When the kamikaze struck USS LST-738 on 15 December 1944 during the Mindoro landings, the explosion ignited fuel, ammunition, and vehicles on the tank deck. The crew fought the fires for hours, but the ship became impossible to save. Other landing ships moved in under enemy air attack to evacuate the wounded and rescue survivors. LST-738 was finally abandoned and later sunk by friendly forces to prevent her from drifting back toward the convoy. The attack was part of Japan’s rapidly expanding ka