Contents

USS LST-448

History
United States
Name	LST-448
Ordered	as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 968[1]
Builder	Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Washington
Yard number	152[1]
Laid down	10 July 1942
Launched	26 September 1942
Commissioned	23 December 1942
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-448
Honors and awards	2 × battle stars
Fate	Sunk, 5 October 1943
General characteristics [2]
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	16officers, 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
Service record
Operations:	Consolidation of the southern Solomons (June 1943) Vella Lavella occupation (October 1943)
Awards:	Combat Action Ribbon Navy Unit Commendation American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal

USS LST-448 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II.

LST-448 was laid down on 10 July 1942, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 968, by Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington; launched on 26 September 1942; and commissioned on 23 December 1942.^[3]

During the war, LST-448 was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations. She took part in the consolidation of the southern Solomons in June 1943, and the Vella Lavella occupation in October 1943.^[3]

The tank landing ship was damaged by Japanese dive bombers off Vella Lavella, Solomons, on 1 October, suffering some casualties among her embarked New Zealand troops. Fifteen members of a NZ anti aircraft crew were killed. The LST was taken under tow by tug Bobolink but sank while underway on 5 October, south of Vella Lavella. She was struck from the Navy list on 26 October 1943.^[3]

LST-448 earned two battle stars for her World War II service.^[3]

Citations

• "LST-448". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 1 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 1 April 2017.
• "USS LST-448". Navsource.org. 17 February 2006. Retrieved 1 April 2017.

• Photo gallery of USS LST-448 at NavSource Naval History