USS LST-388

USS LST-388 in Normandy on 12 June 1944
History
United States
Name	LST-388
Builder	Newport News Shipbuilding, Virginia
Laid down	20 June 1942
Launched	28 September 1942
Sponsored by	Mrs. Barbara Ann Besse
Commissioned	20 November 1942
Decommissioned	1 February 1947
Stricken	25 February 1947
Identification	Callsign: NCZY
Honors & awards	See Awards
Fate	Scrapped, 7 April 1948
General characteristics
Class & type	LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement	4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full load 2,160 long tons (2,190 t) landing
Length	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	Full load: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) forward; 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft Landing at 2,160 t: 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward; 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Installed power	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
Speed	12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range	24,000 nmi (44,000 km; 28,000 mi) at 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) while displacing 3,960 long tons (4,024 t)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 or 6 x LCVPs
Capacity	2,100 tons oceangoing maximum 350 tons main deckload
Troops	16 officers, 147 enlisted men
Complement	13 officers, 104 enlisted men
Armament	Varied, ultimate armament 2 × twin 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns 4 × single 40 mm Bofors guns 12 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons

USS LST-388 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy during World War II.

Construction and career

LST-388 was laid down on 20 June 1942 at Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Virginia. Launched on 28 September 1942 and commissioned on 20 November 1942.

During World War II, LST-388 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle theater but later changed to Asiatic-Pacific theater. During the North African occupation, Tunisian operations, she took part from 8 November 1942 to 9 July 1943. She take part in the Sicilian occupation in Italy from 9 to 15 July 1943 and the Salerno landings from 9 to 21 September of the same year.

She then participated in the Invasion of Normandy from 6 to 25 June 1944.

She participated in the Operation Crossroads the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946 and took on an important role as a general supply, provisions, hospital, and recreation.

She was decommissioned on 1 February 1947.

Transferred to the United States Maritime Administration to await her fate.

LST-388 was struck from the Navy Register on 25 February 1947 and scrapped by Bethlehem Steel Company on 7 April 1948.

Awards

LST-388 have earned the following awards:

• American Campaign Medal
• Combat Action Ribbon
• European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (4 battle stars)
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal

Sources

• United States. Dept. of the Treasury (1962). Treasury Decisions Under the Customs, Internal Revenue, Industrial Alcohol, Narcotic and Other Laws, Volume 97. U.S. Government Printing Office.
• Moore, Capt. John (1984). Jane's Fighting Ships 1984-85. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710607959.
• Saunders, Stephen (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710628886.
• Fairplay International Shipping Journal Volume 222. United Kingdom: Fairplay Publishing Limited. 1967.