HM LST-426

HM LST-426 and other LSTs, mid-1943 at the dockside of Sousse Harbour, Tunisia. The ships are being loaded with vehicles and equipment in preparation for the invasion of Sicily.
History
United Kingdom
Name	LST-426
Ordered	as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 946[1]
Builder	Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland
Yard number	2198[1]
Laid down	16 November 1942
Launched	11 December 1942
Commissioned	16 February 1943
Decommissioned	23 April 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-426
Fate	Returned to USN custody, 23 April 1946
United States
Name	LST-426
Acquired	23 April 1946
Stricken	19 June 1946
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 2 December 1947
General characteristics [2]
Class and type	LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement	4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft Landing at 2,160 t: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
Speed	12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range	24,000 nmi (44,000 km; 28,000 mi) at 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) while displacing 3,960 long tons (4,024 t)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 or 6 x LCVPs
Capacity	2,100 tons oceangoing maximum 350 tons main deckload
Troops	163
Complement	117
Armament	Varied, ultimate armament 1 × QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval gun 6 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannon 4 × Fast Aerial Mine (FAM) mounts

HMS LST-426 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship that was transferred to the Royal Navy during World War II. As with many of her class, the ship was never named. Instead, she was referred to by her hull designation.

LST-426 was laid down on 16 November 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 946, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; launched 11 December 1942; then transferred to the United Kingdom and commissioned on 16 February 1943.^[3]

LST-426 saw no active service in the United States Navy. She was decommissioned and returned to United States Navy custody on 23 April 1946, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 19 June 1946. On 2 December 1947, she was sold to N. Block & Co., Norfolk, Virginia, and subsequently scrapped.^[3]

• List of United States Navy LSTs

Citations

• Photo gallery of LST-426 at NavSource Naval History