Hello, and thank you for reading our blog post for the Americans for a Stronger Navy.
We are a group of patriotic citizens who support and appreciate the U.S. Navy and its mission to protect our nation and its interests around the world. In this blog post, we want to share with you some facts and trivia about the USS LST-325, a World War II landing ship tank that recently arrived in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
What is the USS LST-325?
The USS LST-325 is a decommissioned tank landing ship of the U.S. Navy, now docked in Evansville, Indiana, as a museum ship. It is the last operational LST of its class, and one of the few remaining World War II ships that participated in the D-Day landings at Normandy. LST stands for Landing Ship, Tank, which means it could carry tanks, vehicles, cargo, and troops directly onto shore without the need for docks or piers. The USS LST-325 was launched on October 27, 1942 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and commissioned on February 1, 1943 under Lt. Ira Ehrensall, USNR.
What did the USS LST-325 do during World War II?
The USS LST-325 was a vital part of the Allied amphibious operations in Europe and Africa during World War II. It operated in the North Africa area and participated in the invasions at Gela, Sicily and Salerno, Italy. On June 6, 1944, it was part of the largest armada in history by participating in the Normandy landings at Omaha Beach. It carried 59 vehicles, 30 officers and a total of 396 enlisted men on that first trip. On its first trip back to England from France, it transported 38 casualties back to a friendly port. Over the next nine months, Navy records show it made more than 40 trips across the English Channel, carrying thousands of men and pieces of equipment needed by troops to successfully complete the liberation of Europe.
The USS LST-325 also served as a hospital ship, returning wounded soldiers back to England from the beaches of Normandy. It was originally known as LST-325 during World War II, USNS LST-325 during its arctic operations in the 1950s, and later L-144 (A/G Syros) while it was in service of the Greek Navy.
How did the USS LST-325 become a museum ship?
The USS LST-325 was decommissioned in 1946 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in 1961. It was transferred to Greece in 1964 and served as RHS Syros (L-144) until 1999. It was sold to a group of U.S. veterans in 2000 who sailed it back to the United States from Crete in a voyage that lasted 13 weeks and covered 6,500 miles. The ship was renamed M/V LST-325 and docked in Mobile, Alabama until 2005 when it moved to its current homeport of Evansville, Indiana. In 2004, it was granted permission by the U.S. Navy to use its original name again as USS LST-325. In 2009, it was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
The USS LST-325 is now a floating museum that offers tours and cruises to visitors who want to learn more about its history and legacy. It also participates in various events and festivals around the country to honor and educate veterans and civilians alike. Each year, it sails for five weeks to give people a chance to see its historical impact nationwide.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this blog post about the USS LST-325 and learned something new and interesting about this remarkable ship and its role in World War II. We also hope you feel inspired and motivated to support our Navy and its efforts to protect our nation and our allies. We thank you for reading this blog post and for following #AmericansforaStrongerNavy. Please leave your comments below or contact us if you have any questions or feedback. Stay safe and stay Navy!