USS LST-345
History | |
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Name | USS LST-345 |
Builder | Norfolk Navy Yard |
Laid down | 17 October 1942 |
Launched | 15 December 1942 |
Commissioned | 21 January 1943 |
Decommissioned | 5 December 1945 |
Stricken | 3 January 1946 |
Honours and awards | 3 battle stars (WWII) |
Fate | Sold for scrapping, 23 March 1948 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | LST-1-class tank landing ship |
Displacement |
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Length | 328 ft (100 m) |
Beam | 50 ft (15 m) |
Draft |
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Propulsion | 2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders |
Speed | 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
Boats & landing craft carried | 2-6 × LCVPs |
Troops | approx. 140 officers and enlisted |
Complement | 8–10 officers, 100–115 enlisted men |
Armament |
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USS LST-345 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship of the United States Navy during World War II.
History
[edit]LST-345 was laid down on 17 October 1942 at the Norfolk Navy Yard; launched on 15 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. John B. Brown; and commissioned on 21 January 1943.
LST-345 departed US shores for northern Africa on 1 May 1943.
During World War II, LST-345 was assigned to the European theater and participated in the following operations:
- Sicilian occupation – July 1943
- Salerno landings – September 1943
- Invasion of Normandy – June 1944
While operating out of Bizerte, Tunisia, LST-345 was exposed to German air raids every night for three months. Sailing to Britain from the Mediterranean, LST-345 encountered a Nazi Wolf pack in the Atlantic. LST-345 made 56 cross-channel voyages between Britain and France in support of the Allied offensive in Europe.
Decommissioned on 5 December 1945 and struck from the Naval Register on 3 January 1946, she was sold on 23 March 1948 to the Ships & Power Equipment Co. of Barber, New Jersey for scrap.
LST-345 earned three battle stars for World War II service.
References
[edit]This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- Photo gallery of LST-345 at NavSource Naval History
- George Henderson, Valley Patriot, Andover, North Andover