WW2 Training: The LST Description (1944)

WW2 Training video about the LST (1944)

[@buzzwinklemoose9853]

My late Dad was an LST sailor in the South Pacific. Thanks for posting this video.

[@kellyBorgman]

Dad was on LST 473, he used to have a bumper sticker, LST crew the original Beach Bums !

[@LandNfan]

Very interesting, since I live in Evansviile, IN, where many LSTs were built. We have a restored LST that makes Evansville her home port.

[@chrisfisichella6659]

Those were great ships. I had not idea they were that complicated. The functionality they provided makes sense, though. Thanks for posting this.

[@applesucks2633]

I remember my grandfather telling me he was on an LST. I asked him what that meant he said it was a “large. Stationary. Target“ LOL

[@kellyBorgman]

Also stands for Laughing, Seasick and Terrified !

[@ryandavis7593]

Or Long Slow Target.

[@Wahbooz]

@@kellyBorgman Being the mess decks Master At Arms aboard an LST I can vouch for that

[@robertevans8126]

A "Large Slow Target", but a fine ship! :)

[@Conn30Mtenor]

If seasickness is your thing.

[@jomancell6566]

@@Conn30Mtenor 8ö 1000iu 1000iu

[@markrowland1366]

Great ships and great presentation. The Australian government gave their Antarctic research people one. They were drilling and bolting fishplates to her decks as Hugh seas opened and closed great cracks. It made it. Shows what a tough hull it had.

[@51WCDodge]

They did have a civillian use , the front unload LST. I remember as a kid in the early 1960's a large power station armature was delivered to Jersey in the Channel Islands via and LST onto St Aubins beach. All us kids were down to see her.

[@COIcultist]

They provided the first roll on roll off ferry service. Preston to Larne. www.freightlink.co.uk/knowledge/articles/preston-docks-roll-roll-ferry-history

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

Another part of the rapid production building toward the invasion of Japan. When that was cancelled, the production lines came to a rapid halt. Pretty much everything in the inventory, east or west, would have ended up on some Japanese beach. Kind of a whimper, instead of a bang. But that was a good thing. That campaign would have been hell on earth, for both sides.

[@dennismccunney4462]

Yep. The decision to drop nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was intended to avoid that. US planners estimated that invading the Japanese home islands might incur 200,000 casualties among US forces. God only knows what it would have cost the Japanese.

[@captianmorgan7627]

My Grandfather served on one of these as a gunner in the Pacific. If you get a chance visit the LST Memorial in Evansville, IN. It has LST-325, the last fully operation one in existence.

[@swaghauler8334]

Of that generation. The US Army operates 8? new ones made in the '90s.

[@captianmorgan7627]

@@swaghauler8334 The 1940's on LST-941. An LST-542-class ship. Before that he was an Armed Guard in the Mediterranean on a merchant ship.

[@Beemer917]

It's a story worth hearing, about how a bunch of old guys repaired LST325 and sailed her home from the med.Its the only ww2 left.

[@rodritchison1995]

@@Beemer917 LST 325 is the last operational boat; LST 395 is a museum ship anchored of Muskegon, Michigan.

[@rodritchison1995]

The USS LST 393 is a museum ship. She's at anchor in Muskegon, Michigan. Near the USS Silversides, the most successful US WW2 submarine still in existence.

[@BornRandy62]

I was on LST 963 renamed designated ARL 24 USS Sphinx. The last USN ship to use 40 MM Bofors ammunition in 1989. I was also on LST 1194 USS La Moure County.. and 3 other ships

[@AVB2]

A number of years ago I was part of a group that wanted to save the Sphinx and I traveled to Norfolk, VA to photograph her for this group. She was in mothballs at the James River Reserve Fleet. Spent a couple of hours aboard her taking slides for a slide show. They were not able to raise the $$$ to save her and I assume they sold her for scrap.

[@jeffreyb7665]

Always wondered how it got off the beach. fantastic model and video!

