USS LST-21

USS LST-21 unloads British Army Sherman tanks and trucks onto a "Rhino" barge during the early hours of the invasion, 6 June 1944. Note the nickname "Virgin" on the "Sherman" tank at left.
History
United States
Name	LST-21
Operator
Builder	Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, Delaware
Laid down	25 September 1942
Launched	18 February 1943
Sponsored by	Mrs. Lillian M. Lloyd
Commissioned	14 April 1943
Decommissioned	25 January 1946
Stricken	19 June 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-21 Code letters: NQFC
Nickname(s)	"Blackjack Maru"
Honors and awards	1 × battle star
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 12 March 1948
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement	1,625 long tons (1,651 t) (light) 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) (full (seagoing draft with 1,675 short tons (1,520 t) load)
Length	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Unloaded: 1 ft 6 in (0.46 m) forward; 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m) aft Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft Landing with 500 short tons (450 t) load: 3 ft 1 in (0.94 m) forward; 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) aft
Installed power	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) General Motors 12-567A diesel engines, 1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × screws
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 x LCVPs
Capacity	1,600–1,900 st (22,000–27,000 lb; 10,000–12,000 kg) cargo depending on mission
Troops	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement	13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament	2 × twin 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors guns 4 × single 40mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons
Service record
Part of:	LST Flotilla 17
Operations:	Normandy landings (6–25 June 1944)
Awards:	American Campaign Medal European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal

USS LST-21 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used primarily in the Europe–Africa–Middle East Theater during World War II, but also transported British forces from Calcutta and landed them at Regu Beach, Burma.