Undated photo of
LST-906 underway in the Mediterranean. She is fitted with a 220 ft × 16 ft (67.1 m × 4.9 m) temporary flight deck for launching
USAAF Piper L-4 Grasshopper observation aircraft, one of which is shown, ready for launching.
History United States Name LST-906 Builder Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard , Hingham, Massachusetts Yard number 3376 Laid down 24 January 1944 Launched 11 March 1944 Sponsored by Mrs. Henry Levine Commissioned 27 April 1944 Decommissioned 20 May 1945 Stricken 22 June 1945 Identification Honors and battle star Fate Sold for scrap, 22 June 1945 General characteristics Class and type LST-542 -classtank 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 3 in (2.51 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
Limiting 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
Maximum navigation 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
Installed power Propulsion Speed 11.6 kn (21.5 km/h ; 13.3 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 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 Aircraft carried 6 × L-4B “Grasshopper” Aviation facilities Custom-built mesh airstrip
USS LST-906 was an LST-542 -classtank 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.
Construction
LST-906 was laid down on 24 January 1944, at Hingham, Massachusetts , by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard ; launched on 11 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Henry Levine; and commissioned on 27 April 1944.
Service history
LST-906 during Invasion of Southern France, Toulon, August 1944 During World War II, LST-906 was assigned to the European Theatre .
USS LST-906 , with US Army Air Force L-4 Grasshopper on her flight deck being prepared for take-off. Note additional L-4 type aircraft stowed alongside the deck. While in the Mediterranean , Seabees converted LST-906 into a makeshift aircraft carrier sporting a custom-built mesh airstrip above deck. She was the base for six USAAF L-4B "Grasshoppers" flown as artillery spotters for the US 3rd Infantry Division during the invasion of southern France in September 1944. LST-906 was one of six LSTs to be converted. The others being LST-16 LST-158 , LST-337 , LST-386 , and LST-525
While at anchor at Leghorn , Italy , heavy seas on 18 October 1944 caused LST-906 to drag anchor and run aground. On 6 December a storm caused further damage to the still-grounded ship.
The ship was decommissioned on 20 May 1945, struck from the Navy list on 22 June 1945, and sold for scrap soon thereafter.
Awards
LST-906 earned one battle star for World War II service.
LST-542-class tank landing ships
MARCOM Ships built by Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
United States
1 × battle star
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