LSTH
Encyclopedia
An LSTH was designed to act as a hospital ship
, but because they retained armament were not officially designated as such. The Tank Landing Ship (LST) was a vessel designed to beach itself and unload equipment, vehicles, tanks, and troops onto an enemy beach. The general idea of an LSTH would be to bring troops to shore, but the convenience of a ship beached ashore proved to be an inviting harbor for the sick and injured, who could simply walk aboard.
, Iwo Jima
, Philippines, and Okinawa
, surgical teams consisting of at first three and then five physicians as well as 35 Pharmacist Mates were attached to LSTs.
, the initial invasion of Japan planned for 1 November 1945, 36 LST's were to be redesignated LSTH's. These ships were to be augmented with a surgical team and provided large amounts of consumable and medical personnel to meet the anticipated demand for beachhead casualty evacuation. The official written order for redesignation took effect September 15, 1945, 13 days after the end of the war. All 36 LSTH's were assigned duty in Asia and the Far East, but their designation served merely a formality as their new mission was to return US troops. Although many did receive a large contingent of Pharmacist Mates by the months end. By the end of May 1946, the last three LSTH's departed the Far East as part of the Magic Carpet fleet. Of the LST's, one ship was converted to a "first aid ship" at the discretion of Vice Admiral Daniel E. Barbey
, USN, Commander 7th Amphibious Force during 1943.
in 1943 into a dedicated "first-aid ship", the only one of her kind used. LST-464 carried no troops, or combat equipment and functioned as a casualty evacuation ship during invasion, a station hospital ship in port, and an ambulance ship to transfer patients to a base hospital. She was designated only by 6 feet (1.8 m) numbers "464" painted on her hull amidships.
Her modified tank deck refitted and housed a complete and fixed hospital facility which extended into the ship through new water tight doors on port and starboard sides of the tank deck. The tank deck, now hospital, bolstered a receiving or triage
area, 78 hospital beds and accommodations (washrooms, toilets, increased galley), refrigerators, and a surgical suite. The ship was equipped with specialist consultation and out-patient care at all times, including: radiology
, pharmacy
, laboratory, eye refractions, dental care, a blood bank
, and stores for 25 tons of medical supplies. Staff was increased to 6 physicians, one dentist and a complement of corpsmen
. During Normandy most LST's had one or two Corpsmen. Above deck she looked as any other LST and because of her armament she was not considered as a hospital ship in compliance with the Geneva Convention.
Following the surrender of Japan, LST-464 was redesignated LST(H)-464 on 15 September
Later, during the Vietnam War
, the tested the idea of hoisting and opening a MUST (Medical Unit Self-contained Transportable). The idea of a MUST was to allow an LST to set up complete hospital facilities after unloading troops. The idea was to provide in-close support hospital facilities in a combat zone.
Hospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
, but because they retained armament were not officially designated as such. The Tank Landing Ship (LST) was a vessel designed to beach itself and unload equipment, vehicles, tanks, and troops onto an enemy beach. The general idea of an LSTH would be to bring troops to shore, but the convenience of a ship beached ashore proved to be an inviting harbor for the sick and injured, who could simply walk aboard.
Background
On D-Day most of the troops were not landed by LST's, however 41,035 wounded were brought back on approximately 150 LSTs, which was twice their troop capacity. The sheer numbers overwhelmed the modest sick bay facilities on these craft which were staffed by one or two Pharmacist Mates. The troop berthings quickly filled to capacity with walking wounded and litter patients laid on the tank deck. Further, the inclusion of refugees on LST's created additional needs, such as an Italian woman who gave birth at sea.Augmenting LSTs
Future operations in the Pacific sought to reduce these problems by augmenting several LST's with a surgical teams to treat unstable patients. Sometimes referred to as LST Hospitals, these surgically augmented LSTs carried troops into battle and upon unloading set up the well deck into an organized hospital. During the battles of TarawaBattle of Tarawa
The Battle of Tarawa, code named Operation Galvanic, was a battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II, largely fought from November 20 to November 23, 1943. It was the first American offensive in the critical central Pacific region....
, Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima , or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Empire of Japan. The U.S...
, Philippines, and Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
, surgical teams consisting of at first three and then five physicians as well as 35 Pharmacist Mates were attached to LSTs.
Designation of LST as hospitals
In preparation for Operation OlympicOperation Downfall
Operation Downfall was the Allied plan for the invasion of Japan near the end of World War II. The operation was cancelled when Japan surrendered after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan. The operation had two parts: Operation...
