USS LST-391

USS LST-391 was an LST-1-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. LST-391 was laid down 14 July 1942 at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company of Newport News, Virginia, launched 28 October 1942, sponsored by Miss Katherine Wendell Blewett, and commissioned 3 December 1942.

For other ships with the same name, see Greek ship Rodos.

History
United States
Name:	USS LST-391
Builder:	Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, Virginia
Laid down:	14 July 1942
Launched:	28 October 1942
Commissioned:	3 December 1942
Honors and awards:	3 battle stars (WWII)
Renamed:	USS Bowman County, 1 July 1955
Namesake:	Bowman County, North Dakota
Fate:	Transferred to Greece, May 1960
Greece
Name:	Rodos (L157)
Acquired:	May 1960
General characteristics
Class and type:	LST-1-class tank landing ship
Displacement:	1,625 long tons (1,651 t) light 4,080 long tons (4,145 t) full
Length:	328 ft (100 m)
Beam:	50 ft (15 m)
Draft:	Unloaded: Bow: 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) Stern: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) Loaded : Bow: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) Stern: 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
Depth:	8 ft (2.4 m) forward 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) aft (full load)
Propulsion:	2 General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed:	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Boats & landing craft carried:	Two or six LCVPs
Troops:	14-16 officers, 131-147 enlisted men
Complement:	7-9 officers, 104-120 enlisted men
Armament:	2 × twin 40 mm gun mounts w/Mk.51 directors 4 × single 40 mm gun mounts 12 × single 20 mm gun mounts

During World War II, LST-391 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Sicilian occupation (July 1943), Salerno landings (September 1943), and the Invasion of Normandy (June 1944).

LST-391 earned three battle stars for World War II service.

Renamed USS Bowman County (LST-391) on 1 July 1955 for Bowman County, North Dakota, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. She was transferred to Greece in May 1960 for service in the Royal Hellenic Navy and renamed Rodos (L157) where she remained in service until 1997.[1]

Image of this LST at 13:47 in the video at http://burnpit.legion.org/2015/02/my-story-about-thule-operation-blue-jay

References

1. Former USS Bowman County LST 391 Hellenic Navy, History

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

• "LST-391". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 6 April 2007.
• "LST-391 Bowman County". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 6 April 2007.
• LST-391 seen at 13:25 in the video at http://burnpit.legion.org/2015/02/my-story-about-thule-operation-blue-jay