USS LST-21
invasion , 6 June 1944. Note the nickname "Virgin" on the "Sherman" tank at left.
| |
History | |
---|---|
United States | |
Name | LST-21 |
Operator | |
Builder | Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, Delaware |
Laid down | 25 September 1942 |
Launched | 18 February 1943 |
Sponsored by | Mrs. Lillian M. Lloyd |
Commissioned | 14 April 1943 |
Decommissioned | 25 January 1946 |
Stricken | 19 June 1946 |
Identification |
|
Nickname(s) | "Blackjack Maru" |
Honors and awards | battle star |
Fate | Sold for scrapping, 12 March 1948 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | tank landing ship |
Displacement |
|
Length | 328 ft (100 m) oa |
Beam | 50 ft (15 m) |
Draft |
|
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 st (22,000–27,000 lb; 10,000–12,000 kg) cargo depending on mission |
Troops | 16 enlisted men |
Complement | 13 officers, 104 enlisted men |
Armament |
|
Service record | |
Part of: | LST Flotilla 17 |
Operations: | Normandy landings (6–25 June 1944) |
Awards: |
|
USS LST-21 was a
Construction and commissioning
LST-21 was laid down on 25 September 1942, at Wilmington, Delaware, by the
Service history
During the war, LST-21 was manned by the United States Coast Guard. She served primarily in the Europe–Africa–Middle East Theater from August 1943 until January 1946, but also transported British forces from Calcutta, India, and landed them as Regu Beach, Burma.[3][1]
1943 convoy duty
On 27 July 1943, LST-21 set sail from
Italian campaign
On 11 September 1943, LST-21 set sail for Oran, Algeria, in company with LST-17, LST-25, LST-72, LST-73, LST-175, LST-176, LST-208, LST-209, and LST-261, and HMS LST-79, HMS LST-180, HMS LST-214, HMS LST-215, HMS LST-237, HMS LST-238, and HMS LST-239, for a rendezvous with Convoy KMS 25. This group of LSTs carried landing craft tanks (LCTs) on deck for delivery at destination.[2]
After passing Algiers, the entire contingent of LSTs was ordered at 15:00 to return immediately to Algiers. At 20:24 LST-21 anchored off the harbor. At 11:30, 14 September, LST-21 entered the harbor where the LCT was removed. At 19:00 that evening, LST-21 set sail as flagship, Commander W. S. Blair, for Syracuse, Sicily; in company with six LSTs. Off the Gulf of Tunis the group was ordered to return to Bizerte, Tunisia.[5][2]
LST-21 arrived in Bizerte at 16:30, 16 September, and proceeded to Carouba Docks where 63
At 20:00, 21 September, they sailed for
At 20:00, LST-21 got underway and proceeded in company with LST-214 for Catania without escort. At 08:00, 27 September, they arrived at Catania and anchored awaiting further orders. At 12:00, they got underway for Taranto, Italy. At 08:30, 28 September, they arrived at Taranto and discharged their cargo during the morning. On 29 September, they took aboard 27 tanks and 18 vehicles as well as 184 officers and men of the 5th and 12th Canadian Transport Regiments. At 05:30, 30 September, they sailed for Barletta, Italy, in company with LST-175, LST-214, and LST-261, with minesweeper HMT Stroma for escort.[8][2]
The group arrived off of Barletta on 1 October, at 13:00. They heaved to off the harbor and were boarded by British Naval Officers in Charge, who instructed them to proceed to
On 2 October, they departed Manfredonia, proceeded south along the Italian Coast and anchored at 18:00 in Brindisi Harbor. At 15:40 on 3 October, they departed Brindisi Harbor as additional escort for SS Ocean Vesper and proceeded toward Taranto. At 15:20, they arrived at Taranto and anchored in the outer harbor. At 18:00 LST-21 in company with and in command of LST-175, LST-214, and LST-261, departed Taranto for Algiers, Algeria, without escort. On 8 October, the Group arrived at Algiers at 21:15.[10][2]
Tank landing at Regu Beach Burma
LST-21 sailed from Algiers, Algeria, to Port Said, Egypt, in October 1943, this time joining with Convoy UGS 19.[11] She left 11 November, for Colombo, British Ceylon, arriving on 16 November, with Convoy BM 74.[12]
On 1 December 1943, LST-21 was at
At the end of December she left
1944 convoy duty from Africa to United Kingdom
LST-21 joined
On 28 January 1944, LST-21 got underway from Bizerte to join a convoy leaving the Mediterranean for England. They were noted to have air coverage as a protection against
On 1 February 1944, LST-21 sailed past Alboran Island and at 18:30 passed through the Straits of Gibraltar. The convoy continued heading west until they were over 200 mi (320 km) off the coast of Spain and then headed north. They sailed without incident until 5 February, when, at 09:30, one of the destroyer escorts let go with a white flare and started screening the starboard side of the convoy with a smokescreen. At 12:22, they sighted an unidentified aircraft dead ahead and high. An escort ahead opened fire and it soon disappeared into the clouds. The convoy presumed they were spotted.[18]
