View source for USS LCT-209

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=
|Ship caption=
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{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1942}}
|Ship name=USS ''LCT-209''
|Ship builder=Bison Ship Building Corporation
|Ship yard number=
|Ship laid down=September 1942
|Ship launched=October 1942
|Ship completed=
|Ship commissioned=
|Ship struck=11 December 1944
|Ship fate=Grounded off [[Normandy]] and destroyed
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Ship class=[[Landing Craft Tank#LCT Mk V specifications|LCT (Mark V)]]
|Ship displacement=286 short tons
|Ship length={{convert|114|ft|2|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|32|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft={{convert|3|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=3 × Grey Marine Diesels, 3 propellers, 675 shp/shaft
|Ship speed={{convert|10|kn|km/h}}
|Ship range=*700 [[nautical mile|nmi]] @ 7 knots
*(1,300 km @ 13&nbsp;km/h)
|Ship capacity=Cargo, 150 short tons
|Ship complement=13
|Ship armament=*1 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20&nbsp;mm]] [[Anti-aircraft warfare|AA]] guns
*2 × [[M2 Browning]] machine guns
|Ship armor=*{{convert|2.5|in|cm}}, wheelhouse
*{{convert|2|in|cm}}, gun shield
}}
|}
'''USS ''LCT-209''''' was a [[Landing Craft Tank]] Mk V built by Bison Shipbuilding of Buffalo NY. The keel was laid in September 1942 and the vessel was launched in October 1942. ''LCT-209'' served as part of Force O-2 at Fox Green sector of [[Omaha Beach]], Normandy, on [[D-Day]], 6 June 1944.

The following is from an action report for that day, supplemented by personal recollections and a history of the [[62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion]]:

Three officers and 39 enlisted men of the [[62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion]] with 1st Lieutenant Raymond D. French in command boarded at 1145 on 1 June 1944. Sailed from [[Isle of Portland]] at 1430 on 5 June 1944. Scheduled to land at Fox Green sector of Omaha Beach at H+90 after firing artillery from 8000 yards off [[Colleville-sur-Mer]] in support of the 16th Regimental Combat Team, [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]] prior to H hour. Commenced firing 105mm howitzers at 0600.

The landing attempt at 0800 was repelled by enemy fire. The vessel was hit by enemy fire while approaching the beach again at 0940 and retracted with one wounded by shrapnel. The vessel then stood by for an opportunity to beach until 1655. All vehicles and Army personnel landed at 1705. Vessel was also employed removing casualties from the beach.

According to the action report, on D+1 at 1947, ''LCT-209'' towed {{USS|LCT-460}} to the beach, assisted in beaching at 2008, retracting, and towing LCT-460 to the LST area. The report continues for four pages through 19 June 1944.

''LCT-209'' was commanded by A. Hayes. Serving aboard was Navy Ensign Thomas F. O'Shaughnessy Jr. Subsequent reports have ''LCT-209'' lost, grounding, 10 June her hull being opened and engine room flooded. On 19 July 1944 she drifted ashore on Fox Red Beach shore. She was pulled off by {{USS|Bannock|ATF-81}} and beached again on Easy White Beach. Pulled off later that day by {{USS|Diver|ARS-3}}. Reported repaired and operational on 26 June according to an endorsement to her action report. She was towed to [[Dartmouth, England]], arriving 7 September. Apparently declared beyond repair and is reported stricken from the Navy Register on 11 December 1944 and scrapped.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?137768 |title=LCT-209 (1944+) |publisher=wrecksite |access-date=11 June 2025 }}</ref>

Another history, ''The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II'', lists ''LCT-209'' as destroyed at Salerno, Italy by the explosion of {{SS|Bushrod Washington||2}} ({{flag|United States|1912}}) on 15 September 1943 during the [[Battle of Salerno]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1943.html |title=Official Chronology of the US Navy in WWII |publisher=Ibiblio |access-date=5 September 2013}}

{{September 1943 shipwrecks}}
{{June 1944 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lct-209}}
[[Category:Landing craft]]
[[Category:1942 ships]]
[[Category:World War II amphibious warfare vessels of the United States]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in September 1943]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in June 1944]]