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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Benzie County (LST-266)
ex
 USS LST-266 (1943 - 1955)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Golf - Tango - Golf
 NGTG
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, 11 November 1942, at American Bridge Co., Ambridge, PA.
  • Launched, 16 May 1943
  • Commissioned USS LST-266, 4 August 1943
  • During World War II USS LST-266 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following action/campaign:
    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Convoy UGS-36, April 1944 Invasion of Normandy, June 1944

  • Decommissioned, 25 June 1947
  • Laid up in Reserve
  • Named USS Benzie County (LST-266), 1 July 1955
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 November 1958
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown

  • USS Benzie County earned two battle stars for World War II service as USS LST-266

    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 Source
    LST-266 166k USS LST-266 at anchor, date and location unknown. LST-266 web site
    LST-266 194k World War II Camels cigarette advertisement featuring USS LST-266 Copyright R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Winston-Salem, North Carolina Roger Smoothy
    USS LST-266
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    The USS LST Ship Memorial
    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 by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 22 October 2010