On 7 February 1944, at 08:25, an escort off of the starboard beam hoisted the black pennant and dropped a depth charge. At 09:00, two British aircraft carriers and seven sloops as escorts rendezvoused with the convoy. At 12:55, an escort ahead indicated an underwater contact and, at 13:02, dropped five depth charges in quick succession. LST-21 went to General Quarters but the escort later gave up the search. At 13:23, an escort astern indicated contact but continued with the convoy after a brief delay. At 15;10 another escort on the starboard bow made a contact and ran alongside the starboard side of the convoy and, at 15:13 dropped one depth charge. Another escort joined the search, but a few minutes later they gave up the search and took station with the convoy. It was determined that they had run into a "wolf pack".[19]
At daybreak on 8 February 1944, planes from the escort carriers were covering the convoy. At 13:00, the convoy changed course and started the last leg of the route toward the British Isles. At 19:30, fog set in and all ships were out of sight of LST-21 which turned on navigation lights and sounded whistle to avoid collision. At 8:45, the fog lifted and at 24:00 the convoy executed an emergency turn to starboard. On 9 February, at 00:35, the convoy resumed it course. At 01:13, they received a radio message that a submarine, U-238, was sunk off the port side of the convoy. At 08:11, the convoy executed an emergency turn of 45 degrees to port, and at 08:40 resumed course. At 10:10, an escort on the starboard bow indicated a contact. LST-21's radioman tuned into an extra receiver on the escorts' and the planes' frequency and the officers and crew in LST-21's wheelhouse listened in on their communications. At approximately 11:00, a plane reported a sub on the surface bearing 150 degrees. The pilot kept repeating this to the Escort Commander, until the reply came back: "Stop telling us about it and get the 'bowstud.'" A few minutes later, the plane reported back: "One down. One down." At 12:14, all ships received a message from the convoy commander confirming the sinking of the second submarine. The weather was thick and visibility only about a mile and a half. At 16:45, they received another message from the Commodore confirming the sinking of a third submarine. The escorts and planes were noted to be having a difficult time with communications due to all of the contacts, real or imagined.[20]
On 10 February 1944, soon after daybreak, the Convoy Commodore sent out another message to all ships announcing that a fourth submarine had been sunk during the night. At 08:30, all LSTs were detached from the main convoy and they headed east to make land. LST-215, with Commander Owles, R.N., was flagship. On 11 February, LST-21 and the other LSTs of Commander William Blair's group (except LST-72 and LST-261 which remained in Oran for repairs) were detached off the southwest coast of Ireland and given one escort. Other LSTs proceeded up the west coast of Ireland for eventual destination of Scapa Flow.[21]
Because of the change in destination from Plymouth to Milford Haven, and thus having no charts of the south coast of Ireland, LST-21's navigation officer took a plotting sheet and drew in the mineswept channel and the lights were plotted in by taking their position from the Admiralty list of lights. With that as a chart, they proceeded through the mineswept channel. At 14:55, the escort reported unidentified aircraft and fired its anti-aircraft guns. LST-21 went to General Quarters.[22]
On 12 February 1944, at 09:00 LST-21 entered Milford Haven and at 09:40 moored off the town of Milford following what was described as a rough and tiring trip.[23]
Pre-Normandy Invasion activity in Wales, England and Northern Ireland
LST-21 remained in Milford Haven until 3 March 1944, when it sailed with other LSTs to Plymouth, England. LST-21 arrived in Plymouth, on 4 March, and remained moored there overnight. On 5 March, LST-21 sailed to Portland, and anchored off the harbor in
On 31 March 1994, LST-21 sailed to
Normandy invasion
By February 1944, LST-21 was in England preparing for the invasion of Normandy. On 16 April 1944, she was transferred with other ships of LST Division 101, Group 51, Flotilla 17, from detached duty with the 11th Amphibious Force to British operational control. LST Division 101 consisted of LST-21 as the flagship, along with LST-17, LST-25, LST-72, LST-73, LST-176, and
