USS LST-326

USS LST-326 off Anzio on 15 April 1944
History
United States
Name	LST-326
Builder	Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia
Laid down	12 November 1942
Launched	11 February 1943
Sponsored by	Mrs. Mildred E. Kelly
Commissioned	26 February 1943
Decommissioned	1 May 1946
Stricken	26 February 1946
Identification	Callsign: NWZD
Honors and awards	See Awards
Fate	Transferred to Royal Navy, 18 December 1944
History
United Kingdom
Name	LST-326
Commissioned	18 December 1944
Decommissioned	16 March 1946
Fate	Returned to the United States
History
France
Name	Liamone
Namesake	Liamone
Commissioned	5 April 1946
Decommissioned	1951
Reclassified	L9000
Identification	Pennant number: K06
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement	4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam	50 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	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
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 or 6 x LCVPs
Capacity	2,100 tons oceangoing maximum 350 tons main deckload
Troops	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement	13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament	Varied, ultimate armament 2 × twin 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns 4 × single 40 mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons

USS LST-326 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was later sold to France as Liamone (K06).

Construction and career

LST-326 was laid down on 12 November 1942 at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Launched on 11 February 1943 and commissioned on 26 February 1943.

Service in the United States

LST-326 became a Coast Guard manned vessel after her crew and officers were exchanged with USS LST-175 on 25 August 1943.

During World War II, LST-223 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East theater. She took part in the Invasion of Sicilian from 9 to 15 July 1943.

She participated in the Anzio-Nettuno landings from 22 January to 2 February 1944 and the Invasion of Normandy from 6 to 25 June 1944.

LST-326 was decommissioned on 18 December 1944 and transferred to the Royal Navy.

She was struck from the Navy Register on 26 February 1946.

Service in the United Kingdom

HMS LST-326 was commissioned on 18 December 1944 and was part of W Task Force which participated in the recapture of Rangoon, before proceeding to the eventual invasion of Malaya at Morib and Port Swettenham, and to Singapore and Bangkok doing relief work repatriating ex P.O.W.s of the Japanese.

She was paid off to Singapore and returned to US Navy custody at Subic Bay, Philippines, 16 March 1946.

Not long after returning to the US, she was again sold to France on 5 April 1946.

Service in France

She was transferred to the French Navy and commissioned on 5 April 1946 with the name Liamone (K06) and later reclassified as L9000.

Liamone took part in the First Indochina War between 19 December 1946 to 1 August 1954.

The ship was out of service in 1951 and later sold for scrap.

Awards

LST-326 have earned the following awards:

• American Campaign Medal
• Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (3 battle stars)
• World War II Victory Medal

Sources

• United States. Dept. of the Treasury (1962). Treasury Decisions Under the Customs, Internal Revenue, Industrial Alcohol, Narcotic and Other Laws, Volume 97. U.S. Government Printing Office.
• Moore, Capt. John (1984). Jane's Fighting Ships 1984-85. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710607959.
• Saunders, Stephen (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710628886.
• Fairplay International Shipping Journal Volume 222. United Kingdom: Fairplay Publishing Limited. 1967.