, the initial invasion of Japan planned for 1 November 1945, 36 LST's were to be redesignated LSTH's. These ships were to be augmented with a surgical team and provided large amounts of consumable and medical personnel to meet the anticipated demand for beachhead casualty evacuation. The official written order for redesignation took effect September 15, 1945, 13 days after the end of the war. All 36 LSTH's were assigned duty in Asia and the Far East, but their designation served merely a formality as their new mission was to return US troops. Although many did receive a large contingent of Pharmacist Mates by the months end. By the end of May 1946, the last three LSTH's departed the Far East as part of the Magic Carpet fleet. Of the LST's, one ship was converted to a "first aid ship" at the discretion of Vice Admiral Daniel E. Barbey
Daniel E. Barbey
Vice Admiral Daniel Edward Barbey was an officer in the United States Navy who served in World War I and World War II. A graduate of the Naval Academy, he participated in the 1912 United States occupation of Nicaragua and the 1915 United States occupation of Veracruz. While serving with the War...
, USN, Commander 7th Amphibious Force during 1943.
Refitting the LSTH
was converted at SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1943 into a dedicated "first-aid ship", the only one of her kind used. LST-464 carried no troops, or combat equipment and functioned as a casualty evacuation ship during invasion, a station hospital ship in port, and an ambulance ship to transfer patients to a base hospital. She was designated only by 6 feet (1.8 m) numbers "464" painted on her hull amidships.
Her modified tank deck refitted and housed a complete and fixed hospital facility which extended into the ship through new water tight doors on port and starboard sides of the tank deck. The tank deck, now hospital, bolstered a receiving or triage
Triage
Triage or ) is the process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition. This rations patient treatment efficiently when resources are insufficient for all to be treated immediately. The term comes from the French verb trier, meaning to separate,...
area, 78 hospital beds and accommodations (washrooms, toilets, increased galley), refrigerators, and a surgical suite. The ship was equipped with specialist consultation and out-patient care at all times, including: radiology
Radiology
Radiology is a medical specialty that employs the use of imaging to both diagnose and treat disease visualized within the human body. Radiologists use an array of imaging technologies to diagnose or treat diseases...
, pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
, laboratory, eye refractions, dental care, a blood bank
Blood bank
A blood bank is a cache or bank of blood or blood components, gathered as a result of blood donation, stored and preserved for later use in blood transfusion. The term "blood bank" typically refers to a division of a hospital laboratory where the storage of blood product occurs and where proper...
, and stores for 25 tons of medical supplies. Staff was increased to 6 physicians, one dentist and a complement of corpsmen
United States Navy Hospital Corpsman
A Hospital Corpsman is an enlisted medical specialist for the United States Navy who serves with Navy and United States Marine Corps units. The Hospital Corpsman works in a wide variety of capacities and locations, including shore establishments such as naval hospitals and clinics, aboard ships,...
. During Normandy most LST's had one or two Corpsmen. Above deck she looked as any other LST and because of her armament she was not considered as a hospital ship in compliance with the Geneva Convention.
Following the surrender of Japan, LST-464 was redesignated LST(H)-464 on 15 September
Later, during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, the tested the idea of hoisting and opening a MUST (Medical Unit Self-contained Transportable). The idea of a MUST was to allow an LST to set up complete hospital facilities after unloading troops. The idea was to provide in-close support hospital facilities in a combat zone.
Other LSTHs
- LSTH-19USS LST-19USS LST-19 was a built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was designed to carry troops and military equipment to the shores of the battle front and quickly deliver her cargo...
- LSTH-23
- LSTH-38
- LSTH-41
- LSTH-42
- LSTH-84USS LST-84USS LST-84 was one of the hundreds of Tank landing ships built during World War II to support amphibious military operations. Her role was to carry significant quantities of vehicles, cargo, and troops directly onto an unimproved shore. The ship was sponsored by Mrs. W. Raymond Brendel. The ship...
- LSTH-117
- LSTH-118
- LSTH-121
- LSTH-123
- LSTH-205
- LSTH-213
- LSTH-222
- LSTH-242
- LSTH-243
- LSTH-247USS LST-247USS LST-247 was a 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-247 was laid down on 12 May 1943 in Evansville, IN....
- LSTH-268
- LSTH-276
- LSTH-450
- LSTH-464
- LSTH-477
- LSTH-482USS Branch County (LST-482)USS Branch County was an built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Branch County, Michigan, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name....
- LSTH-486
- LSTH-488
- LSTH-652
- LSTH-731USS Douglas County (LST-731)USS Douglas County was an built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in 12 states, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name....
- LSTH-790
- LSTH-871
- LSTH-929
- LSTH-930
- LSTH-931
- LSTH-949
- LSTH-950
- LSTH-951
- LSTH-952
- LSTH-1033
See also
- Tank Landing ShipTank landing shipLanding Ship, Tank was the military designation for naval vessels created during World War II to support amphibious operations by carrying significant quantities of vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto an unimproved shore....
- Hospital shipHospital shipA hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
- List of US Navy Hospital Ships
- List of United States Navy LSTs