USS LST-5

HM LST-5 beached at Madras, India, while loading in preparation for the voyage to Batavia, Java, Dutch East Indies, 2 January 1946. Note that the bow doors have been removed.
History
United States
Name	LST-5
Builder	Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Laid down	12 July 1942
Launched	3 October 1942
Sponsored by	Mrs. John (Jennie) Bartolo
Commissioned	22 February 1943
Decommissioned	17 November 1944
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-5 Code letters: NDNP
Honors and awards	3 × battle stars
Fate	Transferred to the Royal Navy
United Kingdom
Name	LST-5
Commissioned	18 November 1944
Decommissioned	19 February 1946
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 7 October 1947
General characteristics
Type	LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement	4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft Landing at 2,160 t: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
Speed	12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range	24,000 nmi (44,000 km; 28,000 mi) at 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) while displacing 3,960 long tons (4,024 t)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 or 6 x LCVPs
Capacity	2,100 tons oceangoing maximum 350 tons main deckload
Troops	163
Complement	117
Armament	Varied, ultimate armament 2 × twin 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns 4 × single 40 mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons
Service record
Operations:	Sicilian occupation (July 1943) Salerno landings (September 1943) Invasion of Normandy (June 1944)

USS LST-5 was an LST-1-class tank landing ship of the United States Navy built during World War II. She was transferred to the Royal Navy in November 1944.

Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

Construction

LST-5 was laid down on July 12, 1942, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by the Dravo Corporation. Launched on October 3, 1942, she was sponsored by Mrs. Wanetta Rose Barker and was commissioned on February 22, 1943.

USN service history

During LST-5's involvement in World War II, she served in the Mediterranean Theater and European Theater and participated in the following operations: the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the Salerno Landings in September 1943, and the Invasion of Normandy in June 1944.

Royal Navy service

LST-5 was decommissioned from the USN on November 17, 1944, and commissioned into the Royal Navy the next day as HM LST-5. She was refit at Belfast, from January 22 to April 11, 1945, before sailing for service in the Far East the following summer. On February 19, 1946, she was decommissioned from the Royal Navy.

HM LST-5 Crew, Madras, 24 Nov 1945

Final disposition

LST-5 was struck from the Navy list on August 1, 1947. On October 7, 1947, she was sold to the Tung Hwa Trading Co., Singapore, for scrapping.

Bibliography

• "LST-5". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 12 August 2017. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
• "LST-5". Navsource. Navsource.org. 21 September 2007. Retrieved 12 August 2017.

External links

• Photo gallery of USS LST-5 at NavSource Naval History