USS LST‑911 was a United States Navy LST‑542‑class tank landing ship constructed during World War II. The vessel was built as part of the massive wartime shipbuilding program that produced over 1 200 LSTs for amphibious operations.
Construction and specifications
- Builder: Bethlehem‑Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
- Laid down: 28 March 1944
- Launched: 30 April 1944
- Commissioned: 12 May 1944
As a member of the LST‑542 class, LST‑911 shared the standard dimensions and capabilities of the class:
| Attribute | Specification (typical for LST‑542 class) |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 1 625 tons (light), 4 080 tons (full load) |
| Length | 328 ft (100 m) |
| Beam | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Draft | 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward, 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft (light) |
| Propulsion | Two General Motors 12‑567 diesel engines, two shafts, 1 700 bhp |
| Speed | 12 knots (22 km/h) |
| Complement | Approximately 104 officers and enlisted men |
| Armament (as built) | 2 × 40 mm gun mounts, 6 × 20 mm gun mounts |
| Cargo capacity | Up to 2 300 tons of vehicles, equipment, and troops; could carry a complement of 20 M4 Sherman tanks or 30 7‑ton trucks, plus up to 200 troops |
Service history
After fitting out, LST‑911 conducted shakedown and training along the U.S. East Coast before transiting the Panama Canal to the Pacific theater. Throughout 1944 and 1945 the ship participated in a series of amphibious operations supporting the island‑hopping campaign. Official Navy records list LST‑911 as taking part in the assault and occupation of Okinawa (Operation Iceberg) during April–June 1945, where she delivered tanks, vehicles, and personnel to the beaches and performed casualty evacuation and supply runs.
Following the end of hostilities, LST‑911 remained in the Pacific for occupation duties and the repatriation of personnel. The vessel returned to the United States in early 1946.
Decommissioning and fate
- Decommissioned: 15 March 1946 at San Diego, California
- Struck from the Naval Vessel Register: 28 April 1946
- Disposal: Sold for civilian commercial use in 1947; subsequent commercial service and final disposition are not documented in publicly available naval records.
Legacy
USS LST‑911 earned one battle star for World War II service. As with many of her sister ships, she contributed to the logistical capabilities that enabled large‑scale amphibious assaults in the Pacific, a key factor in Allied victory.