USS LST-906

USS LST-906 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

Undated photo of LST-906 underway in the Mediterranean. She is fitted with a 220 ft × 16 ft (67.1 m × 4.9 m) temporary flight deck for launching USAAF Piper L-4 Grasshopper observation aircraft, one of which is shown, ready for launching.
History
United States
Name: LST-906
Builder: Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Yard number: 3376[1]
Laid down: 24 January 1944
Launched: 11 March 1944
Sponsored by: Mrs. Henry Levine
Commissioned: 27 April 1944
Decommissioned: 20 May 1945
Stricken: 22 June 1945
Identification:
Honors and
awards:		 1 × battle star
Fate: grounded at Leghorn, Italy, 18 October 1944
Status: sold for scrap, 22 June 1945
General characteristics [2]
Class and type: LST-542-class tank landing ship
Displacement:
  • 1,625 long tons (1,651 t) (light)
  • 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) (full (seagoing draft with 1,675 short tons (1,520 t) load)
  • 2,366 long tons (2,404 t) (beaching)
Length: 328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam: 50 ft (15 m)
Draft:
  • Unloaded: 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward; 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft
  • Full load: 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft
  • Landing with 500 short tons (450 t) load: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
  • Limiting 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
  • Maximum navigation 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
Installed power:
Propulsion:
Speed: 11.6 kn (21.5 km/h; 13.3 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 x LCVPs
Capacity: 1,600–1,900 short tons (3,200,000–3,800,000 lb; 1,500,000–1,700,000 kg) cargo depending on mission
Troops: 16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement: 13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 6 × L-4B “Grasshopper”[3]
Aviation facilities: Custom-built mesh airstrip[3]

Construction

LST-906 was laid down on 24 January 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 11 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Henry Levine; and commissioned on 27 April 1944,[4] with Ensign R. J. Driken, USN, in command.[2]

Service history
LST-906 during Invasion of Southern France, Toulon, August 1944

During World War II, LST-906 was assigned to the European Theatre.[4]

USS LST-906, with US Army Air Force L-4 Grasshopper on her flight deck being prepared for take-off. Note additional L-4 type aircraft stowed alongside the deck.

While in the Mediterranean, Seabees converted LST-906 into a makeshift aircraft carrier sporting a custom-built mesh airstrip above deck. She was the base for six USAAF L-4B "Grasshoppers" flown as artillery spotters for the US 3rd Infantry Division during the invasion of southern France in September 1944.[2] LST-906 was one of six LSTs to be converted. The others being LST-16, LST-158, LST-337, LST-386, and LST-525.[3]

While at anchor at Leghorn, Italy, heavy seas on 18 October 1944 caused LST-906 to drag anchor and run aground. On 6 December a storm caused further damage to the still-grounded ship.[5]

The ship was decommissioned on 20 May 1945, struck from the Navy list on 22 June 1945, and sold for scrap soon thereafter.[4]

Awards

LST-906 earned one battle star for World War II service.[4]

Notes

    Citations
    1. Bethlehem-Hingham 2011.
    2. Navsource 2016.
    3. Rottman & Bryan 2005, p. 47.
    4. DANFS.
    5. Cressman 2000.

    Bibliography

    Online resources

    • "LST-906". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 17 May 2017. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
    • "Bethlehem-Hingham, Hingham MA". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
    • "USS LST-906". Navsource.org. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2017.

    Printed resources


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