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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LST-218


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Alpha - Foxtrot
 NHAF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

USS LST-218 was transferred to the Republic of Korea ROKS Bibong (LST-809)
LST-1 Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 11 February 1943, at Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., Seneca, IL.
  • Launched, 20 July 1943
  • Commissioned USS LST-218, 12 August 1943, LT. Henry O. Powell USN in command
  • During World War II USS LST-218 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LST Flotilla Five, CAPT. J. R. Clark;
    LST Group Fourteen, LCDR. K. L. Deforest USNR;
    LST Division Twenty-Seven and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Gilbert Islands operations, 21 November 8 December 1943 Capture and Occupation of Tinian, 24 July to 10 August 1944.
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to 8 February 1944
    Occupation of Eniwetok Atoll, 17 to 23 February 1944     		Marianas operations
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 15 June to 10 August 1944

  • Following World War II USS LST-218 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    17 to 29 October 1945
    16 November 1945 to 19 January 1946

  • Decommissioned, 19 January 1946 and transferred to Commander Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE) Shipping Control Authority for Japan (SCAJAP), redesignated Q020
  • Returned to United States Navy custody, 28 January 1950
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Bremerton WA. Group, 15 November 1950
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LST-218 earned four battle stars for World War II service
  • Re-activated and transferred to the Republic of South Korea Navy
  • Commissioned ROKS Bibong (LST-809), 3 May 1955
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement
    1,625 t.(lt)
    4,080 t.(fl) (sea-going draft w/1675 ton load)
    2,366 t.
    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
    LST-218
    1016021805    		 157k USS LST-218 underway with LCT(5)-258 loaded on her main deck during the Marinas Operation. LCT(5)-258 was offloaded on 21 June 1944 off Saipan.
    LCT Group 37 6/1/44 to 7/31/44 War Diary page 2, U.S. National Archives, U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 92702.    		 David Upton
    LST-218 154k USS LST-218 unloading cargo via LCMs and LCVPs near the South Pier at Tanapag Harbor, Siapan, 3 August 1944. She did this for the next four days before being sent to USS ARD-16 for repair to her props and shafts due to damage sustained in beaching.
    US National Archives Photo # 80-G-284192, a US Navy photo now in the collection off the National Archives at College Park MD.    		 Tracy White
    LST-218 171k USS LST-218 beached at Okinawa, 9 July 1945. Note that she is carrying LCT-1395 secured to her main deck. Stan Galik for his uncle Andrew (Andy) Galik USS LST-218). Stan Galik is the son of Stan Galik SC/2c USS LCI(L)-35)
    LST-218 167k
    LST-218 165k
    USS LST-218
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Powell, Henry Olyan, USN12 August 1943 - 1944
    02LT. McCarthy, Robert H., USNR1944 - 1 May 1945
    03LT. Brittain, James F., USNR 1 May 1945 - 19 January 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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 21 January 2022