HMAS LST 3022 was a Mark 3 Landing Ship Tank (LST) operated by the Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

 (as HMS LST 3022) during World War II, and the Royal Australian Navy

Royal Australian Navy

The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...

 (RAN) from 1946 until 1954.

The vessel was built by Lithgows

Lithgows

Lithgows Limited, was a British shipbuilding company based in Kingston, Port Glasgow, on the River Clyde in Scotland.-Founding:The Company was established by Joseph Russell and his partners Anderson Rodger and William Lithgow who leased the Bay Yard in Port Glasgow from Cunliffe & Dunlop and...

 at their shipyard in Port Glasgow

Port Glasgow

Port Glasgow is the second largest town in the Inverclyde council area of Scotland. The population according to the 1991 census for Port Glasgow was 19426 persons and in the 2001 census was 16617 persons...

, Scotland. The vessel was launched on 26 January 1945. The Mark 3 LST had a light load displacement of 2140 tonnes (2,106.2 LT), with a maximum beachable displacement of 3117 tonnes (3,067.8 LT) beaching. They were 345 feet (105.2 m) in length overall, with a beam of 55 in 3 in (16.84 m), and a maximum draught of 13 in 1 in (3.99 m) at the stern. Propulsion was provided by triple expansion engines, which delivered 5500 hp to the two propellers. Maximum speed was 13 knots (7.1 m/s), with a range of 10000 nautical miles (18,520 km) at 10 knots (5.4 m/s). The LCTs had a ship's company of 104, and a maximum load of 168 troops, 18 40-ton tanks, 27 trucks, and 7 Landing Craft Mechanized

Landing Craft Mechanized

The Landing Craft Mechanized or Landing Craft Mechanical was a landing craft designed for carrying vehicles. They came to prominence during the Second World War when they were used to land troops or tanks during Allied amphibious assaults....

. In RAN service, LST 3022 was armed with four 40 mm Bofors in two twin mounts and six 20 mm Oerlikons in two twin and two single mounts.

LST 3022 operated with the Royal Navy during World War II. In 1946, LST 3022 and five other Mark 3 LSTs were loaned to the RAN. They were all commissioned into RAN service on 1 July 1946. LST 3022 was placed in reserve before the end of the year, and was not recommissioned.

LST 3022 was sold to R.R. Coote for disposal on 4 June 1950. The vessel was purchased by the Queensland Cement and Lime Co. in September 1954, was converted into a dredge

Dredge

Dredging is an excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater, in shallow seas or fresh water areas with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and disposing of them at a different location...

, and renamed Coral.