USS LST-353

USS "LST-353" was an sclass|LST-1|tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II.

LST-353 was laid down on 15 July 1942 at the Charleston Navy Yard; launched on 12 October 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Estelle Lynette Cushman; and commissioned on 27 November 1942 with Lieutenant L. E. Reynolds, Jr., USNR, in command. During World War II, LST-353 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the following operations: the consolidation of the southern Solomons (June, 1943); the New Georgia-Rendova-Vangunu occupation (July, 1943); the Vella Lavella occupation (August, 1943); and the occupation and defense of Cape Torokina (November, 1943). On 21 May 1944 she was sunk by internal explosion while moored in West Loch at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 18 July 1944.

LST-353 earned three battle stars and the Navy Unit Commendation for World War II service.

Also lost in the West Loch explosion were LST-43; LST-69; LST-179; and LST-480

References

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* cite web|title=LST-353|work=Amphibious Photo Archive
url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160353.htm|accessdate=June 25|accessyear=2007

ee also

* List of United States Navy LSTs
* List of United States Navy losses in World War II