USS LST-325, Indiana
Evansville built the ships that won World War II. Now one of them guards the city’s riverfront. LST-325 spent 75 years carrying tanks, trucks, and troops before finding its way back to its birthplace with the help of World War II veterans.
Here’s the story of Indiana’s beloved floating veteran, now a world-class museum.
Steel Workers Built Beach Attacker
Workers in Philadelphia started building LST-325 in August 1942. The ship first touched water during its launch on October 27, 1942. Navy leaders put the ship to work on February 1, 1943, with Lieutenant Ira Ehrensall in charge.
Command later went to Ensign Clifford Mosier, who would guide the ship through most of its battles. Ship designers created LST vessels to carry heavy gear and troops right onto beaches where no docks existed.
At 328 feet long and 50 feet wide, these ships could hold up to 20 tanks or 30 trucks plus hundreds of soldiers. The crew tested their ship near Norfolk before getting orders to head overseas for real combat.
First Sea Crossing To Africa
LST-325 joined the first group of LST ships to cross the Atlantic in March 1943.
After a risky journey across dangerous waters, the ship reached Oran, Algeria on April 13, 1943. Sailors practiced beach landings at Arzew and Mostaganem from April through June.
American and British soldiers joined these practice runs to get ready for coming attacks against German and Italian forces. Navy leaders moved LST-325 to La Goulette in Tunis Bay after finishing training.
From this spot, the crew made final preparations for Operation HUSKY, the huge attack on Sicily that would start the fight for Italy.
Sicily Attack Shows Beach Landing Power
Operation HUSKY put LST-325 in the KOOL Force, the backup group for invading Sicily. The ship left Tunis on July 10, 1943, and reached Gela Bay the next day.
Crew members quickly unloaded 1st Armored Division troops and vehicles straight onto Sicily’s beaches.
LST-325’s special design let tanks drive directly from ship to shore without stopping in between. Military leaders ordered six more supply trips to Sicily before Allied soldiers captured Messina on August 17.
After the fighting, the ship carried Italian prisoners back to North Africa, showing these vessels could also work well for moving captured enemies.
Enemy Planes Attack At Salerno
LST-325 joined Operation Avalanche, the Allied landing in mainland Italy at Salerno. German planes attacked ships gathering at Bizerte, Tunisia on September 6, 1943. Four sailors got hurt during this air attack.
Despite damaged equipment, the crew finished loading supplies and kept going with their mission.
Military leaders needed LST-325 to bring heavy equipment directly to fighting troops on Salerno’s beaches.
Its flat bottom let it get much closer to shore than regular transport ships could manage. Navy headquarters sent LST-325 to England in November 1943, putting it in position for the planned attack across the English Channel into France.
Getting Ready In England For Big Attack
LST-325 practiced beach landings along England’s southwest coast from December 1943 through March 1944. Ship workers strengthened the front doors and ramp to get ready for the massive Normandy operation.
Crew members loaded soldiers from the 5th Special Engineer Brigade aboard the ship. These troops had the job of clearing beach obstacles during the coming attack. Military planners put LST-325 in Force “B,” the backup group for Omaha Beach.
Everyone on board felt growing tension as final preparations happened all across England. The ship sailed from Falmouth on June 5, 1944, joining the biggest seaborne attack force ever assembled.
Delivering Soldiers To Normandy’s Beaches
LST-325 dropped anchor off Omaha Beach during the D-Day attack on June 6-7, 1944. It brought 59 vehicles, 30 officers, and 396 soldiers on its first trip to the French coast.
Crew members used amphibious DUKWs and smaller landing craft to move cargo from their anchored ship to the beach.
This work went on day and night as Allied forces pushed inland from the beach. LST-325 took 38 wounded soldiers back to England on its return trip. For months afterward, the vessel would keep bringing supplies to France and carrying wounded men back to English hospitals.
D-Day stands as the largest beach landing in military history, with LST-325 playing a direct part in making it work.
Making Trips Back And Forth Across Channel
LST-325 made an amazing 43 round trips between England and France from June 1944 to April 1945.
Sailors landed at various beaches including Omaha, Utah, Gold, and Juno. Later, the crew brought supplies farther inland through the French port of Rouen.
