USS LST-21

USS LST-21 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used exclusively in the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater during World War II.

Construction and commissioning
LST-21 was laid down on 25 September 1942 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by the Dravo Corporation. She was launched on 18 February 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Lillian M. Lloyd, and commissioned on 14 April 1943.

Service history
During the war, LST-21 was manned by the United States Coast Guard. She served exclusively in the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater from April 1943 until January 1946.

1943 convoy duty
She was first assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater. Its not clear when LST-21 crossed the Atlantic but there are records of some of the convoys that she participated in. LST-21 sailed from Algiers, Algeria, to Port Said, Egypt, in October 1943, this time joining with Convoy UGS 19. She left 11 November for Colombo, British Ceylon, arriving on 16 November. At the end of December she left Calcutta, with 11 LSTs headed for Colombo, British Ceylon, arriving 27 December 1943.

1944 convoy duty/Normandy invasion
LST-21 joined Convoy MKS 38 at Bizerta, Tunisia, in January 1944, as it was en route to Gibraltar, arriving 1 February. Forming Convoy MKS 38G she rendezvoued with Convoy SL 147 and sailed for Liverpool on 2 February, arriving on 13 February 1944.

LST-21 took part in the Normandy landings during June 1944.

She departed Falmouth, Cornwall, on 30 June, arriving at Seine Bay, France, on 1 July 1944, with Convoy ECM 19. She left Seine Bay, on 2 July, with Convoy FCM 21 which arrived back in Falmouth, 3 July 1944.

1945 convoy duty
LST-21 left from Liverpool, on 11 May 1945, as part of Convoy ONS 50 bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she arrived on 29 Mayy.

Postwar career
Upon her return to the United States, the LST-21 was decommissioned on 25 January 1946 and struck from the Navy list on 19 June 1946. She was sold to Louis Feldman, of Flushing, New York, on 12 March 1948 and was subsequently scrapped.

Honors and awards
LST-21 earned one battle stars for her World War II service.