USS LST-450

USS LST-450 c. 1944, probably during the Marianas operation.
History
United States
Name	LST-450
Ordered	as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 970[1]
Builder	Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California
Yard number	154[1]
Laid down	10 July 1942
Launched	4 October 1942
Commissioned	6 January 1943
Decommissioned	8 April 1946
Reclassified	Landing Ship Tank (Hospital) LST(H)-450, 15 September 1945
Stricken	17 April 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-450 Hull symbol: LST(H)-450 Code letters: NFEC
Honors and awards	3 × battle stars
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 16 April 1948
General characteristics [2]
Class and 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 13
Operations:	Capture and occupation of Saipan (15 June–30 July 1944) Tinian Capture and occupation (24–30 July 1944) Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (April 1945)
Awards:	Navy Unit Commendation American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal

USS LST/LST(H)-450 was an LST-1-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II.

LST-450 was laid down on 10 July 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 970, by Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington; launched on 4 October 1942; and commissioned on 6 January 1943.^[3][2]

During World War II, LST-450 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following operations: the capture and occupation of Saipan in June and July 1944; the capture and occupation of Tinian in July 1944; and the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto April 1945.^[3]

Following the war, LST-450 was redesignated LST(H)-450 on 15 September 1945. She performed occupation duty in the Far East until early December 1945. Upon her return to the United States, she was decommissioned on 8 April 1946, and struck from the Navy list on 17 April that same year. On 16 April 1948, the ship was sold to the Bethlehem Steel Co., of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and subsequently scrapped.^[3]

LST-450 earned three battle stars for World War II service.^[3]

Citations

Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS LST-450.

• Photo gallery of USS LST-450 at NavSource Naval History