Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Evansville, IN: Landing Ship, Tank (LST) 325

Where I toured it: (Satellite)
Current location: (Satellite, accessed Apr 2021, the map still has the image of the casino boat)
Current location: (Satellite, accessed Aug 2024, 3,072 photos)
Where it was when I posted these notes: (Satellite)

See Prairie Shipyard for more information about LSTs.
USLST also has information about LSTs, including three photos of this yard.

LST-325 stranded at low tide on 12 June 1944, while delivering materiel to the Normandy beachhead. (National Archives) via Dennis DeBruler via NavyTimes

I took a bunch of photos when I toured this ship on Aug 12, 2014. I had been waiting to publish until after I added my own photos. But I don't see that happening in the near future, and I have accumulated enough other photos that I'm publishing without my photos because a need a link to this post.

This is a satellite image of where it was when I toured it in 2014.
3D Satellite

This is a current satellite image.
Satellite

Investigate Indiana posted five photos with the comment:
Although temporarily closed for repairs and in Texas for these needed repairs, docked at Evansville on the Ohio River is the  WWII Landing Tank Ship USS LST 325.  Unlike much larger ships, the smaller ships were assigned a number instead of a name.
The LST 325 was commissioned in October 1942 and was used to ship tanks, trucks and supplies for the war effort.  These ships were unique in that they had a flat bottom so they could go right up to the shore to unload.  The USS LST 135 carried 59 vehicles, 30 officers and 396 enlisted men in the June 6, 1944 D Day invasion.  It also made more than 40 trips across the English Channel during the war. The ship was decommissioned and sent to Greece as a second life in September of 1964 and served the Hellenic Navy until 1999.
In 2000 the ship was purchased by a group of retired military men who formed the USS LST Memorial and found it to its new home on the Ohio.  It is the last navigable LST still in existence.  It is docked in Evansville because Evansville was home to the shipyard where LSTs were built during WWII.  It now stands as the city's war memorial for all those who served in the LSTs.
Ralph DeFreece: LSTs were also made in Seneca Illinois, right on the Illinois River
1

2
3

4

5
 
Tom Beckett commented on the above post
Toured her when she was in Madison several years ago.

David Mugrage commented on the above post
I was able to take a tour of the 325 last year in Hannibal mo. I highly recommend it take time to visit with the crew they are friendly and are chock full of information on what made these ships tick. I hope to see her sailing again soon somewhere that I could go for another tour.

Neil Driscoll commented on the above post
Here she is exiting Lock 16 last summer.

Mike Spitzmiller posted
Along the Ohio River

Going under the Thebes Bridge:
6:51 video @ 1:53

1 of 14 photos posted by Rock Island Arsenal
[Locking through #15 on the Mississippi River.]

Jannine Powers Clemons posted two photos with the comment: "LST 325 before and after!! Texas Wheel did an amazing job refurbishing the wheels…. Looking forward to seeing the fresh coat of paint!! Sandblasting almost done along with the primer…. 
Dry Dock, Port Arthur TX 2024."
1

2

USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc. posted three photos with the comment: "A little before and after on the dry dock! Just a little shine !"
1

2

3

Apr 2024:
USACE, New Orleans District posted
The last fully operational World War II Landing Ship Tank (LST) USS LST-325, currently a museum/memorial ship that docks in Evansville, Ind., passes through the Algiers Lock en route to a shipyard in Texas for repairs. The Algiers Lock, which was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1956, is located just below New Orleans, La., on the west bank of the Mississippi River at mile 88 above Head of Passes. This lock provides an alternate waterway connection from the Mississippi River to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) at mile 6 west of the Harvey Lock. (Courtesy photo by Robert Swayze)

