USS LST-345 was a of the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 during World War II.

History

LST-345 was laid down on 17 October 1942 at the Norfolk Navy Yard; launched on 15 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. John B. Brown; and commissioned on 21 January 1943.

LST-345 departed US shores for northern Africa on May 1, 1943.

During World War II, LST-345 was assigned to the European theater and participated in the following operations:

• Sicilian occupation — July 1943
• Salerno landings — September 1943
• Invasion of Normandy — June 1944

While operating out of Bizerte, Tunisia, LST-345 was exposed to German air raids every night for three months. Sailing to Britain from the Mediterranean, LST-345 encountered a Nazi Wolf pack in the Atlantic. LST-345 made 56 cross-channel voyages between Britain and France in support of the Allied offensive in Europe.

Decommissioned on 5 December 1945 and struck from the Naval Register on 3 January 1946, she was sold on 23 March 1948 to the Ships & Power Equipment Co. of Barber, New Jersey

Barber, New Jersey

Barber was a community in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It was active during World War II in building and decommissioning ships for the U.S. Navy. One of the primary ship builders during World War II was the New Jersey Shipbuilding Company. The town also housed the American Smelting and Refining...

for scrap.

LST-345 earned three battle stars for World War II service.