LST-332 USS (Tank Landing Ship) 1943.

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USS LST-332 was one of 390 tank landing ships (LSTs) built for the United States Navy during World War II.

LST-332 was laid down on 29 October 1942 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard; launched on 24 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. G. W. Henderson; and commissioned on 6 February 1943.

Displ. 1,651 ton light, 4,145 ton full load; 328’ x 50’ x 14.1’ (max. draught); two General Motors V12-567 diesels each 1.700 hp, twin shafts, 12 kn; could carry approx. 140 troops, 2 -6 LCVP craft; crew between 108 – 115 men. The book D-Day Ships gives typical capacity of a LST was 8 jeeps, 21 - 3 ton and 6 - 15-cwt trucks and 18 tanks, 177 troops; Armament: 1 - 3 inch gun, 5 - 40mm, 6 - 20mm and 2 - 0.50 cal. machine guns.

During World War II, LST-332 was assigned to the European theater and participated in the Sicilian occupation (July 1943),Salerno landings (September 1943), and Invasion of Normandy (June 1944).

Upon her return to the United States, she was decommissioned on 22 May 1945 for conversion to landing craft repair ship USS Feronia (ARL-45) at the New York Navy Yard. The conversion was canceled 12 September 1945 and the ship reverted to LST-332; she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 12 March 1946. On 17 October 1946 the tank landing ship was sold to the Suwannee Steamship Company of Charleston, South Carolina for conversion to merchant service.

LST-332 earned three battle stars for World War II service.

Sierra Leone, 2004, 1100 Le.

Source: Dictionary of American Figthing Ships.

Source: Wikipedia.