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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

BAPM-4 / LSD-12 / HMS Dagger
HMS Oceanway (F-143)


LSD-12:
Transferred to the United Kingdom, named HMS Oceanway (F-143)
Loaned to Greece, in 1945, renamed RHS Okeanos
Loaned to France in 1952, renamed RFS Foudre (L-646)
Casa Grande Class Dock Landing Ship:
  • Authorized under the Lend-Lease Act as British Mechanized Artillery Transport BAPM-4
  • Reclassified Landing Ship Dock LSD-12, 1 July 1942
  • Contract awarded for LSD-12 to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA., 10 September 1942
  • LSD-12 was laid down, 23 July 1943, as HMS Dagger at Newport New Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News VA.
  • Launched, 29 December 1943
  • LSD-12 never saw active service in the US Navy
  • Transferred to the United Kingdom, 29 March 1944
  • Commissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Oceanway (F-143)
    HMS Oceanway departed Portland Harbour at 0610 hours, 6 June 1944 arriving at OMAHA BEACH at
    1530 hours the same day to off-load 20 landing craft, each craft loaded with one tank. Oceanway sailed for
    Normandy as part of Follow-up Convoy B2. She departed Omaha at 2200 hours returning to Portland where she
    arrived at 0705 on the morning of 7 June 1944
  • Returned to US custody in 1945
  • Loaned to Greece in 1945, renamed RHS Okeanos
  • Returned to US custody 1952
  • Loaned to France in 1952, renamed RFS Foudre (L-646)
  • Reassigned NATO side number L9020
  • Purchased by France (date unknown)
  • Final Disposition, retired by the French Navy in 1969 and sunk as a target 10 February 1970
    Specifications: (as reported by Office of Naval Intelligence, 7 April 1944)
    Displacement 4,032 (light draft), 7,930 (seagoing - loaded)
    Length 457' 9" o.a.
    Beam 72"
    Draft 8' 2 ½" fwd, 10' ½" aft (light draft); 15' 5 ½" fwd, 16' 2" aft (seagoing loaded)
    Speed 17 knots maximum (design speed)
    Endurance 8,000 miles @ 15 knots
    Crew Complement 17 officers, 237 men; Landing Craft: 6 officers, 30 men
    Troop Complement 22 officers, 218 men
    Well Deck Capacity (varies with mission)
  • 3 LCT (Mk V or VI) each w/ 5 medium tanks or
  • 2 LCT (Mk III or IV) each w/ 12 medium tanks or
  • 14 LCM (Mk III) each w/ 1 medium tank or 1, 500 long tons cargo or
  • 47 DUKW or
  • 41 LVT or
  • Any combination of landing vehicles and landing craft up to capacity or
  • Any combination of United Kingdom Combined Operations amphibious craft or vehicles up to capacity
    Armament
  • 1 - 3"/.50 caliber Dual Purpose single barrel mount in open tub
  • 16- 20MM single barrel Anti-Aircraft mounts (local control)
    (note: above armament was outfitted prior to transfer)
  • 4 - 2 Pound Pom-Pom (barrel count per mount - unknown)
    (note: above armament was outfitted after transfer)
    Propulsion
  • 2 - Babcock and Wilcox Boilers, D Type, 2 Drum, Single Furnace, Single Uptake,
    Oil Fired
  • 2 - Skinner Engines - steam turbine (geared)
  • Twin screws
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    RFS Foudre (L-646)
    LSD-12 45k Ex-LSD-12 at anchor while in service with the French Navy as RFS Foudre (L-646), circa 1968, location unknown. .
    LSD-12 27k RFS Foudre (L-646) at anchor, date and location unknown. .
    LSD-12 39k RFS Foudre (L-646) at anchor, date and location unknown. .
    View the BAPM-4 / LSD-12 / HMS Dagger / HMS Oceanway (F-143)
    DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    No Information Available
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    L9020 "Foudre"
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 28 December 2007