LST-380 loading on 1 June 1944, alongside other ships
History
United States
Name	USS LST-380
Builder	Bethlehem Steel Company, Quincy, Massachusetts
Laid down	10 December 1942
Launched	10 February 1943
Commissioned	15 February 1943
Decommissioned	7 June 1946
Stricken	19 July 1946
Honours and awards	3 battle stars (WWII)
Fate	Loaned to UK, 20 November 1944 Returned, 11 April 1946 Sold, 7 June 1946, lost 25 August 1958
United Kingdom
Name	HM LST-380
Acquired	20 November 1944
Commissioned	20 November 1944
Fate	Returned to US Navy, April 1946
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	Light : 2 ft 4 in (0.71 m) forward 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) aft Sea-going : 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) forward 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) aft Landing : 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) forward 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) aft
Propulsion	2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range	24,000 nmi (44,000 km) at 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × LCVPs
Troops	163
Complement	111
Armament	2 × twin 40 mm gun mounts w/Mk.51 directors 4 × single 40 mm gun mounts 12 × single 20 mm gun mounts

USS LST-380 was a LST-1-class tank landing ship of the United States Navy during World War II, later loaned to the Royal Navy.

LST-380 was laid down on 10 December 1942 at Quincy, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem Steel Company; launched on 10 February 1943; sponsored by Mrs. D. J. Callahan; and commissioned on 15 February 1943.

During World War II, LST-380 was assigned to the European theater and participated in the following operations:

• Sicilian occupation — July 1943
• Salerno landings — September 1943
• Invasion of Normandy — June 1944

LST-380 was transferred to the United Kingdom on 20 November 1944 and returned to United States Navy custody on 11 April 1946. On 7 June 1946, the tank landing ship was sold to the United States Military Government, Korea, and struck from the Navy list on 19 July 1946.

LST-380 earned three battle stars for World War II service.

M/V Salvage Chief

In 1948, Fred Devine of Portland, Oregon purchased the ex-LST-380 to convert it for shallow-water salvage work.^[1] The bow doors were welded shut, extra anchor winches and anchors were added, and a helipad built on the aft deck. Renamed Salvage Chief and based in Astoria, Oregon, the ship assisted in rescue and recovery operations along the Pacific Coast from 1949 to 2015. Notable salvage operations included the SS Yorkmar in 1952, the SS Sansinena in 1976, and the Exxon Valdez in 1989.^[1] In 2016, the ship was sold to Salvage Chief LLC and remains in Astoria for training.^[2]

References

• Photo gallery of LST-380 at NavSource Naval History
• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

• , Famed West Coast Salvage Vessel May Sail Again