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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LST-371

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - November - Uniform
NCNU

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal

USS LST-371 was turned over to the United Kingdom in November 1944

LST-1 Class Tank Landing Ship:

Laid down, 29 October 1942, at Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy, MA.

Launched, 12 December 1942

Commissioned, USS LST-371, 16 January 1943, LT. Adam W. Melohusky, Adam Walter, USN

During World War II USS LST-371 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
Sicilian occupation, 9 to 15 July 1943	Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944
Salerno landings, 9 to 21 September 1943

Decommissioned and transferred to the United Kingdom, 17 November 1944

Royal Navy History
As part of "W" Task Force HM LST-371 worked down the Arakan coast of Burma and participated in the recapture of Rangoon, before proceeding to the eventual invasion of Malaya at Morib and Port Swettenham, and so to Singapore and Bangkok etc. doing relief work repatriating ex P.O.W.s of the Japanese
Paid off Singapore and returned to US Navy custody at Subic Bay, Philippines, 16 March 1946

Struck from the Naval Register, 26 February 1946

USS LST-371 earned three battle stars for World War II service

Final Disposition, sold 5 December 1947, to Bosey, Philippines

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	Source
USS LST-371
	84k	USS LST-371 off Slapton Sands, England while transferring trucks and jeeps to an LCT, 14 February 1944. Photo from National Archives Tape No. NPC-063-1456	Bill Brinkley
	76k	USS LST-371 off Slapton Sands, England while transferring trucks and jeeps to an LCT, 14 February 1944. Photo from National Archives Tape No. NPC-063-1456	Bill Brinkley
	88k	USS LST-371 off Slapton Sands, England while transferring trucks and jeeps to an LCT, 14 February 1944. Photo from National Archives Tape No. NPC-063-1456	Bill Brinkley
	71k	USS LST-371 off Slapton Sands, England while transferring trucks and jeeps to an LCT, 14 February 1944. Photo from National Archives Tape No. NPC-063-1456	Bill Brinkley
HM LST-371
	44k	HM LST-371 moored at Port Swettenham, Malaya in 1945	LST Home Port web site
	2030k	Menu for a farewell dinner aboard HM LST-326 for Captain G Owles when Force W was paid off in Singapore on 9 February 1946. The menu consists of three sheets of paper stapled together and represents the bow doors and ramp opening.	Colin E C Pilcher Flt Lt RAF (retired) for his father LCDR. Leonard George Pilcher RNVR Commanding Officer HM LST-326
	1734k
	1834k

USS LST-371
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LT. Melohusky, Adam Walter, USN	16 January 1943 - 17 November 1944


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

Last Updated 22 August 2014