USS LST-345

History
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
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 & 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 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

• 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