The "Landing Ship, Tank" or LST was an ocean-going flat bottomed ship that could be run up onto a beach, unload tanks and vehicles to support an amphibious assault, and then retract itself..  To give stability at sea, the ship could flood her very large bilges to provide extra ballast. Approaching a beach, the water was pumped out to allow the ship to ride higher and an anchor was dropped while letting the anchor cable spool out. Once beached, the cargo was unloaded and the ship - so lightened - could usually be pulled off the beach using the anchor provided the operation was done swiftly enough and not on an ebb tide. Four major types of Landing Ship Tank were built during World War II.

Maracibo Class (UK)
In 1941 the Royal Navy requisitioned the tankers Bachaquero, Miso and Tasajera and converted them into the world's first LSTs - but they possessed too many inherent disadvantages to be a prototype for the future.
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Boxer Class (UK)
Three ships purposefully designed as LSTs in 1941 were not completed until 1943 due to enemy action revising building priorities. Conceived with raiding operations very much in mind and having a speed of 17 knots, they were the fastest LSTs during WWII.
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US Navy LST Type 2 (USA)
Exclusively built in United States shipyards from a British prototype (Type I) they were by far the most common with 1152 ships built (LST-1 to 1152). Grouped into three classes (Class 1, Class 491  and Class 542) earlier models had elevators to move vehicles from the main deck to the tank deck below in order to access the bow ramp. But that was slow and later ships had the ramp extended to reach the upper deck. Also landing craft davits were increased from two to six and a Conning Station was added over pilot house to see over the main deck. Other improvements were reinforcement of the main deck to permit transportation of LCTs; bow door machinery  changed from screw gear to hydraulic; and stowage and accommodations modified.

Of the 1052 Type II vessels to be produced during WWII, 117 were transferred to either the Royal Navy of England or the Royal Hellenic Navy of Greece under the terms of the Lend Lease Act. Still other LSTs were assigned to be crewed by the United States Coast Guard.

At a top speed of 8 knots, these LSTs were affectionately called "Large Slow Target" and 40 were lost during the war. When WWII ended, most of the LSTs of this type were scrapped, modified or given to the navies of other countries. A few remained in service and saw action in Korea, Vietnam and even the Cuban Blockade. While a  few still remain in service today, there is only one in the USA which is LST-325 and will become a museum. On July 1st, 1955 all LSTs remaining in the US Navy's inventory were named for counties in the United States.
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British copy of US Navy Type 2 LST (UK)
Different opinions between the US Navy and the Royal Navy over allocations of the American built LSTs caused the Royal Navy embark on its own shipbuilding program. Similar in design but using riveted rather than welded construction, the British copy (known as Type 3) was heavier and had a smaller cargo capacity - but 2 knots faster on account of steam propulsion machinery. England ordered 45 and Canada 74, many of which were canceled at war's end.
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DeSoto County Class (USA)
The third major group of American built LSTs was the DeSoto County Class which had a higher degree of habitability for the crew and embarked troops. Considered the ultimate design in LSTs designed with traditional bow doors, they had a top speed of 17.5 knots. Seven ships were built (hull numbers1171 - 1177).
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Newport Class (USA)
The Newport Class - first deployed in 1969 - was a radical departure from previous LST designs and bore little resemblance to their WWII predecessors. Designed with a "V" type bow to attain speeds of 20 knots, the doors were moved high above the waterline and the ships off-loaded vehicles from their main deck via a 112 foot-long ramp over the bow. The ramp was stored behind the bow doors when underway and deployed by using derricks protruding from the bow of the ship. Additionally a stern  gate allowed amphibious vehicles to off-load directly into the water. The superstructure was moved amidships and reconfigured the same width as the ship's beam with a tunnel through it to permit forward or aft access on the main deck. A helicopter landing pad was incorporated into the stern of the ship. Armament consisted of one 20mm Phalanx mount and two 25mm Mk38 machine guns. The crew complement was 357. Twenty ships were built (hull numbers1179 - 1198).
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