USS LST-359

42.0666670°N 19.1333330°W / 42.0666670; -19.1333330

USS LST-359 off Salerno in September 1943
History
United States
Name	LST-359
Builder	Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston
Laid down	21 November 1942
Launched	11 January 1943
Sponsored by	Mrs. Albert Miller Penn
Commissioned	9 February 1943
Stricken	8 February 1945
Identification	Callsign: NZFA
Honors and awards	See Awards
Fate	Sunk by U-870, 20 December 1944
General characteristics
Class and type	LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement	4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft Landing at 2,160 t: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
Speed	12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range	24,000 nmi (44,000 km; 28,000 mi) at 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) while displacing 3,960 long tons (4,024 t)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 or 6 x LCVPs
Capacity	2,100 tons oceangoing maximum 350 tons main deckload
Troops	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement	13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament	Varied, ultimate armament 2 × twin 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns 4 × single 40 mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons

USS LST-359 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II.[1]

Construction and career

LST-359 was laid down on 21 November 1942 at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina. Launched on 11 January 1943 and commissioned on 9 February 1943.[1]

During World War II, LST-388 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle theater. She took part in the Sicilian occupation in Italy from 9 to 15 July 1943 and 28 July to 17 August 1943. Then the Salerno landings from 9 to 21 September of the same year.

She then participated in the Anzio-Nettuno landings, 22 January to 1 March and in the Invasion of Normandy from 6 to 25 June 1944.

She was sunk by U-870 while under tow by a Type V tugboat, named Farallon and split into two off Spain with 2 casualties on 20 December 1944.[2]

LST-359 was struck from the Navy Register on 8 February 1945.[1]

Awards

LST-359 have earned the following awards:

• American Campaign Medal
• Combat Action Ribbon
• European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (5 battle stars)
• Navy Unit Commendation
• World War II Victory Medal

Citations

1. "Tank Landing Ship LST". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
2. "USS LST-359 (American Landing ship) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2021.