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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LST-265


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Golf - Papa - Delta
 NGPD
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal
LST-1 Class Tank Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 31 October 1942 at American Bridge Co., Ambridge, PA.
  • Launched, 24 April 1943
  • Commissioned USS LST-265, 27 July 1943, LT. George F. Sparks, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS LST-265 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following actions/campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Convoy UGS-36, 1 April 1944 Invasion of southern France, 15 August to 25 September 1944
    Elba and Pianosa landings, 17 June 1944  
  • Decommissioned, 11 December 1945
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 3 January 1946
  • Sold, 20 February 1948, to Excello Corp., of New Haven, CT., for conversion to merchant service
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • USS LST-265 earned three battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement
    1,625 t.(lt)
    4,080 t.(fl) (sea-going draft w/1675 ton load)
    2,366 t. (beaching displacement)
    Length 328' o.a.
    Beam 50'
    Draft
    light 2' 4" fwd, 7' 6" aft
    sea-going 8' 3" fwd, 14' 1" aft
    landing 3' 11" fwd, 9' 10" aft (landing w/500 ton load)
    limiting 11' 2"
    maximum navigation 14' 1"
    Speed 11.6 kts. (trial)
    Endurance 24,000 miles @ 9kts. while displacing 3960 tons
    Complement
    13 officers
    104 enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    16 officers
    147 enlisted
    Boats 2 LCVP
    Cargo Capacity (varied with mission - payloads between 1600 and 1900 tons)
    Typical loads
    One Landing Craft Tank (LCT), tanks, wheeled and tracked vehicles, artillery, construction equipment and military supplies. A ramp or elevator forward allowed vehicles access to tank deck from main deck
    Additional capacity included sectional pontoons carried on each side of vessel amidships, to either build Rhino Barges or use as causeways. Married to the bow ramp, the causeways would enabled payloads to be delivered ashore from deeper water or where a beachhead would not allow the vessel to be grounded forward after ballasting
    Armament (varied with availability when each vessel was outfitted. Retro-fitting was accomplished throughout WWII. The ultimate armament design for United States vessels was
    2 - Twin 40MM gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors
    4 - Single 40MM gun mounts
    12 single 20MM gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 4,300 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two General Motors 12-567A, 900hp Diesel engines
    single Falk Main Reduction Gears
    three Diesel-drive 100Kw 230V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    two propellers, 1,700shp
    twin rudders
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LST-265 291k USS LST-265 beached during training maneuvers at Cove Point, MD., near US Naval Amphibious Training Base Solomons, MD, circa January 9-15, 1944. Steve Benoist for his grandfather Emile Charles Benoist QM USS LST-379
    LST-265 103k USS LST-265 and USS LST-526 docked at Marseille, France while unloading during the invasion of southern France circa August-September 1944. Photo by Haven Sanborn, Radio Mechanic, 523rd Fighter Squadron USAAF. Murray Sanborn for his father Haven Sanborn
    USS LST-265
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Sparks Jr., George F., USNR26 July 1943 - 24 June 1944
    02LT. Wood, Richard L., USNR24 June 1944 - 15 September 1945
    03LT. Molnar, Joseph, USNR15 September 1945 - 11 December 1945
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    The USS LST Ship Memorial
    LST Homeport
    State LST Chapters
    United States LST Association
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Tank Landing Ship (LST) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 20 June 2014