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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, Ensign A. G. McNair in command

During World War II USS LST-291 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign:

**European-Africa-Middle East Campaign**
Campaign and Dates
Invasion of Normandy, June 1944

Decommissioned, date unknown

Struck from the Naval Register, 19 May 1954

Final Disposition, sunk as a target in July 1954

USS LST-291 earned one battle star for World War II service.

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)
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)
Speed 12 kts. (maximum)
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
Propulsion two General Motors 12-567, 900hp diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
53k	USS LST-291 with *LCT-614* on her deck. 2 May 1944. US Navy photo	World War II LCT Flotilla web site
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
106k	USS LST-291 and USS LST-1153 beached, location unknown, circa 1948-1952.	William D. Smith RM3 USS LST 1153 1948-1952
104k	USS LST-291 has her cargo removed after grounding on a submerged reef, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, June 1954	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
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.

View the LST-291
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
Fleet Reserve Association

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 19 March 2010