Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:48:37-2:48:54

Landing Ship Tank handling was difficult, not impossible

LSTs could be steered, but their awkward handling made tide and local geography unusually important to the navigator.

Amphibious WarfareLanding Ship TankShip HandlingTides
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Question

Is it true that only God can steer a Landing Ship Tank?

Short answer

No, but LSTs were difficult to handle and their movement was strongly affected by tides and local geography.

Notes

A joking question asks whether only God can steer a Landing Ship Tank. LSTs were steerable, though handling them was difficult. The reference to the Moon, tides, and geography points to the environmental forces that complicate a landing ship's movement. The joke becomes a compact lesson in why amphibious ship handling depends on local water conditions as well as helm input.