49°43′00″N 0°52′00″W / 49.7166667°N 0.8666667°W
USS LST-314 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II.[1]
Construction and career
LST-314 was laid down on 7 September 1942 at New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York. Launched on 30 December 1942 and commissioned on 15 January 1943.[2]
During World War II, LST-314 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle theater. She took part in the Invasion of Sicily from 9 to 15 July 1943 and the Salerno landings from 9 to 21 September later that year.
She took part in the Invasion of Normandy from 6 June until her fate on the 9th. On 9 June 1944, she was struck by a torpedo in the Seine Bay while being attacked by the German motor torpedo boats S 172, S 174, S 175 and S 187 and sank with 67 officers and sailors.[3][4]
Two men who served aboard LST 314 were cited for heroism and awarded the Silver Star Medal. Lt. (jg) Fred B. Smith, Jr. was the small boat officer during the Salerno landings.[5] Lt. Commander Alvin H. Tutt was the Captain of LST 314 and was cited for his heroism that saved the lives of many of his sailors during the sinking of the ship during the Normandy Campaign.[6]
LST 314 earned 3 battle stars for her galant service during World War II.[7]
LST-314 was struck from the Navy Register on 22 August 1944.[1]
Gallery
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USS LST-314 taking part in Operation Husky in 1943 -
USS LST-314 alongside USS LST-374 undergoing preparation for the Normandy invasion in 1944
Awards
LST-314 have earned the following awards:
- American Campaign Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon
- European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (3 battle stars)
- World War II Victory Medal
Citations
- ^ a b "Tank Landing Ship LST". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ "LST-314". NHHC. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ "LST-314 | The United States Navy Memorial". navylog.navymemorial.org. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ "USS LST 314 (LST 314) of the US Navy - American Tank landing ship of the LST (Mk 2) class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-311408/
- ^ https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-311278/
- ^ https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/lst-314.html
Sources
- United States. Dept. of the Treasury (1962). Treasury Decisions Under the Customs, Internal Revenue, Industrial Alcohol, Narcotic and Other Laws, Volume 97. U.S. Government Printing Office.
- Moore, Capt. John (1984). Jane's Fighting Ships 1984-85. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710607959.
- Saunders, Stephen (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710628886.
- Fairplay International Shipping Journal Volume 222. United Kingdom: Fairplay Publishing Limited. 1967.
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