Allegheny County World War II 

LST-740 American Naval Fighting Ship

Lingayan Gulf - January 9, 1945
Picture submitted by ex Signalman First Class, Clark E. Parks

LST-740, a LST-542-class landing ship tank, was laid down on February 12, 1944 at Pittsburgh, PA., by the Dravo Corp., Neville Island, launched on April 8, 1944; sponsored by Miss A. Jean Blocker, and commissioned on May 15, 1944.

During World War II, LST-740 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the following operations:

Morotai landings - September 1944
Leyte landings - October and Novmeber 1944
Lingayen Gulf landings - January 1945
Mindanao Island landings - April 1945
Balikpapan operation - June and July 1945

Following the war, LST-740 performed occupation duty in the Far East until late October 1945. She returned to the United States and was decommissioned on March 8, 1946 and struck from the Navy list on April 12 that same year. On June 14, 1948, the ship was sold to the Oil Transport Co., of New Orleans, LA., for non-self-propelled operation.

LST-740 earned five battle stars for World War II service.

More detailed history of the the LST-740 ship can be viewed at this link HISTORY AND STORY OF THE LST-740, permission provided by ex Signalman First Class, Clark E. Parks.

Sources: LST-740 ex Signalman First Class, Clark E. Parks, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Dept. of the Navy - Naval Historical Center

 

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