I am currently researching the history of the 46th AMB of the 4th AD. In one of the Morning Reports is says that the HQ &HQ-Co were transferred to Utah Beach on LST 1454. This is not one of the hull numbers. In Rick Atkinson's book The Guns at Last Light he writes about different numbers for LST used by the Navy and the Army. I think these might have to do with the hull numbers and the numbers on soms of the signs that were hung on the bow (you can see these signs in soms W2 photos). Can anyone tell me more about this topic? Reinier
American WWII LSTs were numbered up to 1152, though I don't think all numbers were used. The British/Canadian built LST 3 were numbered in the 3000s. Might 1454 be an LCT?
I guess that is possible: a typo in the morning report. I was just intrigued by the line in Atkinson’s book and these photos of LST’s with these signs. Here is one example: DUKW being loaded into a LST before D-Day So I guess I need to look at both options. Any other ideas are very welcome. Reinier
LCT(6)-1454, I believe, was built in October 1944, outside the period of interest if we're interested in the 4AD arrival in France. Signs hanging over the bow are probably, with a smile, some arcane army type info, probably meant for identification for loading from the bow if you could not see the hull number. Photos are of LST's 406 of the RN and 532 of the USN (later USS Chase County).
I agree that the LCT “typo” is not very likely the explanation with this built date. The signs do show different numbers than the hull numbers. Could these be convoy numbers? Look at the LST 532 photo. The sign says Omaha 1132, 650320.
For some reason, they only manned LCIs in Europe. At D-Day it was LCI Flotilla 4/10 which had previously landed troops in Tunisia, Sicily and Salerno, so they were experienced and had relatively few of the problems that plagued some inexperienced Navy LC flotillas. Half the USCG flotilla serviced Omaha, and half Utah. It's confusing because the USCG flotilla was known as '4' in Africa, Sicily and Italy, but was re-designated '10' for Normandy. Nobody really knows why they changed the number. .
1454 is the LTIN, the "Landing Table Identification Number" for whichever LST was used to transport the unit. The landing tables identified what men, equipment, and vehicles would be loaded and where on any particular type of landing ship or craft. Units were arrayed at the camps and hardstands by the LTIN, which had no correspondence to the pennant number of the vessel that carried them...and LST was an LST after all.
Makes sense. When planners started planning, they wouldn't know exactly which ship each load was going to go on, best to just tell the troops to look for number 1454.
Not only that. If one broke down then they'd might have to replace it. The LTIN's were also likely prioritized so they could "hot swap" things if needed and do it in a reasonable way.
