USS LST-16

USS "LST-16" was a and proceeded to anchorage. Gunners aboard "LST-16" fired on enemy aircraft at 21:50 on 14 July, and the ship began discharging ammunition and supplies via DUKWs. On 15 July the LST was underway, anchoring in Tunis Bay on next day.

"LST-16" returned to Gela, Sicily, on 19 July 1943, with 7 officers and 142 enlisted men of the U.S. Army and returned to Tunis Bay with 62 Italian officers and 408 Italian soldiers as prisoners of war on 22 July 1943. Again loading 35 vehicles, 2 officers end 44 enlisted men of the U.S. Army the LST anchored off Gela on 24 July and was back in Tunis Bay the next day. On 28 July 1943, she made her final trip to Gela with 13 officers, 153 enlisted men and 63 vehicles. She returned to Biserte on 14 August 1943, towing two sections of pontoon causeways in tandem. In 14 trips and one shuttle trip 48 officers, 537 enlisted men, 894 tons of cargo and 167 vehicles were transported to Sicily. Thirty-six U. S. military personnel and 471 prisoners of war were returned to North Africa.

While in the Mediterranean, Seabees converted "LST-906" into a makeshift aircraft carrier sporting a custom-built mesh airstrip above deck. She was the base for two USAAF L-4B Grasshoppers. Missions flown were typically as artillery spotters. [ for transport to the beach.

At 13:30 on 8 June 1944 she beached at the western-end of Omaha Beach, dropping her bow and stern anchors as she came to a stop. She then opened her bow doors and lowered the landing ramp and commenced unloading the remaining troops and equipment beginning at 16:00. By 18:00 all of the Army personnel, their equipment, vehicles and the two barrage balloons were safely ashore. She took aboard five casualties and 17 survivors of and retracted from the beach. She joined a convoy on 9 June that was making its way back to England and arrived at Solent at 22:05 on 9 June 1944. She continued making cross-Channel trips, carrying supplies and reinforcements from England to Normandy and returning with casualties. "LST-16" was ordered on 25 September 1944, to return to the United States. She did not actually leave Plymouth until 26 January 1945, and after arriving at Norfolk on 17 February 1945, proceeded to Davisville, Rhode Island, to unload.

"LST-16" proceeded to Galveston, Texas via Boston and New Orleans for an availability from 11 March to 17 April 1945. Returning to New Orleans she proceeded on 27 April 1945, via Theodore, Mobile, Canal Zone, Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, Saipan, Leyte, Luzon and Batangas to Tokyo, where she arrived 15 September 1945. During the journey, the ship welcomed a new commanding officer, Lt. (jg) W. J. Kenneally, USCGR, on 22 May 1945.

The veteran landing craft remained in Tokyo for more than two months and on 28 November 1945, she arrived at Saipan on her homeward voyage, which included stops at Pearl Harbor, San Francisco and the Canal Zone before Charleston was reached 20 February 1946.

She was decommissioned and her Coast Guard crew removed on 8 March 1946. She was struck from the Navy List on 12 April 1946. On 5 December 1947, she was sold to Ships and Power Equipment Co., of Barber, New Jersey, for scrapping.

"LST-16" earned five battle stars for World War II service.

References

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* "This article includes text from the public domain site of the Office of the Historian, U.S. Coast Guard. The entry can be found [http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g%2Dcp/history/webcutters/lst%5F16.html here] ."

External links

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