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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LST-239

LST-239 was transferred to the United Kingdom for the duration of World War II

LST-1 Class Tank Landing Ship:

Laid down, 6 March 1943, at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville, IN.

Launched, 18 June 1943

LST-239 saw no active service with the United States Navy

Transferred to the United Kingdom, 19 July 1943

Royal Navy History
Commissioned into the Royal Navy as HM LST-239, 19 July 1943
Sailed from Norfolk, VA., 16 August 1943 as part of 9th Flotilla bound for the invasion of the Andaman Islands, which was subsequently canceled
Subsequently reassigned to the European Theater
HM LST-239 participated in the Invasion of Normandy, June 1944
Operated in shuttle service between Tilbury, Ostend and Antwerp
Also in relief of Norway
Paid off and returned to US Navy custody at Norfolk, VA., 14 February 1946

Struck from the Naval Register, 5 June 1946

Sold for conversion to non-self propelled merchant operation, 26 April 1948, to Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, VA.

Final Disposition, fate unknown

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

7 officers, 104 enlisted

Troop Accommodations

16 officers, 147 enlisted

Boats 6 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