USS LST-906

USS "LST-906" was an sclass|LST-542|tank landing ship in the United States Navy. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

"LST-906" was laid down on 24 January 1944 at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Inc.; launched on 11 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Henry Levine; and commissioned on 27 April 1944.

During World War II, "LST-906" was assigned to the European Theatre.

While in the Mediterranean, Seabees converted "LST-906" into a makeshift aircraft carrier sporting a custom-built mesh airstrip above deck. She was the base for 6 USAAF L-4B Grasshoppers flown as artillery spotters for the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division during the Invasion of southern France in September 1944. [cite web | first = Gary P. | last = Priolo | url = http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160906.htm | title = LST-906 | work = NavSource Online | publisher = NavSource Naval History | date = 2004-11-29 | accessdate = 2007-12-06 ] "LST-906" was one of six LSTs so converted. [The others being USS|LST-16, USS|LST-158, USS|LST-337, USS|LST-386, and USS|LST-525. See Rottman, p. 47]

While at anchor at Leghorn, Italy, heavy seas on 18 October 1944 caused "LST-906" to drag anchor and run aground.cite book | url = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/| title = The official chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II | chapter = Chapter VI: 1944 | chapterurl = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1944.html | first = Robert | last = Cressman | location = Annapolis, Maryland | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 2000 | isbn = 9781557501493 | oclc = 41977179 | accessdate = 2007-12-06 ] On 6 December a storm caused further damage to the still-grounded ship.

The ship was decommissioned on 20 May 1945, struck from the Navy list on 22 June 1945, and sold for scrap soon thereafter.

"LST-906" earned one battle star for World War II service.

References

*

External links

*