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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LST-291


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Golf - Uniform - Delta
 NGUD
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
LST-1 Class Tank Landing Ship
  • Laid down, 25 September 1943, at American Bridge Co., Ambridge, PA.
  • Launched, 14 November 1943
  • Commissioned USS LST 291, 22 December 1943, ENS. A. G. McNair, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS LST-291 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944
  • Decommissioned, 2 January 1947
  • Recommissioned, USS LST-291, 9 February 1951, LT. J. W. Pettyjohn, J. W., in command
  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 19 May 1954
  • USS LST-291 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sunk as a target in July 1954
    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
    7 officers, 104 enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    16 officers, 147 enlisted
    Boats 4 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-291 53k USS LST-291 with LCT-614 on her deck. 2 May 1944.
    US Navy photo    		 World War II LCT Flotilla web site
    LST-506 229k Normandy Invasion, June 1944. Four LST's take vehicles aboard during pre-invasion loading operations at an English port. Circa early June 1944. Ships present include:
    USS LST-496;
    USS LST-506;
    USS LST-291.
    US National Archives Photo # 80-G-252172    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    LST-291 261k USS LST-291 along with other LSTs load during the pre-invasion operations at an English port prior to the invasion of Normandy.
    US Army photo    		  
    LST-510 64k USS LST-291 and USS LST-510 (with LCT 517 loaded on her main deck) nested with two unidentified LSTs in May 1945 at a US port upon returning from the European theater of operations. LST-510 also brought along 140 American prisoners of war on their journey home.
    LST Scuttlebutt, November/December 1992 issue (p. 45)    		 Zach Morris Associate Member and Editor, LST Scuttlebutt Magazine U.S. Landing Ship Tank Association
    Talbot county 130k USS LST-291 with a floating crane alongside, and USS LST-1153 beached at Thule,Greenland, circa 1948-1952. William D. Smith RM3 USS LST 1153 1948-1952
    Talbot county 106k USS LST-291 and USS LST-1153 beached, location unknown, circa 1948-1952. William D. Smith RM3 USS LST 1153 1948-1952
    LST-291 128k USS LST-291 has her cargo removed after grounding on a submerged reef, circa 1950s. An LCM from USS Oglethorpe (AKA-100) is alongside.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 84846. Courtesy of William H. Davis, 1976.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    LST-291 96k Tugs nudge the disabled USS LST-291 into drydock at Jacksonville, FL. The vessel had 114 vehicles and 56 tons of equipment when she struck the reef.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, June 1954    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    USS LST-291
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01ENS. McNair, A. G., USNR22 December 1943 - 15 October 1944
    02LT. Miranne Jr., Joseph J., USNR15 October 1944 - 11 August 1945
    03LT. Moore, W. F., USN11 August 1945 - 2 January 1947
     Decommissioned2 January 1947 - 9 February 1951
    04LT. Pettyjohn, J. W.9 February 1951 - 30 January 1952
    05LT. Schucker, Robin McBride, USNR (USNA 1953)30 January 1952 - 1952
    06LT. Gesner, Malcolm J.1952 - ?
    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 Home Port
    State LST Chapters
    United States LST Association
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 22 June 2018