[@davidblyth6594]

You drop the stern anchor before you hit the beach and use it to help pull the ship off the beach along with the engines in full reverse

[@derekhieb7458]

Worked on it a 1919 vintage tug that was repowered on 1957 with the starboard engine V-12 567 EMD and Falk reverse gear, both very reliable and serviceable. Also towed LST's converted to log and concrete barges into the 21st century. When we needed a new propeller we found a brand new surplus spare one for just $10,000. My fourth grade teacher was a signal man on a LST in WWII, Mr Hartwell was my favorite teacher.

[@markmark2080]

Served on LST1032 during 66/67, when underway those two V-12 567's were only exceeded in noise production by Top Fuel, at the drags...

[@AVB2]

There are two of these old girls in the USA that have been preserved as museums. LST 325 in Evansville, Indiana and LST 393 in Muskegon, Michigan. The 325 is operational and travels up and down the Ohio river in the spring, summer and fall. I have visited both of them. I was aboard LST 1154 in the 1960s. She was vastly different from the one in the film. Several years ago I saw a photograph of a US Navy LST on a South Pacific island but I'm not sure of which LST or what island.

[@johnkustra7978]

My dad was on lst 225 and he said after boot camp at Great Lakes in Illinois they took a bus to pick up their new vessel near starved rock and then down the Mississippi through the Panama Canal and transported the gallant marines in the vicious battle of saipan We are fortunate to reap the benefits of their courage God bless America

[@antony3678]

LST were operated by the Australian Army Small Ships Squadron. They were used to run tanks etc to South Vietnam from Australia.

[@jameshartsfield8585]

Useful info, My dad served.

[@railroad9000]

Wondeful design and engineering!

[@bbrisard]

My Dad served on LST 555 during WW 2

[@ifcdirector]

My Grandfather served on LST 474 in the Pacific.

[@tomservo5347]

The sailors assigned to these said the 'LST' stood for 'Large Slow Target'.

[@ConvairDart106]

The anchors on the bow are Navy stockless type. The stern anchor, is called a Danforth. My favorite type, for the Bering Sea.

[@barryhopesgthope686]

I have seen pics and vids of "baby flattops) They had launch decks for launching spotter planes, piper cubs.

[@silverbullet7434]

My uncle was on an lst during ww11 ,my father was on the Wisconsin his brother. Neither ever talked much about the war. Days had plank papers somewhere but I've never found them. First crews on Madden voyage get those so I understand.

[@tonydee2069]

A 'plank owner' usually got an 8x10 photo of the ship, the plank owner info was a brown paper frame around the photo- so if they weren't framed under glass soon, they didn't last.

[@jimjonrs3932]

World war eleven. Wow.

[@warrenchambers4819]

My great uncle was a Lt Cmdr of an LST in WWII. Hit many a beach including Normandy. Any idea how to find more info on his ship? Lt Cmdr Chambers.

[@tonydee2069]

If you have your uncle's discharge, the DD214 info on the back should have the number of any ships he was on long enough to draw pay. There were over 1000 LST skippers out there, so you need more info on him.

[@captianmorgan7627]

For info on the ship itself try NavSource.org. But you'll need to know the ship number/name.

[@shadovanish7435]

I wonder how the bow doors on an LST were kept water tight? There must have been large seals on the door perimeters, but the seals weren't clearly visible in the video, & door sealing against water intrusion wasn't explained. I don't suppose the doors were designed to allow water to enter the ship's hold, & then remove the water using bilge pumps.

[@michaelch5060]

Nothing like the LST I served on!

[@simonyip5978]

Many of the LST from the Second World War were later given to various US allies. Japan, The Peoples Republic of China, The Republic of China (Nationalist China/Taiwan), South Korea, Greece, Turkey, Spain, etc etc. Some were only used for a few years but some were still in active service up until the late 1980's and early 1990's at least. Many ex USN ships, including DD destroyers, LCU, LSM, mine warfare vessels, submarines, ocean tugs, etc etc in East Asia, South East Asia, Central America, South America, Africa, North Africa and the Middle East, Western Europe and the Mediterranean NATO countries used hundreds of different vessels and some are in limited regular service, training and reserve and in Naval museums. It would probably be possible for the US Navy or other organizations to buy them back and to refurbish and refit many of them and recreate original vessels that were used during WW2.

