The LST(2)-class of landing ship tanks is by far the best known amphibious ship of World War II, and whose importance to the Allied war effort could not be overstated. It began as a British requirement for a mass-produced, ocean-going ship that was capable of landing tanks, vehicles, cargo, and troops directly on shore. To enable direct landings, the LST was designed with a flat keel as well as a ballast system in order to switch from deep drafts for ocean travel and shallow drafts for beaching. A kedging anchor in the rear allowed the ship to reverse after beaching. The LST featured a tank deck and a weather deck which were connected through an elevator or (later) a ramp, while unloading was done through twin bow doors and a bow ramp. A typical LST could carry around 20 medium tanks, 163 troops, as well as an LCT or smaller landing craft which could be launched via davits. In order to maintain costs low, the LST was powered by a diesel rather than a steam engine, but this constrained speed to only 9 kts when loaded, which the ship its unflattering nickname of 'large slow target'. The LST(2)-class went through numerous modifications throughout its production run, resulting in what are sometimes considered three separate sub-classes (LST-1, LST-491, and LST-542) and these included layout changes, different anti-aircraft armament configurations, as well as strengthened main decks. Despite its limitations, the LST(2) was built in larger numbers than any other fighting ship class in history, a total of 1,051 (out of 1,152 ordered) of which 83 were finished as auxiliaries (including repair ships and tenders). Many other LST(2)s were converted to auxiliaries later, notably hospital ships. 115 LST(2)s were also provided to the Royal Navy as Lend-Lease. Of those in US Navy service, most were either sold or scrapped shortly after the war and many others mothballed and later reactivated during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Over 150 LST(2)s were transferred or leased to nearly two dozen nations with the largest users being Argentina, France, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea, South Vietnam, and the Republic of China, which managed to have most of them successfully escape to Taiwan in 1949. A few surviving examples remain in service today.

None of the ships of this class were named during the war, although surviving ones in USN service were named after counties and parishes in 1955. Despite their nickname, only 26 ships were sunk by enemy action during World War II. The most notable loss took place during the preparations for D-Day on 28 April 1944 when a group of eight LST(2)s was attacked by German E-Boats off Slapton Sands in Devon. Two LST(2)s were sunk and two others damaged for the loss of 746 killed (mostly US Army troops onboard). A total of 233 LST(2)s (144 from the USN, the remainder RN or Allied) participated in the D-Day landings themselves, none of which were lost on that day although five were sunk over the course of the Normandy campaign. Many were used for casualty evacuation in the days that followed, carrying a many as 80% of all wounded troops back to the UK. Another notable incident was the accidental explosion of an explosives-laden ship (LST-353) at Pearl Harbor on 21 May 1944 which resulted in 163 deaths and the loss of five other LST(2)s. Lend-Lease Royal Navy ships are described separately (as the LST Mk II).