Special missions included carrying ammunition to St. Michel for Army units fighting German defenders at Brest. Ship crews kept precise loading and unloading schedules despite German air attacks.
Each trip back to England carried wounded soldiers to hospitals, helping save many lives. These regular supply runs formed the backbone that kept Allied armies moving across Western Europe.
Sailors Rescue Torpedoed Troops
LST-325 performed a dramatic rescue on December 28, 1944. T
he crew saved about 700 men from the torpedoed troop ship S.S. Empire Javelin as it sank in the English Channel. Lt. Commander Mosier earned the Bronze Star for managing this rescue mission.
Winter channel crossings meant dealing with huge waves and poor visibility, making the rescue even harder. Sailors quickly made space for hundreds of rescued soldiers on their already crowded ship.
Many survivors came aboard wearing only underwear after having to abandon their ship without warning. Normal transport duties stopped while LST-325 brought the rescued troops to safety, showing how these ships could quickly adapt to emergency situations.
Storm At Sea Almost Sinks Ship
LST-325 left Belfast, Ireland on May 12, 1945, heading home to America with a large group of ships.
A huge storm hit two days later, scattering ships across the North Atlantic. Giant waves slammed LST-325 bow-first into towering seas, causing a dangerous crack across the main deck.
Quick-thinking mechanics welded steel plates across the break, preventing the ship from splitting apart. Skilled sailors kept going through continuing storms despite the damage. LST-325 finally reached Norfolk, Virginia on May 31, 1945, completing its two-year combat tour in Europe.
Adding Airplane Launching System
Navy leaders sent LST-325 to New Orleans shipyards for repairs after its return. Workers installed special “Brodie” equipment, a system for launching and catching small planes directly from the ship’s deck.
Sailors tested this new gear during an August 1945 practice cruise. Military planners wanted these changes for the ship’s expected deployment to Pacific fighting. Japan’s surrender meant LST-325 never had to go to the Pacific.
It remains one of the few ships ever equipped with this unusual aircraft system. These changes showed how the Navy kept finding new uses for LST vessels beyond what they were first designed to do.
Serving a New Purpose After War Ends
Navy officials took LST-325 out of service on July 2, 1946, at Green Cove Springs, Florida. The ship came back to work in 1951 with the Military Sea Transportation Service.
It joined Operation SUNAC during 1951-52, helping build radar stations along eastern Canada and Greenland as part of Cold War defenses.
After finishing its arctic work, the ship went into the reserve fleet in 1961. Navy leaders gave the vessel to Greece in May 1964, where it served as Syros (L-144) in the Greek Navy until 1999.
For 35 years, Greek sailors kept the old war ship working in a new role.
The USS LST Ship Memorial Organization
In 2000, an organization called the USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc., formed by retired military veterans, sought to preserve this piece of naval history.
Their mission was to educate visitors about the role of LSTs in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, while honoring “the countless heroic men who died in battle during service to their country.”
After securing special legislation to allow the transfer of the ship from Greece, these dedicated veterans paid their own way to Greece to prepare the aging vessel for its final journey home.
The Veteran Crew That Brought Her Home
These veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam had an average age of 73 when they undertook this mission.
Under the command of this group of 72-year-old veterans, the ship sailed to the U.S. from Greece despite significant safety concerns.
The journey began on November 14, 2000, with 29 Navy veterans aboard. The crew navigated the ship on a 6,200-mile journey from the Greek island of Crete to Mobile, Alabama, facing winter storms and mechanical challenges along the way.
The LST-325 arrived in Mobile, Alabama on January 10, 2001, completing its historic crossing.
In 2003, the ship made a “sentimental journey” up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, and eventually found a permanent home in Evansville, Indiana, where it continues to serve as a floating museum.
How To Visit this War Hero
You can walk through USS LST-325 at its dock in Evansville, Indiana. The ship welcomes visitors Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Sunday 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM (closed Mondays).
- Address: 610 NW Riverside Drive, Evansville, IN 47708
- Tickets: Adults $15, Veterans/Military $12, Children (6-17) $8, Under 5 free
- Plan for 60-90 minutes to see everything
- Not easy for people with mobility issues (steep ladders between decks)
- Self-guided tours with volunteers ready to answer questions
Summer brings special events including river trips to Ohio and Mississippi River cities. Check their website for cruise schedules and tickets.
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