:

Campaign and Dates
European-Africa-Middle East Campaign
Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944

Decommissioned, 23 May 1946

Struck from the Naval Register, 3 July 1946

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 5 December 1947, to Ships & Power Equipment Corp., Barber, NJ.

USS LST-56 earned one battle star for World War II service

Specifications:

Displacement

1,625 t.(lt)

4,080 t.(fl) (sea-going draft w/1675 ton load)

2,366 t. (beaching displacement)

Length 328' o.a.

Beam 50'

Draft

light 2' 4" fwd, 7' 6" aft

sea-going 8' 3" fwd, 14' 1" aft

landing 3' 11" fwd, 9' 10" aft (landing w/500 ton load)

limiting 11' 2"

maximum navigation 14' 1"

Speed 11.6 kts. (trial)

Endurance 24,000 miles @ 9kts. while displacing 3960 tons

Complement

13 officers

104 enlisted

Troop Accommodations

16 officers

147 enlisted

Boats 2 LCVP

Cargo Capacity (varied with mission - payloads between 1600 and 1900 tons)

Typical loads

One Landing Craft Tank (LCT), tanks, wheeled and tracked vehicles, artillery, construction equipment and military supplies. A ramp or elevator forward allowed vehicles access to tank deck from main deck

Additional capacity included sectional pontoons carried on each side of vessel amidships, to either build Rhino Barges or use as causeways. Married to the bow ramp, the causeways would enabled payloads to be delivered ashore from deeper water or where a beachhead would not allow the vessel to be grounded forward after ballasting

Armament (varied with availability when each vessel was outfitted. Retro-fitting was accomplished throughout WWII. The ultimate armament design for United States vessels was

2 - Twin 40MM gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors

4 - Single 40MM gun mounts

12 single 20MM gun mounts

Fuel Capacity

Diesel 4,300 Bbls

Propulsion

two General Motors 12-567A, 900hp Diesel engines

single Falk Main Reduction Gears

three Diesel-drive 100Kw 230V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

two propellers, 1,700shp

twin rudders

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
1016005601	29k	USS LST-56 moored during a public tour event probably on either the Ohio of Mississippi River, circa 1944-46. USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc. LST Shipyard Collection	Tommy Trampp
1016005602	38k
1016005603	32k
1016005605	45k
1016005604	32k

USS LST-56
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS).

Commanding Officers
01	LT. Willett, R. F., USN	10 January 1944 - November 1944
02	LT. McFarland, Harry B., USNR	November 1944 - December 1945
03	LTjg. Terrio, J. V., USN	December 1945 - 23 May 1946


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
The USS LST Ship Memorial
LST Home Port
State LST Chapters
United States LST Association

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This page is created by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 29 January 2021