Name LST-17 Sponsored by Mrs. Sarah H. Bankson Decommissioned 15 January 1946 Builder Dravo Corporation | Laid down 21 September 1942 Commissioned 19 April 1943 Launched 8 January 1943 | |
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Operator Commander Naval Forces Far East Operation Invasion of Normandy (6–25 June 1944) | ||
USS LST-17 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used in the European Theater of Operations and Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II.
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Construction and commissioning
LST-17 was laid down on 21 September 1942 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by the Dravo Corporation. She was launched on 8 January 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Sarah H. Bankson, and commissioned on 19 April 1943 with Lieutenant H. B. Gallagher, USCGR, in command.
Service history
During the war, LST-17 was manned by the United States Coast Guard.
1943 convoy duty
She was first assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater. It's not clear when LST-17 crossed the Atlantic but there are records of some of the convoys that she participated in. She sailed with Convoy KMS 23 during part of its journey from Gibraltar, to Port Said, Egypt, sailing from Oran, Algeria, to Bizerta, Tunisia. LST-17 sailed from Algiers, Algeria, to Port Said, Egypt, in October 1943, this time joining with Convoy UGS 19. On 3 November she set out with nine other LSTs from Aden, Yemen, for Bombay, India, arriving on 10 November. She left the next day for Colombo, British Ceylon, arriving on 16 November. At the end of December she left Calcutta, with 11 LSTs headed for Colombo, British Ceylon, arriving 27 December 1943.
1944 convoy duty/Normandy invasion
LST-17 joined Convoy MKS 38 at Bizerta, Tunisia, in January 1944, as it was en route to Gibraltar, arriving 1 February. Forming Convoy MKS 38G she rendezvoued with Convoy SL 147 and sailed for Liverpool on 2 February, arriving on 13 February 1944.
LST-17 took part in the Normandy landings during June 1944.
She departed Southend on 30 June, arriving at Seine Bay, France, on 1 July 1944, with Convoy ETM 22.
1945 convoy duty
LST-17 left from New York City, on 26 January 1945, as part of Convoy NG 486 bound for Guantanamo, Cuba, where she arrived on 2 February. She then left the next day as part of Convoy GZ 119 en route to the Panama Canal Zone and Cristóbal, Colón, where she arrived on 6 February.
Post war
Following the war, LST-17 performed occupation duty in the Far East intermittently from September through December 1945. She was decommissioned on 15 January 1946 and turned over to Commander Naval Forces Far East being redesignated Q015.
She was laid up as part of the Pacific Reserve Fleet before being transferred to the 13th Naval District for use as a mobile target where she was sunk by a torpedo on 15 August 1956.
Honors and awards
LST-17 earned one battle stars for her World War II service.