Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LST-26


USS LST-26 was manned by the US Coast Guard during World War II
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)
LST-1 Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 16 November 1942, at Dravo Corp., Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Launched, 31 March 1943
  • Commissioned USS LST-26, 7 June 1943, LT. Raymond B. Newell: 7 June 1943 - ?, in command
    Succeeding Commanding Officers
    LT. Frederick R. Ketcham, USCGR: ?
    ENS. E. W. Dahl, USCGR: 11 December 1945 - 31 December 1945
    LCDR Leroy Howell: 31 December 1945 - 1 April 1946
  • During World War II LST-26 served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. LST Flotilla 7, Group 21, Division 41, and participated in the following operations:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Bismarck Archipelago operation
    Cape Gloucester, New Britain-December 1943 and January 1944     		Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, October and November 1944
    Hollandia operation, April and May 1944 Consolidation and capture of the southern Philippines
    Mindanao Island landings-March 1945
    Western New Guinea operations
    Toem-Wakde-Sarmi area operation-May 1944
    Biak Island operation-May and June 1944
    Noemfoor Island operation-July 1944
    Cape Sansapor operation-July and August 1944
    Morotai landings-September 1944     		.

  • Following World War II LST-26 performed occupation service until early November 1945 which included China service from 3 to 10 October 1945
  • Decommissioned, 1 April 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 8 May 1946
  • Final Disposition, sold to Arctic Circle Exploration, Seattle, WA., 17 June 1946 for conversion to commercial service, fate unknown
  • LST-26 earned five battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications: (as reported by Office of Naval Intelligence-1945)
    Displacement 1,625 t.(lt), 4,080 t.(fl) (sea-going draft w/1675 ton load)
    Length 328' o.a.
    Beam 50'
    Draft
    (light) - 2' 4" fwd, 7' 6" aft
    (sea-going) 8' 3" fwd, 14' 1" aft
    (landing) 3' 11" fwd, 9' 10" aft (landing w/500 ton load)
    Speed 12 kts. (maximum)
    Endurance 24,000 miles @ 9kts. while displacing 3960 tons
    Complement
    7 officers, 104 enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    16 officers, 147 enlisted
    Boats 2 LCVP
    Cargo Capacity (varied with mission - payloads between 1600 and 1900 tons)
    Typical loads
    One Landing Craft Tank (LCT), tanks, wheeled and tracked vehicles, artillery, construction equipment and military supplies. A ramp or elevator forward allowed vehicles access to tank deck from main deck
    Additional capacity included sectional pontoons carried on each side of vessel amidships, to either build Rhino Barges or use as causeways. Married to the bow ramp, the causeways would enabled payloads to be delivered ashore from deeper water or where a beachhead would not allow the vessel to be grounded forward after ballasting
    Armament (varied with availability when each vessel was outfitted. Retro-fitting was accomplished throughout WWII. The ultimate armament design for United States vessels was
    2 - Twin 40MM gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors
    4 - Single 40MM gun mounts
    12 single 20MM gun mounts
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Submitted
    By
    LST-26/LST-22 105k LST-26 unloading on the beach at Hollandia. (circa May 1944?). LST-22 is the LST alongside LST-26. The LST in the far distance is unidentified.
    US Coast Guard photo # 2301, from USCG Historian's Office, photographer unknown.    		 Keith D Lumsden
    LST-26 92k LST-26 beached while unloading fuel drums at Biak Island, date unknown.
    US Coast Guard photo from USCG Historian's Office.    		 Don Leal USS LST-19 and USS LST 67
    View the LST-26
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    LST Home Port
    State LST Chapters
    United States LST Association
    U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office - USS LST-26
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Tank Landing Ship (LST) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 26 January 2007