USS LST-43 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used exclusively in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

History
United States
NameLST-43
BuilderDravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Laid down19 June 1943
Launched28 August 1943
Sponsored byMrs. C. A. Hill
Commissioned6 October 1943
Stricken18 July 1944
Identification
Honors and
awards
See Awards
FateSunk as target, 1945
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeLST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement
  • 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load
  • 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam50 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
Propulsion
Speed12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range24,000 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
Troops16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament

Construction

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LST-43 was laid down on 19 June 1943, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by the Dravo Corporation; launched on 28 August 1943; sponsored by Mrs. C. A. Hill; and commissioned on 6 October 1943.[2]

Service history

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During World War II, LST-43 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She took part in the Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls from 31 January to 8 February 1944.[2]

She was destroyed and sunk during the West Loch disaster alongside 5 other LSTs at Pearl Harbor, on 21 May 1944.[1]

LST-43 was struck from the Navy Register on 18 July 1944.[1]

In 1945, she was raised but deemed too expensive to be repaired thus she was towed out to sea and sunk again as a target ship for torpedoes.[2]

Awards

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LST-43 have earned the following awards:

References

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Bibliography

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  • "LST-42". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2022.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "USS LST-43". NavSource Online. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2021.

Further reading

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