LST Squadron Four - Naval Cruise Book

Page 16 text:

ACTIVITIES LST 279 -■- •

Page 18 text:

LST 291 THE LANDING SHIP Tank 291 was built by the American Bridge Company at Ambridge, Pennsylvania. It was completed late in 1943 and floated via the inland route to New Orleans, Louisiana in charge of a civilian ferry crew. At New Orleans it was placed in commission at 1200 on 22 December 1943. LTJG A. G. McNair of Yonkers, N. Y. became her first Commanding Officer. After commissioning a busy period of fitting out the ship for war commenced, and was finally completed on 29 January 1944. The ship had its shakedown cruise off the cost of Florida near Panama City, returning to New Orleans on 14 February 1944. In the meantime the ship ' s Captain was spot promoted to full lieutenant. At New Orleans supplies were taken aboard, and the LCT (Landing Craft Tank) 614 was loaded on her main deck. The ship then sailed for New York city and received aboard three (3) Army Officers, thirty (30) Army troops and sixty (60) hospital corpsmen as pas- sengers for the trip across the Atlantic. On 8 March 1944 the ship sailed for Boston, Massa- chusetts and suffered its first real difficulty. It ran aground in the East River, New York. The Captain had the conn, and the Pilot took over and got the ship free. Arriving at Boston on 9 March 1944, the next day a diver was sent down to inspect the ship ' s hull, especially ballast tank B-409-W. The ship then proceeded to dry- dock in Boston and had the hull damage repaired. Re- ceiving orders to sail to Halifax, Nova Scotia, the ship got underway on 18 March and arrived at Halifax 20 March 1944. At Halifax a seize of scarlet fever attacked members of the crew, and the ship was delayed until 17 April from sailing to Milford Haven, ' Wales. She finally did sail and after .an uneventful voyage, anchored off Milford Haven on 1 May 1944. On 2 May the 291 sailed for Plymouth, England where she launched LCT 614 on 4 May 1944. On 23 May the 291 towed US Rhine Ferry No. 17 to Portland, England. On 5 June 1944 the 291 got underway and partici- pated in the big landing off Normandy. The ship had been waiting and was ready in all respects when the big day arrived. The many succeeding days were spent crossing back and forth between England and France carrying troops and equipment so necessary to sustain the beachhead. Under Orders from Commander Western Task Force the 291 hit Omaha Beach on D-Day. From D-Day (6 June 1944) until exactly one year later, the 291 completed forty-nine (49) trips across the English Channel carrying to France 6,887 troops and 2,422 vehicles. On return trips, the ship carried 1,630 prisoners of war, 1,392 troops, and 11 vehicles back to England. During this period the 291 took care of 900 personnel casualties. On 19 June 1944 the 291 entered drydock in England for repairs. On 31 July LT J. J. Miranne, Jr., USNR, reported aboard to relieve the present Captain. In August 1944, the stern anchor cable fouled in the port screw necessitating drydocking. The stern anchor was lost. LT Miranne officially took command on 15 October 1944. During the next seven months, the ship unfortunately was involved in five collisions. HISTORY (1)7 October 944— LST 508 drifted down the starboard side of the LST 291 causing the follow- ing damage: Punctured a hole in the hull at frame 7 above the waterline, and creased the hull from frame 9 to frame 11. buckling frame 10. This also resulted in the buckling of the main deck between frame 9 and frame 11. Forward track of No. 3 davit was knocked out of line. (2)6 November 1944 — Lilliam I dragged anchor and collided with LST 291. Damage: Punctured a hole one foot wide and two feet long in the star- board side aft of No. 3 boat, and broke the fuel lines of the starboard fuel tank, running light shat- tered. (3) 20 Noiember 1944 — Collision between LST 291 and HMS Dranthus (K95). Damage: Both bow doors were caved in and the bow door operat- ing mechanism was knocked out of alignment and some parts were broken. (4) 14- March 94.5— Collision between LST 291 and LST 511. Damage: Very slight buckle in the athwartship bulkhead at frame 10 on the port side. (5)8 May 94:5— Collision between LST 291 and unidentified Liberty Ship. Damage: Hull plating from frame 38 to 51 was stoved in approximately two feet from the main deck to the third deck. After davit track of number five ( 5 ) boat and life raft number nine (9) were demolished. The degaussing cable at frame thirty-nine (39) was sheared. After receiving extensive repairs to damage incurred from last collision in Falmouth, England, the 291 finally set sail for the United States on 7 June 1945. Arriving at Newport News, ' Virginia on the 22 June, the ship immediately sailed on to New Orleans for refitting. On II August 1945 LT W. F. Moore took command. ' When World War II suddenly came to an end, the 291 was destined for mothballs. The ship sailed for Green Cove Springs, Florida and arrived at the St. Johns River on 22 September 1945. During October the LCT 517 was loaded aboard. On 30 November 1946 the 291 tied up at Green Cove Springs to await inacti- vation. Records of the exact date of decommissioning are not aboard. It is believed the ship was decommis- sioned in May 1947. When the conflict broke out in Korea in the summer of 1950, the Navy decided to reactivate many LSTs. The 291 was among those selected. Commencing in October 1950, a crew began forming to place the ship in a full commission status. On 9 February 1951 the 291 once again was commissioned. LT J. W. Pettyjohn read his orders and assumed command. Since that date, the 291 has engaged in many operations after complet- ing training and two months of yard availability period. In July 1951 the ship participated in Operation Blue Jay. making a run from Norfolk, Virginia to the northern region of Greenland. Returning from Greenland on 31 August, the ship immediately proceeded to a shipyard in Baltimore to have new propellers installed. The ice conditions encountered in Greenland had damaged her old propellers.