USS LST-27

History
United States
Name:	LST-27
Operator:
Builder:	Dravo Corporation, Neville Island, Pennsylvania
Laid down:	10 December 1942
Launched:	27 April 1943
Sponsored by:	Mrs. R. R. Creed
Commissioned:	16 June 1943
Decommissioned:	9 November 1945
Struck:	28 November 1945
Identification:	Hull symbol: LST-27 Code letters: NDSC
Honors and awards:	2 × battle stars
Fate:	sold for scrapping, 15 December 1947
General characteristics
Class and type:	LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement:	1,625 long tons (1,651 t) (light) 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) (full (seagoing draft with 1,675 short tons (1,520 t) load)
Length:	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam:	50 ft (15 m)
Draft:	Unloaded: 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward; 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft Landing with 500 short tons (450 t) load: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power:	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) General Motors 12-567A diesel engines, 1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion:	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × screws
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 x LCVPs
Capacity:	1,600–1,900 st (22,000–27,000 lb; 10,000–12,000 kg) cargo depending on mission
Troops:	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement:	13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament:	2 × twin 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors guns 4 × single 40mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons
Service record
Part of:	LST Flotilla Eleven
Operations:	Normandy landings (6–25 June 1944)
Awards:	American Campaign Medal European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal

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.

Construction and commissioning

LST-27 was laid down on 10 December 1942 at Neville Island, Pennsylvania, by the Dravo Corporation. She was launched on 27 April 1943, sponsored by Mrs. R. R. Creed,^[1] and commissioned on 25 June 1943, with Lieutenant Alfred Volton, USCG, in command.^[2]

Service history

During the war, LST-27 was manned by the United States Coast Guard. She served exclusively in the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater from April 1944 until November 1945.^[2] While records do not indicate when she traversed the Atlantic, there are records that indicate she traveled from Oran, Algeria, joining Convoy MKS 46 sometime after 9 April 1944,^[3] arriving in Gibraltar on 21 April 1944. She departed Gibraltar on 22 April 1944, with Convoy MKS 46G^[4] to rendezvous with Convoy SL 155 on April 23 1944, arriving in Liverpool on 3 May 1944.^[5]

LST-27 participated in the Normandy invasion during June 1944.^[2]

Postwar career

LST-27 was decommissioned on 9 November 1945, at Boston,^[2] 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.^[1]

Honors and awards

LST-27 earned two battle stars for her World War II service.^[1]

Notes

Citations

1. DANFS-LST-27.
2. NS LST-27 2015.
3. Convoy MKS 46.
4. Convoy MKS 46G.
5. Convoy & SL 155.

Bibliography

Online sources

• "LST-27". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History & Heritage Command. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
• "USS LST-27". NavSource Online. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
• "Convoy MKS.46". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
• "Convoy MKS.46G". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
• "Convoy SL.155/MKS.46". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 18 August 2016.

External links

• Photo gallery of USS LST-27 at NavSource Naval History