Landing Ship, Tank (LST), or tank landing ship, is the naval designation for ships first developed during World War II (1939-1945)to support amphibious operations by carrying tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto shore with no docks or piers. This enabled amphibious assaults on almost any beach. The bow of the LST had a large door that would open with a ramp for unloading the vehicles. The LST had a special flat keel that allowed the ship to be beached and stay upright. The twin propellers and rudders had protection from grounding. The LSTs served across the globe during World War II including in the Pacific War and in the European theatre.
USS LST-1064 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. She was later named Nansemond County, but never saw active service under that name.
USS Bradley County (LST-400) was an LST-1-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for counties in Arkansas and Tennessee, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
USS Chesterfield County (LST-551), originally USS LST-551, was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II and in commission from 1944 to 1955 and again in the late 1960s. Named after Chesterfield County, South Carolina, and Chesterfield County, Virginia, she has been the only U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name.
USS Churchill County (LST-583), originally USS LST-583, was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II and in commission from 1944 to 1946 and 1960 to 1968. Named for Churchill County, Nevada she was the only U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name.
The USS Clarke County (LST-601), originally USS LST-601, was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship built during World War II and in commission from 1944 to 1955 and again in the late 1960s. Named after Clarke County, Alabama; Clarke County, Georgia; Clarke County, Iowa; Clarke County, Mississippi; and Clarke County, Virginia, she was the only U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name.
USS Clearwater County (LST-602), originally USS LST-602, was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship built during World War II and in commission from 1944 to 1946 and from 1950 to ca. 1957. Named after Clearwater County, Idaho, and Clearwater County, Minnesota, she was the only U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name. It was transferred to, and is currently in use by the Mexican Navy.
USS Coconino County (LST-603), originally USS LST-603, was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II and in commission from 1944 to 1955 and from 1966 to 1969. Named after Coconino County, Arizona, she was the only U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name.
USS DeKalb County (LST-715) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in six states, it was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
USS LST-842 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.
USS LST-849 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. Late in her U.S. Navy career, she was renamed Johnson County (LST-849)—after counties in Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming—but never saw active service under that name.
USS Dunn County (LST-742) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in North Dakota and Wisconsin, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
USS LST-546 was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship in commission from 1944 to sometime between 1946 and 1952. From 1952 until 1972 she served in a non-commissioned status in the Military Sea Transportation Service and Military Sealift Command as USNS LST-546 (T-LST-546).
USS LST-607 was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship in commission from 1944 to 1946. She later served in a non-commissioned status in the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS LST-607 (T-LST-607).
USS Colington (AG-148/AKS-29) – also known as USS LST-1085 -- was an LST-511-class tank landing ship launched by the U.S. Navy during the final months of World War II. Colington served as a supply and stores-issue ship for the U.S. 7th Fleet, and was decommissioned after the war.
USS LST-548 was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship in commission from 1944 to 1946. She also served in a non-commissioned status with the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS LST-548 (T-LST-548) from 1952.
USS LST-550 was a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship in commission from 1944 to 1946. She also served in a non-commissioned status with the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS LST-550 (T-LST-550) from 1952.
USS LST-20 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used exclusively in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II and manned by a United States Coast Guard crew. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.
USS LST/LST(H)/T-LST-488 was an LST-1-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II.
USS LST-456 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II.
