USS LST-345

Career
Name: USS LST-380
Builder: Norfolk Navy Yard
Laid down: 17 October 1942
Launched: 15 December 1942
Commissioned: 21 January 1943
Decommissioned: 5 December 1945
Struck: 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: 1,780 long tons (1,809 t) light
3,880 long tons (3,942 t) full
Length: 328 ft (100 m)
Beam: 50 ft (15 m)
Draft: Unloaded:
Bow: 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m)
Stern: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
Loaded :
Bow: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m)
Stern: 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
Propulsion: 2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed: 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats and landing
craft carried:		 2-6 × LCVPs
Troops: approx. 140 officers and enlisted
Complement: 8-10 officers, 100-115 enlisted men
Armament: • 1 × single 3"/50 caliber gun mount
• 5 × 40 mm gun mounts
• 6 × 20 mm gun mounts
• 2 × .50-cal machine guns
• 4 × .30-cal machine guns

USS LST-345 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship of the United States Navy during World War II.

History

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 May 1, 1943.

During World War II, LST-345 was assigned to the European theater and participated in the following operations:

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