[@tomt6040]

No Beach Out of Reach, No Bar Too Far!!! Go Gator Navy!!

[@Wahbooz]

Spoken like a true Gator!

[@charlesnorthway6203]

My dad was on the 919.

[@leesnotbritish5386]

How does a flank speed of only 10 knots not slow down the whole amphibious force?

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

@obrbob194 No silly. The LSTs make their way to the target beach with appropriate support/air defense craft. The main fast fighting ships would be on a different schedule, either earlier for shore bombardment or else later to arrive around the same time.

[@tonydee2069]

Tell ya prince, I would say, in the last year of the war, especially after the European theatre ended, the allies could afford a big ship convoy, amphib convoy, and supply convoy etc. In '42, Before my father got on the LST, his coast guard lighthouse tender did convoy duty. From New York- to half way to Iceland, because of fuel limits. A convoy of new escorts and faster cargo ships left New York, then Boston, then picked up more ships in Halifax and Newfoundland. One was a sailing ship with a coal boiler. It went 3 knots. Guess who else went 3 knots? The Free French cruiser, RN carrier, brand new US distroyers, and EVERYONE else. Who knows what her cargo was, you weren't leaving it behind. Now, if this X China clipper/ 'swayback scow from Liverpool' - was then to carry supplies for an invasion- Torch? Sicily? Along side new LST's... too bad. then they all went her 3 knots... more like what obrbob said... into late '44 I bet.

[@ryandavis7593]

It was different tactics in WW2 then it is now.

[@jaymeade9898]

Narrated by Harlow Wilcox of Autolite and Fibber McGee and Molly fame.

[@lowerorlop]

Too bad this film is cropped

[@90sNickfan91]

17:27: My Grandfather was on that ship,

[@irkiIIer]

the transport in civilization 3

[@cjdavis2684]

And how are these gallant ships repaid for their faithful service the bulk of them after the war were scrapped and those that weren't scrapped for use for target practice today there's only one remaining where has several of them should have been turned into museum ships.

[@tonydee2069]

One little know museum ship- on Lake Huron? There are several 'hulls' in the US, not all as museums, some are 'customized' beyond recognition. One is a car ferry on Long Island sound, and when ever retired, it will be donated for preservation, but she has no military gear anymore, it looks more like a luxury line! There are several dozen still in foriegn military use in Europe and Asia. As long as what needs a ride fits thru the bow doors. My father's #760 was scrapped at Bremerton within months of being decommissioned, only battle damage was a Japanese 'knee mortar' hole. Dent?

[@COIcultist]

They were service and "Hotel" ships for the brown water navy and their helicopter support in Vietnam.

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

How is a ship gallant exactly? They were made cheap to survive a few years only. I'm surprised if any made it past 1950 without rusting to pieces.

[@davidthelander1299]

I saw one in Tahiti, operated by French navy in 1973 or 1974. I was aboard a Coast Guard icebreaker (Burton Island), on our way to Antarctica. The French invited us aboard for a party, treated us very nice, and a good time was had by all. I was particularly interested in the LST because my father served aboard one in ww2.

[@rogerritchie9132]

I served in Vietnam on a WW2, refurbished 542 class LST. While on her, for 2+ years, during 1966-67. We operated from the Cau Viet estuary, near the DMZ, in the I-Corps, to the SE tip in South VN (VungTau area.) 50+ plus years on, we still get together with other LST crews, to tell stories and other lies (lol). . . I worked for a superb bunch of Black and Brown Petty Officers and some, not all, white officers! The skipper was a southerner (blink blink - nod nod) a couple of other officers were great and fair men. In heavy seas LST,s suck. We were sent to the operational areas known as 'Operation Market Time' in the brown water of the Mekong River - supporting the Navy-Army Riverine Forces! An experience I will never forget!