The Ship That Won The War



The LST 325 docked at the public landing, bringing with it living history to the Cincinnati riverfront.  I, Sweet William The Scot, am going to give you a tour. 

They call them "The ship that won the war".

 LST 325 could carry as many as 20 Sherman Tanks into combat, and saw action at both Sicily and Normandy.  It is a  2,300-ton ship.
The World War II-era landing craft delivered men and equipment to the beaches of Normandy during the D-Day invasions and liberation of Europe.
Of the over 6,000 ships that served in the D-Day landings, the LST 325 is one of the last remaining sea-worthy vessels.



It serviced in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

70% of these vessels were built on the Ohio and Illinois Rivers.  The largest ship ever designed to place tanks, troops and cargo onto hostile beaches then retract off.

They told me to go to the aft end of tank deck keep left and take the starboard ladder up.  Okie Dokie Lee I need to ride on your back so you can hold onto the ladder.

For $20 you can have a one year Memorial Membership.

The Bulkheads are the walls or sides of the ship.

On the 2nd deck is the Galley original to WWII, the kitchen, where you get your grub!  Sorry some of our pictures are fuzzy because of close quarters 

Ship's Office and Post Office.
I thought I was suppose to yell YEOMAN for service.
A yeoman is a petty officer in the US Navy or Coast Guard performing clerical duties on board ship.

Hatches are the doors. 

So much lingo to learn.

 This is one of the crew.  A real true super nice man. The ship has 53 crewmen that sail with it today. He stopped me and wanted to compare beards.  His beard won!

He wanted to keep me. They say most of the ships had a dog.  Yep we are good for raising the spirits of humans.  Cincinnati News was doing a video the day we were there.  This man is in the video.

http://www.wlwt.com/news/world-war-iiera-boat-shares-piece-of-history-with-greater-cincinnati/35252584

 We took the Upper Ladder to 01 Level.

Note to self ~ when on Lee's back duck head when we go through a hatch.  I got a knot on my noodle from the last hatch.

 On this level are the 40mm gun mounts. 

 A big barge passed by and you could not feel the water current because this ship weighs so much.

 Through this window you can see the wheelhouse where the ship is controlled.

The Combat Information Center and Radio Room are just aft of wheelhouse.

I could hear Morse code and I kept turning my ears but Lee has not taught me to read Morse.

 Well you can see the main deck.  This was where trucks, artillery, supplies are carried.  The helicopter pad, not original for WWII but used in Korea and Vietnam.

 A Passageway is a hallway. They call this Officer's Country. Usually 10-12 officers and room for 8 Marine or Army Officers.

Captain's Quarters.  He had a small office, separate bunk room and head (toilet).

 

Main Deck. Good to be out in the air again.

 The covered hatch, is a fully operational forward elevator that brings equipment up and down.

 Now that we have gotten all the way to the top deck we go down another way.

 This is a true Mash Jeep used in Korea. I wonder if this jeep was the one "Radar" O’Reilly sent home in pieces.

 

 Troop Berthing.  This ship could hold up to 200 troops for long distance.  These bunks are as they were in 1942.  Darn hard bed if you ask me.

 Well it is time to disembark. 

It took us three hours to tour this boat. 

I was the perfect dog, greeting everybody who acknowledged me and minding my manners, no fear in me for new adventures.

 The tour cost $10 and dogs are welcome.

 

 Thanks for being a  friend
Traveling down the road and back again
Your heart is true and your a friend of  mine

Signing Off 

Sweet William The Scot

Pssssssss ~ If you wonder how Lee carries me, well I have a boba wrap carrier.  It has a hook so it goes over either one of Lee's shoulders and then it ties around her waist evenly distributes weight for comfort and longer carrying time. She has used it for all her Scotties.
I was going to show a picture of Lee's knee.  Lee had her surgery on the 20th.  But it kind of made us sick when we looked at it loaded on my blog.  Maybe next time after it heals some.