About this Unit
**USS Whitehall (PCE-856)** was a PCE-842-class patrol craft escort commissioned by the United States Navy during World War II. Launched in 1943, she primarily performed convoy escort duties and anti-submarine patrols in the Atlantic and Caribbean theaters, safeguarding vital Allied shipping from enemy submarines. In the later stages of the war, she also supported training and coastal defense operations before being decommissioned in 1946.
**LST Squadron 9** was a U.S. Navy amphibious squadron composed of Landing Ship, Tanks (LSTs), which played a significant role in the Pacific Theater during World War II. The squadron participated in numerous amphibious landings, including the campaigns in the Philippines and Borneo, enabling the rapid deployment of troops, vehicles, and supplies onto hostile beaches. Their contributions were instrumental in the success of Allied island-hopping operations.
Historical Facts
•
USS Whitehall (PCE-856) - Patrol Craft Escort: Originally commissioned as PCE-856, the ship was part of the PCE-842-class of patrol craft escorts built during World War II, designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare and convoy escort duties.
•
Namesake: The ship was later renamed USS Whitehall, after multiple towns named Whitehall in the United States, a common practice for smaller naval vessels during that era.
•
Construction Details: PCE-856 was laid down by the Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company in Chicago, Illinois, reflecting the wartime expansion of naval construction into inland shipyards.
•
Service in the Atlantic: During World War II, the ship served primarily in the Atlantic, performing convoy escort and anti-submarine patrols to protect Allied shipping from German U-boat threats.
•
Postwar Service: After WWII, USS Whitehall (PCE-856) was assigned to training and reserve duties, helping to train naval reservists and providing support for fleet exercises.
•
LST Squadron 9 Overview: LST Squadron 9 was a group of Landing Ship, Tank (LST) vessels, critical for amphibious operations in the Pacific and European theaters during WWII, responsible for delivering tanks, vehicles, and troops directly onto enemy beaches.
•
Okinawa Landings: LST Squadron 9 played a key role in the Okinawa landings (Operation Iceberg) in April 1945, one of the largest amphibious assaults in history, delivering thousands of soldiers and essential vehicles to the front lines.
•
Dangerous Waters: LSTs and their squadrons, including Squadron 9, faced significant dangers from enemy aircraft, kamikaze attacks, and mines during their landing operations, with many LSTs sustaining damage but continuing their missions.
•
Innovative Ship Design: LSTs were revolutionary for their time, featuring a large bow door and ramp for rapid unloading, shallow draft for beach landings, and the ability to carry tanks, trucks, and troops, making them a backbone of Allied amphibious warfare.
•
Postwar Legacy: After WWII, many LSTs from Squadron 9 were repurposed for occupation duties, humanitarian missions, and eventually transferred to allied navies, while the USS Whitehall (PCE-856) continued in various support roles before being decommissioned.
