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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:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    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

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    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS LST-995
    LST-994/995 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
    LST-994/995 95k
    LST-994/995 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
    LST-994/995 99k
    LST-994/995 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
    LST-994/995 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
    LSTs995/1020 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
    LST-995 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)
    LST-995
    1016099507
    212k Ex-ARA Cabo San Diego (BDT-2) (ex-USS LST-995) moored pierside, date and location unknown.
    IEMMI Archive
    Robert Hurst
    LST-995
    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
    01LT. Chamberlain Jr., George Washington, USNR20 May 1944 - December 1945
    02LT. Pierce, L. E., USNRDecember 1945 - February 1946
    03LTjg. Zaremba, Joseph J., USNRFebruary 1946 - May 1946
    04ENS. Skinner, Ross D., USNRMay 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
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    Last Updated 27 January 2023