World War II ship to visit Nashville

Aug 10, 2012, 10:01 a.m.

The LST 325, a 328-foot-long Landing Ship Tank, will dock at Nashville's Riverfront Park on Sept. 17, 2012. Moore Media

Nashville, TN — The LST 325, a 328-foot-long Landing Ship Tank, will dock at Nashville's Riverfront Park on Sept. 17. After its ceremonial arrival, the LST will be open to the public for tours from Sept. 18 through 24, daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The LST 325 was one of the first to be built and is the only operational LST in the U.S., built in Philadelphia by the U.S. Navy Shipyard and launched into action in October 1942. As a combat veteran, LST 325 made more than 40 trips from England to Normandy in support of our troops.

U.S. Navy Shipyards were able to complete a ship every five days. Workers, welders and equipment installers then boarded these vessels and completed the ship while it traveled down the Mississippi River. In all, 1,051 LSTs were built in a little over three years. The U.S. never lost an invasion once the LSTs were designed, produced and could land the big tanks right on the beach.

About the LST 325:

328 feet long, 50 feet wide, 65 feet high to top of mast
Engines - Two GM V-12 Diesels #12-576ATL, 900 HP each
Crew in wartime - 100 enlisted and 10 officers
Tank capacity - 20 Sherman tanks
Max speed - 12 mph
Construction cost - $1.4 million

Captain Bob Jornlin and crew invite you to tour this great fighting ship of World War II.

Fee Schedule:

Adults: $10; Ages 6-17: $5; free for 5 & under; Family: $20 (2 adults & 2 children); school groups: $3/student, one chaperone free per 10 students. These fees help defray the cost of fuel and operational expenses.

For more information about the LST 325, visit www.lstmemorial.org.