USS LST-507

The USS LST-507 was a US tank-landing ship, sunk by a German torpedo in April 1944 during Exercise Tiger.

inking

Operation Tiger was a pre-invasion exercise carried out off the coast of Southern England in April 1944. After having taken on its complement of personnel and vehicles at Brixham, the LST joined the end of a convoy at Torquay.

Just after 0200, whilst circling Lyme Bay, the convoy was attacked by a group of German E-boats. LST 507 was hit by one torpedo at 0203, and had to be abandoned by 0230. It partially floated till dawn and then the bow was sunk by fire from a British destroyer. 202 US army and navy personnel were killed on board, out of the total of 626 US personnel who died. [cite web | url = http://www.combinedops.com/Op_Tiger.htm | title = Combinedops.com - Operation Tiger | accessdate = 2008-08-15] [cite web | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq87-3g.htm | title = Oral Histories - Exercise Tiger, 28 April 1944 (provided by LT Eugene E. Eckstam, medical officer on USS LST-507) | accessdate = 2008-08-15]

Units on board

The army units were: 478th Amphibious Truck Co., 557th Quartermaster Railhead Co., 33rd Chemical Co., 440th Engineer Co., 1605 Engr Mat Sec., 175th Sig Rep Co. and 3891st Quartermaster Truck Co. There were two 1/4 ton trucks, one 3/4 ton truck 13 2 1/2 ton trucks and 22 DUKWs. [cite web | title = Exercise Tiger Trust| accessdate = 2008-08-15 | url = http://www.exercisetiger.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=31]

Wreck

The wreck of the LST now lies at a depth of 50m. It is popular as location for wreck diving.

See also

* List of United States Navy LSTs
* Shipwrecks
* List of shipwrecks

References