USS LST-374

Career
USS LST-374, starboard of LST-376, loads a DUKW amphibious truck at an unidentified English port prior to the Invasion of Normandy.
Laid down:	12 November 1942
Launched:	19 January 1943
Commissioned:	29 January 1943
Decommissioned:	29 May 1945
Fate:	Converted for merchant service
Struck:	12 March 1946
General characteristics
Displacement:	1,625 tons (light), 4,080 tons (full)
Length:	328 ft 0 in
Beam:	50 ft 0 in
Draft:	Bow 2'-4", stern 7'-6" (unloaded) bow 8'-2", stern 14'-1" (unloaded)
Propulsion:	Two General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed:	12 knots
Depth:	8' fwd; 14'-4" aft (full load)
Complement:	9 officers, 120 enlisted men
Troop capacity:	14 officers, 131 enlisted men
Boats:	Six LCVPs
Armament:	Two twin 40MM gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors, four single 40MM gun mounts, twelve single 20MM gun mounts

The USS LST-374 was one of over 1,000 tank landing ships (LSTs) built for the United States Navy during World War II.

Laid down on 12 November 1942 at Quincy, Massachusetts by the Bethlehem Steel Company; launched on 19 January 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Victor D. Herbster; and commissioned on 29 January 1943. During World War II, LST-374 participated in the Allied invasion of Sicily in July and August 1943 and the invasion of Normandy in June 1944. Decommissioned 29 May 1945 at Baltimore, Maryland, the ship was redesignated USS Minerva (ARL-47) 29 May 1945. Conversion to a landing craft repair ship commenced on 30 May 1945 at the Maryland Drydock Company of Baltimore; the conversion was subsequently canceled 11 September 1945 and the ship reverted to LST-374. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register 12 March 1946, the tank landing ship was sold to A. G. Schoonmaker for conversion to merchant service 14 January 1947.

LST-374 earned two battle stars for World War II service.

[edit] References

LST-374. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved on May 6, 2007.
LST-374 / ARL-47 Minerva. Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved on May 6, 2007.