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Lost to enemy action, 10 July 1943

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LST-313


Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (10 July 1943)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Personnel Awards

Navy Cross (LT. Samuel H. Alexander Commanding Officer, U.S.S. LST 313, 10 July 1943) Citation
Purple Hearts (number unknown 10 July 1943)

LST-1 Class Tank Landing Ship
  • Laid down, 7 September 1942, at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N. Y.
  • Launched, 30 December 1942
  • Commissioned USS LST-313, 13 January 1943, LT. Samuel Hugh Alexander, in command
  • During World War II USS LST-313 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    European-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Sicilian occupation, 9 to 15 July 1943
  • Final Disposition, sunk, 10 July 1943, off Gela, Sicily, by German aircraft
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 28 July 1943
  • USS LST-313 earned one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement
    1,625 t.(lt)
    4,080 t.(fl) (sea-going draft w/1675 ton load)
    2,366 t. (beaching displacement)
    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 Source
    LST-313
    1016031301
    30k Tanks leaving USS LST-313 at Naval Base Little Creek, VA., 25 March 1943 Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    LST-313 147k USS LST-313 burning, 10 July 1943, just off the Gela, Sicily, invasion beaches after being hit by a German air Attack.
    US National Archives photo # SC 180428, a US Army Signal Corps photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    LST-313 134k USS LST-313 burning after being hit by German Dive Bomber while unloading near Gela, on 10 July 1943. Note DUKW in foreground.
    US National Archives photo # SC 180426, a US Army Signal Corps photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command

    USS LST-313
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Alexander, Samuel Hugh13 January 1943 - 10 July 1943
    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
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Tank Landing Ship (LST) Photo Index
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    This page created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 17 March 2023