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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:
  • 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
    LST-138 76k ex LST-138 as Altalena underway bound for Israel with volunteers and freedom fighters on board, June 1948. David Taggar
    LST-138 14k ex LST-138 as Altalena burning on the beach at Tel Aviv, Israel, 20 June 1948. David Taggar
    LST-138 21k ex LST-138 as Altalena abandoned on the beach at Tel Aviv, Israel, 20 June 1948. David Taggar
    LST-138 45k ex LST-138 as Altalena abandoned on the beach at Tel Aviv, Israel, 20 June 1948. David Taggar
    LST-138 44k ex LST-138 as Altalena abandoned on the beach at Tel Aviv, Israel, 20 June 1948. David Taggar
    LST-138 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
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Tank Landing Ship (LST) Photo Index
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    This page is created by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 7 April 2006