USS LST-310

<th colspan="2" >Service record

Operations:

USS LST-310 was one of 390 tank landing ships (LSTs) built for the United States Navy during World War II.

LST-310 was laid down on 22 September 1942 at the Boston Navy Yard; launched on 23 November 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Inga M. Gustavson; and commissioned on 20 January 1943.

Service history

During World War II, LST-310 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Sicilian occupation in July, 1943 the landings at Salerno in September, 1943 and the Invasion of Normandy in June, 1944.

Upon her return to the United States, she was decommissioned on 16 May 1945 for conversion to landing craft repair ship USS Aeolus (ARL-42) at the Boston Navy Yard. The conversion was canceled 12 September 1945 and the ship reverted to LST-310; she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 12 March 1946. On 28 January 1947 the ship was sold to the Boston Metals Company of Baltimore, Maryland for conversion to merchant service.

She was sold (date unknown) to the Panama Navigation Corporation, and subsequently named MV Mercator and re-flagged as Panamanian. Sometime prior to 1963 the ship was sold to Navemar S. A. (name retained) and re-flagged Argentine. Her final fate is unknown.

File:LST Invasion of Normandy.jpg

LST-310 (2nd LST from the right) along with other ships putting cargo ashore on one of the invasion beaches, at low tide during the first days of the Invasion of Normandy in June, 1944. Among identifiable ships present are LST-532 (in the center of the view); (3rd LST from right); LST-533 (partially visible at far right); and . Note the barrage balloons overhead and Army "half-track" convoy forming up on the beach.

Ship Awards

• LST-310 earned two battle stars for World War II service.
• Combat Action Ribbon (Retroactive)
• American Ribbon
• World War II Victory Medal
• Europe African Middle Eastern Campaigns Medal(3)

References

Public Domain This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

See also

• List of United States Navy LSTs

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