USS LST-446

USS LST-446 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II.

USS LST-446, launching at Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington, 18 September 1942. The pilothouse and smoke stack belong to the paddle-wheel tug at the LSTs stern.
History
United States
Name: LST-446
Ordered: as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 966[1]
Builder: Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Washington
Yard number: 150[1]
Laid down: 15 June 1942
Launched: 18 September 1942
Commissioned: 30 November 1942
Decommissioned: 13 July 1946
Identification:
Honors and
awards:		 6 × battle stars
Fate: sold 10 February 1947
United States
Operator: Suwannee Fruit & Steamship Company, Jacksonville, Florida
Refit: converted to commercial service
Status: fate unknown
General characteristics [2]
Class and type: LST-1-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 2 in (2.49 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
Installed power:
Propulsion:
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 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:
Service record
Part of: LST Flotilla 5
Operations:
Awards:

Construction

LST-446 was laid down on 15 June 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 966, by Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington; launched on 18 September 1942; and commissioned on 30 November 1942,[1] with Lieutenant Harry A. Swartz, USNR in command.[3]

Service history

During the war, LST-446 was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations. She took part in the consolidation of the southern Solomons from March through April 1943; the New Georgia Campaign which included the New Georgia-Rendova-Vangunu occupation in July and August 1943, and the Vella Lavella occupation in August 1943; the occupation and defense of Cape Torokina November and December 1943; the Green Islands landing February 1944; the assault and occupation of Guam July 1944; and the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto April 1945. [3]

Post-war service

Following the war, LST-446 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-December 1945. Upon her return to the United States, the tank landing ship was decommissioned on 13 July 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 8 October 1946. On 10 February 1947, she was sold to the Suwannee Fruit & Steamship Co., of Jacksonville, Florida, for conversion to merchant service.[3]

Honors and awards

LST-446 earned six battle stars for her World War II service.[3]

Notes

    Citations

    1. Kaiser Vancouver 2010.
    2. Navsource 2014.
    3. DANFS.

    Bibliography

    Online resources

    • "LST-446". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 1 April 2017. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
    • "Kaiser Vancouver, Vancouver WA". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
    • "USS LST-446". Navsource.org. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2017.


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