Considerable activity was observed on the beaches and the "Jig Green" beach area was under fire from a
Mooring at Southampton on 8 June 1944, LST-21 discharged casualties and loaded 40 vehicles and 146 Army personnel. At 14:45 on 9 June, she was underway in convoy for the "Gold" assault area, arriving off the Normandy coast on 10 June 1944, and underway to "Jig Green" beach at 16:49. Made smoke on red alert and observed considerable anti-aircraft fire and bomb bursts. At 23:34 she retracted from the beach and proceeded to the outbound area awaiting anchorage. Enemy aircraft were active intermittently during the early morning of 11 June 1944, and at 09:35 on that date she joined a northbound convoy for the
Arriving on 12 June, she proceeded to the
After being repaired, she remained in service between England and Normandy, making shuttle runs back and forth.[2]
She departed
She first sailed to Belfast, departing there on 11 May 1945, in Convoy ONS 50 and arrived at Norfolk, Virginia on 31 May 1945. She then proceeded to New York on 1 June 1945, for availability. Departing New York on 13 August 1945, she proceeded to Little Creek, where she remained until 23 August 1945. On 25 August, she arrived at Casco Bay, Maine, and remained there until 4 October 1945, returning to Boston on 6 October. On 1 November 1945, she departed for Hampton Roads, with a load of ammunition. She returned to New York on 14 December 1945, and then sailed for Norfolk, arriving there on 7 January 1946.[2]
1945 convoy duty
LST-21 left from Liverpool, on 11 May 1945, as part of Convoy ONS 50 bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she arrived on 29 May.[28]
Postwar career
Captained by Lt. (sr.g.) R. E. Donegan, USCG, LST-21 arrived at Norwalk Harbor for Navy Day celebrations 27 October 1945. The ship arrived on Thursday, 25 October, coming from Casco Bay, Maine, with a crew of 100. The LST made perhaps its last beach landing at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, and over the course of Saturday and Sunday received up to 20,000 visitors.[29]
LST-21 was decommissioned on 25 January 1946, and struck from the
Honors and awards
LST-21 earned one battle star for her World War II service.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d DANFS-LST-21.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Coast Guard.
- ^ NS LST-21 2011.
- ^ Personal Log of LTJG F.X. Moffitt
- ^ Report of USS LST-21 to Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet
- ^ Report of USS LST-21 to Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet
- ^ Report of USS LST-21 to Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet
- ^ Report of USS LST-21 to Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet
- ^ Report of USS LST-21 to Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet
- ^ Report of USS LST-21 to Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet
- ^ Convoy UGS 19.
- ^ Convoy BM 74.
- ^ Convoy CJ 9A.
- ^ Convoy MKS 38.
- ^ Convoy MKS 38G.
- ^ Convoy SL 147/MKS 38.
- ^ Personal Log of LTJG F.X. Moffitt
- ^ Personal Log of LTJG F.X. Moffitt
- ^ Personal Log of LTJG F.X. Moffitt
- ^ Personal log of LTJG F. X. Moffitt
- ^ Personal Log of LTJG F.X. Moffitt
- ^ Personal log of LTJG F. X. Moffitt
- ^ Personal log of LTJG F. X. Moffitt
- ^ Personal Log of LTJG F.X. Moffitt
- ^ Personal Log of LTJG F.X. Moffitt
- ^ Convoy ECM 19.
- ^ Convoy FCM 21.
- ^ Convoy ONS 50.
- ^ "not forward". The Norwalk Hour. 27 October 1945. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
Bibliography
- "LST-21". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 16 August 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- "USS LST-21". NavSource Online. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
- "Convoy UGS.19". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- "Convoy BM.74". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- "Convoy CJ.9A". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- "Convoy MKS.38". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- "Convoy MKS.38G". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- "Convoy SL 147/MKS 38". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- "Convoy ECM.19". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- "Convoy FCM.21". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- "Convoy ONS.50". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- "USS LST-21" (PDF). Retrieved 18 April 2017. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
External links
- Photo gallery of USS LST-21 at NavSource Naval History