The convenience of a ship beached ashore proved to be a giant morale booster for the sick and injured, who could simply walk aboard.
[citation needed] The sheer numbers overwhelmed the modest sick bay facilities on these craft, which were staffed by one or two Pharmacist Mates.
Future operations in the Pacific sought to reduce these problems by augmenting several LSTs with surgical teams to treat unstable patients.
During the battles of Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Philippines, and Okinawa, surgical teams consisting of at first three and then five physicians as well as 35 Pharmacist Mates were attached to LSTs.
[citation needed] In preparation for Operation Olympic, the initial invasion of Japan planned for 1 November 1945, 36 LSTs were to be redesignated LSTHs.
These ships were to be augmented with a surgical team and provided large amounts of consumable and medical personnel to meet the anticipated demand for beachhead casualty evacuation.