| Original caption: “Two Coast Guard-manned LSTs open their great jaws in the surf that washes on Leyte Island beach, as soldiers strip down and build sandbag piers out to the ramps to speed up unloading operations.” The United States Coast Guard manned Tank Landing Ships (LSTs) during World War II, playing a vital role in amphibious operations by using these ships to transport troops, vehicles, and heavy equipment directly onto beaches. Coast Guard personnel played a critical role in the success of these landings, which often involved extreme danger. In total, the Coast Guard manned 76 LST amphibious vessels during the war. The invasion of Leyte was codenamed King 2 and comprised over 700 vessels and many smaller landing craft. In this tremendous fleet were 35 Coast Guard vessels and 7 others with partial Coast Guard crews. The Coast Guard ships included 5 large transports, 2 attack cargo vessels, 10 frigates, and 12 LSTs. Tank Landing Ships were the largest amphibious (beaching) assault craft employed in World War II. The LST-1 Class was 328 feet (a 100 meters) long with a crew of about a 100 officers and ratings. They were designed to carry the heaviest invasion cargoes or an entire company of troops to hostile beaches. LSTs could cross oceans, then run directly up on shore and discharge equipment, vehicles, and tanks from their cavernous forward bow doors, or flood their well decks to launch other vehicles like amphibious tractors while underway. Some were even configured to launch small aircraft. The United States eventually produced over a 1,000 LSTs, many of which were built at inland shipyards. These ships were designated by number, underscoring the nature of their industrial mass production. Many were supplied to allied navies during and after the war. While extremely versatile, surprisingly durable, and critical for allied victory, duty on LSTs was not glamorous. The LSTs lacked the panache of a battleship, aircraft carrier, or even the Coast Guard’s Treasury-Class cutters. Despite the ability to ballast to enhance stability, their flat bottoms still made for unpleasant rolling in large seas. Just as their Navy and Coast Guard counterparts on the smaller Landing Craft, Infantry (LCI) deprecatingly joked that the abbreviation LCI stood for “Lousy Civilian Idea,” LST crews said it stood for “Large, Slow Target,” among other nicknames. Tank Landing Ship USS LST-18 was laid down at the Dravo Corporation at their Neville Island, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, shipyard on October 1, 1942. Launched into the Ohio River on March 29, 1943, United States Coast Guard Lieutenant Lawrence N. Ditlefsen (June 5, 1898 – September 19, 1981) commissioned the LST on May 29, 1943, as Captain. Succeeding Commanding Officers were United States Coast Guard Lieutenant Willie A. Moore (September 24, 1898 – February 27, 1993), United States Coast Guard Lieutenant Gordon P. Phillips (October 25, 1919 – October 14, 1976), United States Coast Guard Lieutenant Howard N. Rogers (???? – ????), United States Coast Guard Lieutenant John L. McManus (???? – ????), United States Coast Guard Lieutenant Stanley F. Rogers (May 9, 1903 – September 25, 1965), and United States Coast Guard Lieutenant Fred G. Markle (October 24, 1902 – January 28, 1964). Assigned to LST Flotilla 7, LST Group 21, LST Division 41, USS LST-22 participated in the Cape Gloucester, Los Negros, Saidor, Hollandia, Wakde, Biak, Cape Sansapor, Leyte, and Lingayen Gulf landings. Her crew cut 40 square port holes for ventilation and covered them with 40-millimeter (1.57-inch) ammunition boxes. The Love 6 echelon destined for Leyte was formed and departed Hollandia on October 23, 1944. Unloading of cargo was carried out on October 30, following a typhoon that the ship rode out at anchor. On the same day, stretcher cases were removed from the beach, and the ship began its return trip to Hollandia. She was decommissioned on April 17, 1946, having earned 6 battle stars for her World War II service. Ex-LST-22 was sold to Ming Sung Industrial Company of Shanghai, China, for merchant service on February 3, 1947. Her bow ramps were sealed, and landing ramps were removed in Wilmington, Delaware. Hatches and cargo booms were fitted amidships. She carried construction crews along the Yellow River for various construction projects as the motor vessel Hwai Yuan. No further information is known as to the ship’s disposition. Tank Landing Ship USS LST-206 was laid down at the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company in Seneca, Illinois, on August 7, 1942. The ship was launched into the Illinois River on April 21, 1943. United States Coast Guard Reserve Lieutenant Karl A. E. Linquist (May 2, 1898 – April 27, 1978) commissioned the ship as Captain on June 7, 1943. Assigned to LST Flotilla 7, LST Group 21, LST Division 41, USS LST-206 participated in the Cape Glucester, Saidor, Manus, Hollandia, Wakde, Biak, Cape Sansapor, Morotai, Leyte, and Balikpapan landings. Decommissioned on May 6, 1946, Ex-LSt-206 was struck from the Naval Register on June 5. Bethlehem Steel Corporation scrapped the ship, starting on April 7, 1948. USS LST-206 earned 6 battle stars for World War II service. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1466.jpg |
| Image Size | 941.99 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2912 x 2363 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Coast Guard |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | October 29, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | Leyte |
| Country | Philippines |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | 026-G-3738 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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