USS LST-310

LST-310 at anchor, date and location unknown.
Career
Laid down:	22 September 1942
Launched:	23 November 1942
Commissioned:	20 January 1943
Decommissioned:	16 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-310 was one of 390 tank landing ships (LSTs) built for the United States Navy during World War II.

LST-310 was laid down on 22 September 1942 at the Boston Navy Yard; launched on 23 November 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Inga M. Gustavson; and commissioned on 20 January 1943 with Lieutenant W. P. Lawless, USNR, in command. During World War II, LST-310 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Sicilian occupation in July, 1943 the landings at Salerno in September, 1943 and the Invasion of Normandy in June, 1944. Upon her return to the United States, she was decommissioned on 16 May 1945 for conversion to landing craft repair ship USS Aeolus (ARL-42) at the Boston Navy Yard. The conversion was canceled 12 September 1945 and the ship reverted to LST-310; she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 12 March 1946. On 28 January 1947 the ship was sold to the Boston Metals Company of Baltimore, Maryland for conversion to merchant service.

Sold (date unknown) to the Panama Navigation Corporation; subsequently named MV Mercator and re-flagged Panamanian. Sometime prior to 1963 the ship was sold to Navemar S. A. (name retained) and re-flagged Argentinean. Her final fate is unknown.

LST-310 earned two battle stars for World War II service.

References

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

• "LST-310". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved May 5. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
• "LST-310 / ARL-42 Aeolus". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved May 5. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)

See also

• List of United States Navy LSTs

LST-310 (2nd LST from the right) along with other ships putting cargo ashore on one of the invasion beaches, at low tide during the first days of the Invasion of Normandy in June, 1944. Among identifiable ships present are LST-532 (in the center of the view); LST-262 (3rd LST from right); LST-533 (partially visible at far right); and LST-524. Note the barrage balloons overhead and Army "half-track" convoy forming up on the beach.