Jostproc Spitjerm Omdoama posted 15 photos with the comment:
In mid-1940s, it was not unusual to see warships on the Ohio River in Evansville. The Evansville Shipyard sat on 45 acres of riverfront property and employed 19,000 people at its height. It produced 167 LSTs (landing ship tanks) as well as many other ships. Evansville built more LSTs than any other shipyard in the US. The ships were routinely taken onto the river for test runs.
The Evansville Shipyard is one reason why the city was named one of the first World War II Heritage Cities by the National Park Service. By the end of World War II, 75% of Evansville's factories produced war ordnance including ammunition and P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft. Learn more about the city's role in WWII at https://www.nps.gov/places/evansville-indiana.htm
Today, USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc. and the Evansville Wartime Museum preserve the story of Evansville's role in World War II.
These photos are from the Evansville in WWII Collection, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library: https://digital.evpl.org/digital/collection/evawwii
Thomas Lonnberg: The original of these photos are in the collection of the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science. The EVPL kindly scanned them for the Museum. The Evansville Museum also has an exhibit recalling the city’s momentous role during WW II.
Donald Miller: My Dad's ship, LST-4, was produced on Neville Island by Dravo. His ship would have had to come down the Ohio to reach Mobile to be militarized, just like the Evansville ships. This means his ship would have had to pass by the Evansville yard. I often wonder if there were whistles blown and general commotion when the Dravo ships passed by the Evansville yard. I travel to Evansville to volunteer on the LST325, and I think about that a lot when on board. I imagine my dad's ship passing by...
Brían Du Bois: Chrysler’s Evansville Ordinance Plant produced 90 plus percent of all .45 ACP cartridges for the entire Allied Forces.
Susan Biddle DeTalente: Brían Du Bois My dad worked at the ordinance plant, most likely in the 60s or 70s. Not sure when they shut down.
Steven D Owen Jr.: Dave The whirlpool plant built the P47s, Chrysler made the ammo, Anchor made and still does make tents and canvas products and I can't remember what indiana cardinal did.
Martha Reynolds: Steven D Owen Jr. The Whirlpool Plant was originally Republic Aviation. Servel, also in Evansville made the P-47 wings. My parents met at Servel. Dad almost waited too late to ask my mom out because she was scheduled to go to the Republic plant. It's a good thing a friend, Rosie intervened and told dad he better step it up before it's too late!
1
Launching ship #47 LST 492 at Evansville Shipyard on September 30, 1943. Evansville Shipyard Collection, Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science via Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

2
USS LST-56 on the Evansville Riverfront Evansville Courier and Press Photo Archive via Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

3
Lt. Seigel and Mr. Higgensin, broom raising on a test run for LST 179. Evansville Shipyard Collection, Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science via Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

4
First LST commissioned in Evansville, the LST-157, on Dec 31, 1942. Evansville Shipyard Collection, Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science via Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library Dale Webb: Love those paddlewheel tugs!

5
Launching LST 158. Evansville Shipyard Collection, Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science via Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

6
First LST commissioned in Evansville, the LST-157, on October 30, 1942. Evansville Shipyard Collection, Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science via Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

7
LST test run on January 17, 1944. Evansville Shipyard Collection, Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science via Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

8
Pipe line break, test run LST 180 on June 25, 1943. Evansville Shipyard Collection, Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science via Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library Tom Diener: Took me a little while but the large vertical pipe in the center with the unusual cap is the Galley Stack ie 'Charlie Noble'

9
Silhouette of LST 163 on the Ohio River. Evansville Shipyard Collection, Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science via Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

10
LST 123 trial run on August 31, 1943. Evansville Shipyard Collection, Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science via Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

11
LST 550 trial run on April 7, 1944. Evansville Shipyard Collection, Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science via Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

12
LST 1110 on the Evansville riverfront on February 28, 1945. Evansville Shipyard Collection, Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science via Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

13
LST 807 on September 27, 1944. Evansville Shipyard Collection, Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science via Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

14
Launching of LST 167 Evansville Shipyard Collection, Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science via Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

15
Trail run of LST 536 of January 22, 1944. Evansville Shipyard Collection, Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science via Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

Aug 2024: Shane's Snapshots posted five unique photos with the comment: "LST-325 inside Racine Locks. Thanks to Mary for the awesome pics and being a #ShanesSpotter."
1

2

3

5

6

KDKA-TV | CBS Pittsburgh  posted two photos with the comment: "SO COOL! The last fully operational World War II tank landing ship has docked on Pittsburgh's North Shore. It'll start offering tours on Friday. MORE: https://cbsloc.al/4e1ZScy"
1

2

Gretchen Brubaker Harich commented on a post via Dennis DeBruler
Saw it as it [LST-325] went up the river to Pgh!!!


We Work the Waterways posted 9 photos with the comment:
Captain Mark Kuntz is assisting in moving the venerable USS LST 325  from Evansville, Indiana to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, then down to his hometown of Wheeling, West Virginia and finally to Marietta, Ohio.  
He provided us with some beautiful photos of the trip thus far. 
The history of this amazing vessel is mind boggling as she was a landing supply ship during WWII and is now 82 years old. It’s an integral part of America’s greatest generation!
[Unfortunately, there are no comments identifying the bridge or locks. So the photos are rather worthless. There are more photos and a video in the comments.]
Fort Loudoun Lock shared


No comments:

Post a Comment