LST-398 was laid down on 28 September 1942 at the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; launched on 23 November 1942; sponsored by Miss Mary Sherwood Giese; and commissioned on 2 January 1943....

On 2 December 1943, LST-398 got underway from Kukum, Guadalcanal for Torokina, Bougainville as part of the ninth echelon, officially known as CTF 31.6, to resupply the forces there. At one point, the balloon was raised to 2000 ft. as the convoy found itself under near constant air attack on the way to its destination.

LST-398 unloading supplies, equipment and mail on a Bougainville beach, 10 November 1943. Original Marine Corps caption states: "Japanese artillery hit the ship on the same day the photo was...

Landing craft leave the flooded dock under ther own power, through stern gates. Click on "LST-##" for link to page with specifications, history, photographs (where available). LSTs carry smaller craft topside, a tunnel-like hold full of tanks, vehicles, guns or cargo.

USS LST-340 on fire after beaching on Tenaru Beach, Guadalcanal the afternoon of 16 June 1943, after being dive bombed off the north coast of Guadalcanal. LST-340 beached here and with the assistance of USS LST-398, on LST-340's starboard quarter, and USS LST-353, on LST-340's port quarter, fought a massive fire, saving the ship.

The LST built by U.S. shipyards for the U.S. Navy was technically the LST Mk. 2: the Mk. 1 and Mk. 3 were the British versions. All the Mk. 2s were essentially the same, 1,625 light tons (LDT) and 328 feet overall (LOA), although some had variations in their outfit.

Decommissioned on 27 February 1946. Sold on 28 March 1948. Click here to Submit events/comments/updates for this vessel. Please use this if you spot mistakes or want to improve this ships page. The U-boat War in World War Two (Kriegsmarine, 1939-1945) and World War One (Kaiserliche Marine, 1914-1918) and the Allied efforts to counter the threat.

On the afternoon of June 16, 1943, just one day after arriving, the LST’s were attacked by Japanese aircraft, the first major engagement by LST-398 against the enemy. Nine enemy aircraft came in at 20,000 feet and then dove in groups toward the LST’s. As detailed in the LST-398’s deck log, “All possible guns firing.

LST-398. Mission. No Mission for this vessel. Historical Documents. No documents for this vessel. Milestones. No events for this vessel; Ship Imagery. Status Cards. Documents. No documents for this vessel. Plans. No documents for this vessel. Shipwreck Information. No ship wreck information for this vessel.

Written by Victor Iams, documents recount his travels during World War II from 1943-1944 aboard the LST-398. Includes a handwritten partial draft and two typed drafts, one with written corrections. The memoir is two pages in length.