USS LST-178

USS LST-178 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was later transferred to the Royal Navy and renamed HMS LST-178. In 1946, she was again handed over to the Egyptian Navy to be renamed ENS Aka.[1]

USS LST-178 in 1943
History
United States
NameLST-178
BuilderMissouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville
Laid down6 February 1943
Launched23 May 1943
Sponsored byMrs Charles Haglin
Commissioned21 June 1943
Decommissioned24 December 1944
Stricken22 January 1947
Identification
FateTransferred to the United Kingdom, 1944
History
United Kingdown
NameLST-178
Acquired24 December 1944
Commissioned24 December 1944
Decommissioned28 May 1945
FateTransferred to Egyptian Navy
History
Egypt
Name
  • Aka
  • (عكا)
AcquiredNovember 1946
CommissionedNovember 1946
FateSunk 1 November 1956; later refloated, beached, and abandoned
General characteristics
Class and typeLST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement
  • 1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light
  • 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full (sea-going draft with 1675 ton load)
Length327 ft 9 in (99.90 m)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft
  • Light:
  • 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward
  • 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft
  • Sea-going:
  • 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) forward
  • 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft
  • Landing (with 500 ton load):
  • 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward
  • 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Propulsion2 General Motors 12-567 900 hp (671 kW) diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range24,000 nmi (44,000 km) at 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried		2 × LCVPs
Complement7 officers, 104 enlisted
Armament
  • 2 × twin 40 mm gun mounts
  • 4 × single 40 mm gun mounts
  • 12 × single 20 mm gun mounts

Construction and commissioning

LST-178 was laid down on 6 February 1943 at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville, Indiana. Launched on 23 May 1943 and commissioned on 21 June 1943.[1]

Service in the United States Navy

During World War II, LST-178 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East theater. She took part in the Convoy UGS-36 on 1 April 1944.[1]

She also took part in the Invasion of Southern France from 15 August to 25 September 1944.

The ship was then transferred to the Royal Navy after her decommissioning on 24 December 1944.[1]

Service in the Royal Navy

HMS LST-178 was commissioned on 24 December 1944.

On 24 February 1945, she made a trip to Patras, Greece loaded with Army personnel and vehicles bound for Corfu. On the same day, two explosions occurred aboard the ship, one port forward and followed by another one on her port side aft. She was able to return to Patras by her own power.

After close inspection, she was repaired and declared a total lost, then towed to Egypt. On 28 May 1945, she was decommissioned by the Royal Navy.

Service in the Egyptian Navy

The Egyptian Navy acquired the ship in November 1946 and renamed to ENS Aka.

During the Suez Crisis on 1 November 1956, she was sunk by Royal Air Force while she was being prepared to be scuttled near Lake Timsah as a blockship. The ship was later refloated, beached and abandoned.

Awards

LST-178 have earned the following awards:

Citations
  1. "Tank Landing Ship LST-120". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 25 August 2021.

Sources
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