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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LST-995

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Quebec - November
NVQN

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1)
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

USS LST-995 was sold to Argentina and named ARA Cabo San Diego (BDT-2)

542-Class Tank Landing Ship:

Laid down, 12 March 1944, by Boston Navy Yard, Boston, MA.

Launched, 2 May 1944

Commissioned USS LST-995, 20 May 1944, LT. G.W. Chamberlin USNR in command

During World War II USS LST-995 was initially assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and later in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

Campaign and Dates
Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
Invasion of southern France, 15 August to 25 September 1944

While assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater USS LST-995 came under the command of:
LST Flotilla Thirty-Six, CAPT. D.F.J. Shea USN (23);
LST Group One Hundred Six, CDR. O.P. Thomas Jr. USN (26);
LST Division Two Hundred Eleven

Following World War II USS LST-995 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal
15 September to 25 October 1945
13 to 25 November 1945
29 December 1945 to 23 February 1946
4 to 11 March 1946
28 March to 8 April 1946

Decommissioned, 15 August 1946

Struck from the Naval Register, 25 September 1946

USS LST-995 earned one battle star for World War II service

Sold to the Northwest Merchandizing Service, 4 November 1947 for commercial operations, renamed Don Nicolas

Acquired by the government of Argentina in 1948, renamed ARA Cabo San Diego (BDT-2)

Decommissioned from the Naval Transport Service and disarmed at the Naval Base Santiago River 1963

Discharged from the Navy on 12 August 1963

Sold, 3 March 1966, to Maruba S.A., Buenos Aires.

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications: (as reported by Office of Naval Intelligence-1945)

Displacement

1,625 t.(lt)

4,080 t.(fl) (sea-going draft w/1675 ton load)

2,366 t.

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
USS LST-995
	131k	Commandant’s Circular No. 18-44, 7 April 1944, outlining the schedule for the 17 April 1944 launchings of USS LST-994 and USS LST-995. Most LSTs built by the Boston Navy Yard were built in pairs. The circular identifies the sponsors, who were shipyard workers chosen by their fellow employees. (Records of the Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-15404)	Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA. 02129
	95k
	163k	Printed program for the 17 April 1944 launching of .USS LST-994 and USS LST-995 from Shipways No. 1 of the Boston Navy Yard. (Records of the Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-15404)	Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA. 02129
	99k
	268k	The sponsors for USS LST-994 and USS LST-995 and their matrons of honor pose with Boston Navy Yard Commandant Rear Admiral Robert A. Theobald at the launching ceremony on 17 April 1944. From left to right are Mrs. Mary L. Smith, matron of honor, USS LST-995; Mrs. Lillian A. Finnerty, sponsor, USS LST-995; Admiral Theobald; Miss Gertrude Holber, sponsor, USS LST-994; and Mrs. Viola Boudrow, matron of honor, USS LST-994. (U.S. Navy photograph, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-11716)	Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA. 02129
	100k	USS LST-995 slides down the launching ways at the Boston Navy Yard on 17 April 1944. (U.S. Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-11716)	Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA. 02129
	239k	Southern France Invasion, August 1944. LST's loading invasion supplies and vehicles at Nisida, Italy, 9 August 1944, just prior to the Southern France Operation. Note barrage balloons overhead. Ships loading on beach include (left to right): USS LST-1019; USS LST-504; USS LST-1020; and USS LST-995; among others. Passing by in center distance is USS LST-505. US National Archives Photo # 80-G-258037, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives	Rob Rielly
	157k	USS LST-995 under way in San Francisco Bay in 1946 US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 79867. Courtesy of D.M. McPherson, 1974.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
ARA Cabo San Diego (BDT-2)
1016099507	212k	Ex-*ARA Cabo San Diego* (BDT-2)** (ex-USS LST-995) moored pierside, date and location unknown. IEMMI Archive	Robert Hurst
1016099508	106k	Cabo San Diego (BDT-2) underway in the Río Gallegos, Argentina, date unknown. A. González Climent/IEMMI Archive	Robert Hurst

USS LST-995
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LT. Chamberlain Jr., George Washington, USNR	20 May 1944 - December 1945
02	LT. Pierce, L. E., USNR	December 1945 - February 1946
03	LTjg. Zaremba, Joseph J., USNR	February 1946 - May 1946
04	ENS. Skinner, Ross D., USNR	May 1946 - 15 August 1946


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 27 January 2023