USS LST-851

History
United States
Name	USS LST-851
Laid down	10 August 1944
Launched	8 November 1944
Commissioned	30 November 1944
Decommissioned	24 April 1946
Fate	Sold, 30 September 1946
Stricken	8 May 1946
Honours and awards	one battle star
Argentina
Name	ARA BDT-1/Q41
Acquired	14 November 1948
Out of service	1968
Identification	IMO number: 5402021
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-542-class LST
Displacement	1,490 tons (light); 4,080 tons (full load of 2,100 tons)
Length	328 ft (100 m)
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	8 ft (2.4 m) forward; 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) aft (full load)
Propulsion	Two diesel engines, two shafts
Speed	10.8 knots (20 km/h) (max); 9 knots (17 km/h) (econ)
Complement	7 officers, 204 enlisted
Armament	8 × 40 mm guns; 12 × 20 mm guns

USS LST-851 was an LST-542-class 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.

History

LST-851 was laid down on 10 August 1944 at Seneca, Illinois, by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Co.; launched on 8 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Gertrude B. Van Trigt; and commissioned on 30 November 1944.

During World War II, LST-851 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in May 1945. Following the war, the ship performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-October 1945. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 24 April 1946 and struck from the Navy list on 8 May that same year. On 30 September 1946, LST-851 was sold to the Northwest Merchandising Service, Seattle, Wash.

LST-851 earned one battle star for World War II service.

Argentine service

The final disposition is uncertain, but it is likely that LST-851 went to Argentina, where she was redesignated ARA BDT-1 (Buque Desembarco de Tanques), and later redesignated Q41.

Some confusion exists concerning whether BDT-1 was LST-851 or LST-875; however, sources indicate that LST-875 went to the Philippines.

References

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

Bibliography

• Friedman, Norman (2002). US Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-250-1.

External links

• history.navy.mil: USS LST-851
• navsource.org: USS LST-851