Ship Information

Length 		326 feet
Bean (width) 	50 feet
Weight 		480 tons(full load
Draft		Unloaded----bow, 2 feet 4 inches----stern, 7 feet 6 inches
                           		Loaded----bow, 8 feet 2 inches----stern, 14 feet 1 inch
Max Speed	12 knots


WEAPONS ON BOARD
 

6   20mm(antiaircraft guns)
5   40mm(antiaircraft guns)
1   3"50   (biggest gun on ship, cannon)
2   50caliber water cooled machine gun (used for firing onto the shore at enemy troops)
4   30caliber water cooled machine gun (used for firing onto the shore at enemy troops)

LST's in general

LST stands for Landing Ship, Tank. A common nick name was Large Slow Target due to its slow speed and that it contained many troops, tanks, and ammo. By carrying those supplies, they were a very attractive target for Jap planes. The ship was armed terribly, they only had one big gun and they were defenseless on shores that were very shallow because their Tin Can escorts (destroyers) could not go into those waters. But, there is one good thing about LST's. It is hard to measure the draft so when a sub fires a torpedo the torpedo has a good chance at missing(and yes this did happen to the 454, a torpedo sailed right under the ship.).