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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LST-138

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal

LST-1 Class Tank Landing Ship:

Laid down, 27 October 1943, at American Bridge Co., Ambridge, PA.

Launched, 30 December 1943

Commissioned USS LST-138, 5 February 1944.

During World War II, LST-138 was assigned to the European Theater and took part in the:

Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944

Decommissioned, 20 November 1945

Struck from the Naval Register, 5 December 1945

Sold for conversion to merchant service, 16 June 1947, to Three Star Line, Inc., Lake Charles, LA.

Purchased by the Irgun Etzel (Jewish freedom fighters), named Altalena, used to transport passengers and arms during a truce

Final Disposition, shelled and burned on the beach at Tel Aviv, Israel during the Israeli War for Independence, 20 June 1948, blown up by the Haganah

LST-138 earned one battle star 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 4 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
Propulsion two General Motors 12-567, 900hp diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
Commercial Service
	76k	ex *LST-138* as *Altalena* underway bound for Israel with volunteers and freedom fighters on board, June 1948.	David Taggar
	14k	ex *LST-138* as *Altalena* burning on the beach at Tel Aviv, Israel, 20 June 1948.	David Taggar
	21k	ex *LST-138* as *Altalena* abandoned on the beach at Tel Aviv, Israel, 20 June 1948.	David Taggar
	45k	ex *LST-138* as *Altalena* abandoned on the beach at Tel Aviv, Israel, 20 June 1948.	David Taggar
	44k	ex *LST-138* as *Altalena* abandoned on the beach at Tel Aviv, Israel, 20 June 1948.	David Taggar
	22k	ex *LST-138* as *Altalena* abandoned on the beach at Tel Aviv, Israel, date unknown.	David Taggar

View the LST-138
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
The USS LST Ship Memorial
LST Home Port
State LST Chapters
United States LST Association
The Altalena Affair

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This page is created by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 7 April 2006