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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

HM LST-173
ex
 USS LST-173 (1943 - 1944)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Yankee - Foxtrot
 NQFY
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
LST-1 Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 24 December 1942, at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co. Evansville, IN.
  • Launched, 24 April 1943
  • Commissioned, USS LST-173, 18 June 1943 at New Orleans, LA.
  • During World War II USS LST-173 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the following actions/campaigns:
    Europe-Africa-Middle East
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Convoy UGS-36, April 1944 Invasion of southern France, August and September 1944

  • Decommissioned, 24 December 1944, and transferred to the Royal Navy
  • Royal Navy History
  • Commissioned into the Royal Navy as HM LST-173, 24 December 1944, at Bizerta, Tunisia
  • HM LST-173 saw service in the Adriatic area and participated in Operation "Doomsday", 8 May 1944, the surrender of German forces in Norway Returned
  • Returned to US Navy custody, 23 April 1946, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 19 June 1946
  • Final Disposition, sold to Luria Brothers and Co., Philadelphia, PA., 22 October 1947 for scrapping
  • LST-173 earned two 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
    Propulsion two General Motors 12-567, 900hp diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LST-173 220k USS LST-173 beached at Anzio, 1944.
    Photo form the National Archives Still Photo Branch.    		 Keven Harris
    LST 173 web site
    LST-173 205k USS LST-173 beached at Baie De Cavalaire southern France, D-Day, 15 August 1944
    Photo from the National Archives Still Photo Branch.    		 Keven Harris
    LST 173 web site
    LST-173 171k USS LST-173 beached at Baie De Cavalaire southern France, D-Day, 15 August 1944 Rich Heller-Sgt. William Heller's World War II Memoirs 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army 1943-1945 web site
    View the LST-173
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS LST 173
    LST Home Port
    State LST Chapters
    United States LST Association
    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 and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 2 May 2008