page_title: Landing Ship, Tank
hierarchical_section_title: Landing Ship, Tank
caption_attribution_description: Canadian LST offloading a Sherman Tank on the beach during the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943.
context_page_description: Landing Ship, Tank, or tank landing ship, is the naval designation for ships first developed during World War II to support amphibious operations by carrying tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto shore with no docks or piers. This enabled amphibious assaults on almost any beach.
  The LST had a highly specialized design that enabled ocean crossings as well as shore groundings. The bow had a large door that could open, deploy a ramp and unload U.S. or allied vehicles. The LST had a special flat keel that allowed the ship to be beached and stay upright. The twin propellers and rudders had protection from grounding. The LSTs served across the globe during World War II including in the Pacific War and in the European theatre.
  The first tank-landing ships were built to British requirements by converting existing ships; the UK and the US then collaborated upon a joint design. The British ships were used in late 1942 during the Allied invasion of Algeria, by 1943 LSTs participated in the invasion of Sicily and mainland Italy. In June 1944 they were part of the huge invasion fleet for the Normandy landings.
context_section_description: Landing Ship, Tank (LST),  or tank landing ship, is the naval designation for ships first developed during World War II (1939–1945) to support amphibious operations by carrying tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto shore with no docks or piers. This enabled amphibious assaults on almost any beach. 
  The LST had a highly specialized design that enabled ocean crossings as well as shore groundings.  The bow had a large door that could open, deploy a ramp and unload U.S. or allied vehicles. The LST had a special flat keel that allowed the ship to be beached and stay upright. The twin propellers and rudders had protection from  grounding. The LSTs served across the globe during World War II including in the Pacific War and in the European theatre.
  The first tank-landing ships were built to British requirements by converting existing ships; the UK and the US then collaborated upon a joint design. The British ships were used in late 1942 during the Allied invasion of Algeria, by 1943 LSTs participated in the invasion of Sicily and mainland Italy. In June 1944 they were part of the huge invasion fleet for the Normandy landings. 
  Over 1,000 LSTs were laid down in the United States during World War II for use by the  Allies; the United Kingdom and Canada produced eighty more.
caption: A  Canadian LST off-loads an M4 Sherman during the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943
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