USS LST-42

Launching of LST-42, 17 August 1943, at Dravo Corp., Neville Island, Pennsylvania
History
United States
Name	LST-42
Builder	Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Laid down	17 June 1943
Launched	17 August 1943
Commissioned	30 September 1943
Decommissioned	26 July 1946
Reclassified	Tank Landing Ship (Hospital), 15 September 1945
Stricken	19 June 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-42 Hull symbol: LST(H)-41 Call sign: NPGD
Honors and awards	5 × battle stars
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 26 March 1948
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	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement	13 officers, 104 enlisted men
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
Part of:	LST Flotilla 3
Operations:	Marshall Islands operation Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls (31 January–8 February 1944) Occupation of Eniwetok Atoll (9 February–2 March 1944) Marianas operation Capture and occupation of Saipan (15 June–28 July 1944) Capture and occupation of Tinian (24–26 July 1944) Battle of Peleliu (6 September–14 October 1944) Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima (19 February 1945–3 March 1945)
Awards:	Combat Action Ribbon China Service Medal American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal w/Asia Clasp

USS LST-42 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used exclusively in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

Construction

LST-42 was laid down on 17 June 1943, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by the Dravo Corporation; launched on 17 August 1943; sponsored by Mrs. F. M. Leslie; and commissioned on 30 September 1943.

Service history

During World War II, LST-42 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater.

Following the war, LST-42 was redesignated LST(H)-41 on 15 September 1945. She performed occupation duty in the Far East until early April 1945.

Upon her return to the United States, the ship was decommissioned on 26 July 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 25 September 1946. On 26 March 1948, she was sold to Kaiser Co., Inc., of Seattle, Washington.

Awards

LST-42 earned five battle stars for World War II service.

Bibliography

• "LST-42". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
• "USS LST-42". NavSource Online. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2022.