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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LST-538


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Alpha - Zulu
 NEAZ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal

USS LST-538 was turned over to the United Kingdom in November 1944
LST-491 Class Tank Landing Ship
  • Laid down, 29 October 1943, at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville, IN.
  • Launched, 5 January 1944
  • Commissioned USS LST-538, 14 February 1944, ENS. H. W. Williams Jr.,USN, in command
  • During World War II USS LST-538 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following action/campaign:

    Europe- Africa-Middle East Actions/Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Convoy UGS-36, April 1944 Invasion of Normandy, June 1944

  • Decommissioned and transferred to the United Kingdom in November 1944
  • Commissioned HM LST-538 in November 1944
  • Royal Navy History
  • As part of "W" Task Force HM LST-538 worked down the Arakan coast of Burma and participated in the recapture of Rangoon, before proceeding to the eventual invasion of Malaya at Morib and Port Swettenham, and so to Singapore and Bangkok etc. doing relief work repatriating ex P.O.W.s of the Japanese
  • Paid off Singapore and returned to US Navy custody at Subic Bay, Philippines, 16 March 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 16 March 1946
  • Final Disposition, sold, 5 December 1947, to Bosey, Philippines, fate unknown
  • USS LST-538 earned two battle stars 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
    HM LST-538
    LST-538 65k HM LST-538 moored at Kyaukpyu, Ramree Island, Burma, 8 May 1945, when word was received via radio from Delhi announcing the end of hostilities in Europe. the ship Immediately hoisted her signal flags in display of victory. Tommy Trampp
    LST-410 78k HM LST-538 and HM LST-410 unloading vehicles during Operation "Zipper", the invasion of Malaya, in August 1945. Note LST-410 carries Identification Number 'C1' as Flotilla leader. Robert Hurst
    LST-326 2030k Menu for a farewell dinner aboard HM LST-326 for Captain G Owles when Force W was paid off in Singapore on 9 February 1946. The menu consists of three sheets of paper stapled together and represents the bow doors and ramp opening. Colin E C Pilcher Flt Lt RAF (retired) for his father LCDR. Leonard George Pilcher RNVR Commanding Officer HM LST-326
    LST-326 1734k
    LST-326 1834k
    USS LST-538
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01ENS. Williams Jr., H. W., USN 14 February 1944 - November 1944
    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
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Tank Landing Ship (LST) Photo Index
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    This page is created by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 12 December 2014