USS LST-325 World War II Ship

Passing the USS LST-325 ship while on a cruise aboard the Celebration Belle. The ship is on a tour and this video was taken near Moline, Illinois on 08.29.08.

The LST (Land Ship Tank) is an amphibious vessel designed to land battle-ready tanks, troops and supplies directly onto enemy shores. These ships were useful during World War II, the Korea and Vietnam wars and belonged to all services including the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force and Merchant Marine.

Most LSTs were scrapped or given to other countries. In the summer of 2000, LST-325 was saved from the scrap yard in Souda Bay, Crete, Greece, by an aging crew of 50 Navy veterans. That number dwindled to just 30 by the time they left Crete on Nov. 14 for the 6,200-mile voyage. After 13 days on the Mediterranean Sea, a stop in Gibraltar became necessary for major repairs. On Dec. 12, a crew of 29 sailed for home, arriving Jan. 10, 2001.

This particular LST was originally known as LST-325 during the Second World War, USNS LST-325 during its arctic operations in the 1950's, and later L-144 (A/G Syros) while it was in the service of the Greek Navy. It was acquired by The USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc., in 2000, and caught considerable public attention when our veteran crew brought it on a 6,500-mile journey from the Greek island of Crete to Mobile, Alabama.
For more info, please check out: http://www.lstmemorial.org

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[TheDragonknee71]

I was on the LST Manitowoc back in 1991 or 1992 When I was in the Marines.We went to Norway.The north atlantic was so bad.I was in the welldeck with the AAVP7A1s YatYas! I was sitting on top of one of the tracks at the stern looking at the front.It was crazy the front of the ship was flexing to the left and the back was flexing to the right.I thought she was going to break her back!I thought we all were going to die LOL. SEMPER FI!

[meltdownman1]

My dad was on LSM 215 during the war as an electrician. I will have to go visit this ship since they were similar in design. There were two LSM's given to the Thai Navy and later sunk as marine sanctuaries that I plan on diving one day soon.

[kensethfaniniowa]

USS LST-325 is open for public tours in Evansville, Indiana.

Mondays - Closed for maintenance work

Tuesdays-Saturdays - Tours 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sundays - Tours noon to 4:00 p.m.

Ticket sales for tours end at 4:00 p.m.

Tour Prices: Under 5, free; ages 5-17, $5; adults, $10; family (mother, father, minor children), $20

[earlyhemibill]

Do you know where this ship is now? I'm drawing plans for one at 54" and will build it for my grandson. He wants to put some tanks on the deck and sail it R/C. Bill

[jim543212]

There is a great story behind this ship. A documentary was done about the salvage and sailing across the Atlantic by WWII vets. I visited this ship while it was being restored in Mobile. I was the only one on the tour. As a Navy veteran 1975-2000, I found it to be awesome to walk the decks of a ship similar to one my father served on. The average age of the crew then was about 72.