| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Tank landing ship |
| Class | LST (Mk 2) |
| Pennant | LST 215 |
| Built by | Chicago Bridge and Iron Co. (Seneca, Illinois, U.S.A.) |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | 8 Jan 1943 |
| Launched | 26 Jun 1943 |
| Commissioned | 20 Jul 1943 |
| End service | 27 Jul 1946 |
| History | Decommissioned and returned to the USN on 27 July 1946. |
| Former name | USS LST 215 |
Commands listed for HMS LST 215 (LST 215)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | T/Lt. Jack Bouchier Baldwin, RNR | 1 Nov 1943 | Feb 1944 |
| 2 | Cdr. (retired) Garth Henry Fyson Owles, DSO, DSC, RN | Feb 1944 | 28 Jun 1944 |
| 3 | T/A/Lt.Cdr. Francis Smith, DSC, RNR | 28 Jun 1944 | 12 Oct 1944 |
| 4 | T/Lt. Geoffrey Denis Guppy, RNVR | 12 Oct 1944 | 27 Jul 1946 |
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Notable events involving LST 215 include:
2 Nov 1943
Convoy AB 18A.
This convoy departed Aden on 2 November 1943.
It was made up of the following LST's; HMS LST 180 (?), HMS LST 215 (Cdr.(Retd.) G.H.F. Owles, RN), USS LST 17 (Lt. H.B. Gallagher, USCGR), USS LST 21 (Cdr. T.W. Greene, USN), USS LST 25 (Lt. E.F. Macellus, USNR), USS LST 72 (Lt. J.A. Lombard, USNR), USS LST 175 (Lt. E.J. Fitzgerald, USNR), USS LST 176 (Lt.(jg) J.A. Salt, USNR), USS LST 208 (Lt. A. Strickland, USNR), USS LST 209 (Lt. F.T. Ratchford, USNR) and USS LST 261 (Lt. Lt. L.I. Reilley, USCG).
On departure from Aden the convoy was escorted by the corvette HMS Aster (Lt. W.L. Smith, RNR) and the minesweeper HMAS Lismore (T/Lt. L.C.G. Lever, RANR(S)).
Around 1500FG/6, the convoy was joined by the escort carrier HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN) and HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, DSO, RN) which came from Bombay.
The convoy arrived at Bombay around 1230FG/9. (1)
22 Dec 1943
Convoy CJ 9A.
This convoy departed Calcutta on 22 December 1943.
It was made up of the following LST's; HMS LST 180 (?), HMS LST 215 (Cdr.(Retd.) G.H.F. Owles, RN), HMS LST 238 (?), USS LST 17 (Lt. H.B. Gallagher, USCGR), USS LST 21 (Cdr. T.W. Greene, USN), USS LST 25 (Lt. E.F. Macellus, USNR), USS LST 72 (Lt. J.A. Lombard, USNR), USS LST 73 (Lt. H.M. Crossan, USNR), USS LST 175 (Lt. E.J. Fitzgerald, USNR), USS LST 176 (Lt.(jg) J.A. Salt, USNR), USS LST 208 (Lt. A. Strickland, USNR) and USS LST 209 (Lt. F.T. Ratchford, USNR).
On departure from Calcutta the convoy was escorted by the minelayer HrMs Willem van der Zaan (Lt.Cdr. G.P. Küller, RNN) and the auxiliary patrol vessel HMIS Kalavati (T/Lt. S. Gill, RINR).
Around 0730FG/25, the convoy escort was reinforced when the destroyer HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN) joined.
The destroyer HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, DSO, RN), which had been in company with HMAS Quiberon proceeded to Madras with HMS LST 180 and HMS LST 238 arriving there later on the 25th.
The convoy arrived at Colombo on 27 December 1943. (2)
28 Dec 1943
Convoy MB 59A.
This convoy departed Colombo on 28 December 1943.
It was made up of the following LST's; HMS LST 215 (Cdr.(Retd.) G.H.F. Owles, RN), USS LST 17 (Lt. H.B. Gallagher, USCGR), USS LST 21 (Cdr. T.W. Greene, USN), USS LST 25 (Lt. E.F. Macellus, USNR), USS LST 72 (Lt. J.A. Lombard, USNR), USS LST 73 (Lt. H.M. Crossan, USNR), USS LST 175 (Lt. E.J. Fitzgerald, USNR), USS LST 176 (Lt.(jg) J.A. Salt, USNR), USS LST 208 (Lt. A. Strickland, USNR) and USS LST 209 (lt. F.T. Ratchford, USNR).
The repair ship (former LST) USS Achelous (Lt. W. Ringies, USNR) was also part of the convoy.
On departure from Colombo the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN) and the minesweeper HMIS Khyber (T/Lt. H.C.H. Berry, RINR).
During the night of 30/31 December 1943, HMIS Khyber parted company.
In the morning of 4 January 1944, the corvette HMS Rockrose (T/Lt. H.J. Makepeace, RNR) joined.
The convoy arrived at Aden on 5 January 1944. (3)
6 Jan 1944
The LST's, HMS LST 215 (Cdr.(Retd.) G.H.F. Owles, RN),
USS LST 17 (Lt. H.B. Gallagher, USCGR),
USS LST 21 (Cdr. T.W. Greene, USN),
USS LST 25 (Lt. E.F. Macellus, USNR),
USS LST 72 (Lt. J.A. Lombard, USNR),
USS LST 73 (Lt. H.M. Crossan, USNR),
USS LST 175 (Lt. E.J. Fitzgerald, USNR),
USS LST 176 (Lt.(jg) J.A. Salt, USNR),
USS LST 208 (Lt. A. Strickland, USNR) and
USS LST 209 (lt. F.T. Ratchford, USNR) and the repair ship (former LST) USS Achelous (Lt. W. Ringies, USNR) departed Aden for the Suez Canal.
On departure from Aden they were escorted by the destroyer HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN).
The destroyer parted company around 0330C/7 and set course to return to Aden where she arrived around 0930C/7.
The LST's and repair ship arrived at Suez on 12 January 1944. (4)
Sources
- War diary of USS LST 21 for November 1943
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Quiberon for December 1943 + War diary of USS LST 21 for December 1943
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Quiberon for December 1943 + Report of proceedings of HMAS Quiberon for January 1944 + War diary USS LST-21 for December 1943 + War diary USS LST-21 for January 1944
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Quiberon for January 1944 + War diary of USS LST 21 for January 1944