USS LST-456 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II.

USS LST-456, beached with bow doors open, South Pacific, c. 1943-1945.
History
United States
NameLST-456
Orderedas a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 976[1]
BuilderKaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Washington
Yard number160[1]
Laid down3 August 1942
Launched20 October 1942
Commissioned3 February 1943
Decommissioned5 February 1946
Stricken15 June 1973
Identification
Honors and
awards
8 × battle stars
Fateassigned to Commander Naval Forces Far East
Japan
OperatorShipping Control Authority for Japan
In service5 February 1946
Out of servicedate unknown
RenamedQ043
Fatetransferred to Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 31 March 1952
United States
OperatorMSTS
IdentificationHull symbol: T-LST-456
FateSold, 27 September 1973
IranIran
NameKarkas
OperatorMaritime Co., Ltd., Khorramshahr, Iran
Identification
FateSold, 1 February 1993
BoliviaBolivia
NameBshair
OperatorAl Jazya Mar. y Sh. Ag., United Arab Emirates
Identification
FateDeleted from Bolivian register
General characteristics [2]
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
Service record
Operations:
Awards:

Construction

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LST-456 was laid down on 3 August 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 976, by Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington; launched on 20 October 1942; and commissioned on 3 February 1943.[1][3]

Service history

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During the war, LST-456 was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations. She took part in the Eastern New Guinea operations, the Lae occupation in September 1943, and the Saidor occupation in January and February 1944; the Bismarck Archipelago operations, the Cape Gloucester, New Britain, landings from December 1943 through February 1944, and the Admiralty Islands landings in February and March 1944; the Hollandia operation in April 1944; the Western New Guinea operations, the Toem-Wakde-Sarmi area operation in May 1944, the Biak Islands operation in May and June 1944, the Cape Sansapor operation in July and August 1944, and the Morotai landing in September 1944; the Leyte landings in October 1944; the Lingayen Gulf landings in January 1945; the Mindanao Island landings in April 1945; and the Balikpapan operation in June and July 1945.[3]

Post-war service

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Following the war, LST-456 performed occupation duty in the Far East until early February 1946. She served with the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS T-LST-456 from 31 March 1952, until she was struck from the Navy list on 15 June 1973.[3]

Merchant service

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On 27 September 1973, the ship was sold to the Maritime Co. Ltd., Khorramshahr, Iran,[3] and renamed Karkas. On 1 February 1993, she was sold to Al Jazya Mar. y Sh. Ag., United Arab Emirates and renamed Bshair, and reflagged for Bolivia. She has since been deleted from the Bolivian ship register and her fate is unknown.[2]

Honors and awards

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LST-456 earned eight battle stars for her World War II service.[3]

Notes

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Citations

Bibliography

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Online resources

  • "LST-456". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 5 April 2017.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "Kaiser Vancouver, Vancouver WA". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  • "USS LST-456". Navsource.org. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
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