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

RFS Rance (L9004)
ex
 USS LST(H)-223 (1945 - 1946)
 USS LST-223 (1943 - 1945)


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Charlie - Lima
 NQCL
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal
LST-1 Class Tank Landing Ship
  • Laid down, 31 March 1943, at Chicago Bridge & Iron Co., Seneca, IL.
  • Launched, 24 August 1943
  • Commissioned USS LST 223, 17 September 1943, Lt. Thomas S. Moulton, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS LST-223 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marshall Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls
    January and February 1944     		Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, June 1944
    Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, October and November 1944     		.

  • Following World War II USS LST-223 performed occupation duty in the Far East until November 1945
  • Redesignated USS LST(H)-223, Landing Ship Tank, Hospital 15 September 1945
  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Transferred, 13 March 1947 to the State Department for disposal
  • Struck from the Naval Register, dates unknown
  • Transferred to France by the State Department in 1951, named RFS Rance (L9004)
  • Decommissioned by the French Navy, 8 March 1961
  • Final Disposition, scrapped, date unknown
  • USS LST-223 earned three 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
    USS LST-223
    LST-223 30k USS LST-223 underway, date and location unknown. LST Home Port web site
    RFS Rance (L9004)
    LST-223 34k RFS Rance (L-9004) insignia badge Submitted by André Pilon Quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo
    LST-223 99k US Navy band and Gisha dancers greet RFS Rance (L-9004) as she arrives at Yokosuka, Japan in 1951. Note CVE in the background along with three LCTs. Submitted by André Pilon Quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo Courtesy Quartermaster (radio) Guillevic RFS Rance
    LST-223 82k RFS Rance (L-9004) sailors and American GIs in Yokosuka, Japan in 1951. Submitted by André Pilon Quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo Courtesy Quartermaster (radio) Guillevic RFS Rance
    LST-223 81k RFS Rance (L-9004) crew members at Casablanca, Morocco in 1956. Photo by Marcel Picard, matelot mecanician, RFS Vire submitted by André Pilon RFS Golo
    LST-223 59k maneuvering one of RFS Rance (L-9004)'s small craft in front of the open bow doors while at Casablanca, Morocco in 1956. Photo by Marcel Picard, matelot mecanician, RFS Vire submitted by André Pilon RFS Golo
    LST-223 33k RFS Rance (L-9004) anchored off the coast of Algeria, circa 1960. Submitted by André Pilon Quartermaster (signalman) RFS Golo Courtesy Loic Pairel
    View the USS LST-223
    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
    LST Homeport
    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
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    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