USS LST-27

USS LST-27 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used exclusively in the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater during World War II and manned by a United States Coast Guard crew. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

USS LST-27 beached alongside an unidentified LST in England in early June 1944, while loading out for the invasion of France.
History
United States
Name	LST-27
Builder	Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Laid down	10 December 1942
Launched	27 April 1943
Sponsored by	Mrs. R. R. Creed
Commissioned	16 June 1943
Decommissioned	9 November 1945
Stricken	28 November 1945
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-27 Code letters: NDSC
Honors & awards	2 × battle stars
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 15 December 1947
General characteristics [1]
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	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement	13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament	Varied, ultimate armament 2 × twin 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns 4 × single 40 mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons
Service record
Part of:	LST Flotilla 11
Operations:	Normandy landings (6–25 June 1944)
Awards:	American Campaign Medal European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal

Construction

LST-27 was laid down on 10 December 1942, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by the Dravo Corporation; launched on 27 April 1943; sponsored by Mrs. R. R. Creed;^[2] and commissioned on 25 June 1943.^[1]

Service history

On 4 April 1944, she was in the Mediterranean reaching Tunisia, on 13 April 1944.^[3] There are records that indicate she traveled from Oran, Algeria, joining Convoy MKS 46 sometime after 9 April 1944,^[4] arriving in Gibraltar on 21 April 1944. She departed Gibraltar on 22 April 1944, with Convoy MKS 46G^[5] to rendezvous with Convoy SL 155 on April 23, 1944, arriving in Liverpool on 3 May 1944.^[6]

She participated in the invasion at Omaha Beach. LST-27 departing from Trebah near Falmouth, Cornwall,^[7] for the Normandy coast on 5 June 1944, transporting units of the 29th Infantry Division. She remained in British waters until 2 July 1944, when she departed for Norfolk, Virginia, arriving there on 17 July 1944.^[3]

Postwar career

LST-27 was decommissioned on 9 November 1945, at Boston,^[1] and was struck from the Navy list on 28 November 1945. On 15 December 1947, she was sold to the Rhode Island Navigation Co., of Newport, Rhode Island, for scrapping.^[2]

Awards

LST-27 earned two battle stars for her World War II service.^[2]