Newspaper
Articles on First River Run of 282, and its first accident.
Pittsburgh Press, Thursday, October 28, 1943
Crash Landing On River Bank Provides Thrill
Preview of Invasion Given Visitors by Accident Aboard
'LST 282'
By DALE McFEATTERS
An unexpected preview of an invasion landing on enemy beaches was experienced
by crews and passengers aboard a big landing ship for tanks yesterday when
a jammed steering gear swerved it into the bank of the Ohio River near
Aliquippa.
Startled officers and guests on the metal decks of LST 282, ploughing
upstream on her trial run, saw the broad, blunt bow swing to the right
and head for shore.
Ahead loomed a 40 to 50-foot concrete retaining wall. Smoke and
flames from a steel mill surmounting it lent a warlike atmosphere.
While the engines quickly were reversed, the ship had enough way to
carry it forward.
Captains Are Calm
But calm reigned in the wheel house where two veteran rivermen, Capts.
George Griffith and R. J. (line missing) the rudder, Capt, Hiernaux remarked:
"By rights there should be a mud bank extending out from that retaining
wall that should stop us without trouble."
Sure enough, as the LST nosed to within a few feet of the wall, the
bow settled squishily in an underwater mud bar and the ship softly came
to rest.
The pilot switched the steering gear to an emergency control, stepped
up the reverse power and backed the ship away. Within a few minutes,
LST 282 was en route up the river again, her dignity ruffled a bit, perhaps,
but otherwise undamaged.
An insignificant sort of thing caused this thrill on her maiden run.
A bit of paint had splashed on the switch box of an electric rudder control,
some of it dropping on a fuse connection.
The paint grew hot, burned out a fuse and automatically threw the rudder
out of control. Once the cause was discovered, some cleaning up and
a replacement fuse corrected the situation.
Cheered By Workers
More than three hours previously, the Navy's newest "ugly duckling"
pulled away from the Ambridge shipyards of the American Bridge Co. for
a trial run preparatory to joining America's invasion fleets overseas.
Aboard her were ferry officers who within a few days will take LST 282
down the Mississippi to New Orleans, the combat officers who will take
her to the open sea and hostile shores, and a party of newspapermen.
Behind here were the cheers and hand-waving of more than 10,000 workers
of American Bridge and their wives, sons and daughters, and the praise
of Rear Admiral Charles L. Brand, chief of the shipbuilding division, Navy
Bureau of Ships.
Saved Many Lives
Also behind at the shipyards were a newly launched sister ship, LST
286, the just-laid keel of another tank-landing-ship and the hulls and
superstructures of many more in various stages of construction.
This scene was the highlight of Pittsburgh's observance of Navy Day.
A Utilitarian Job
Echoing in the ears of the combat officers, whose responsibility LST
282 is about to become, was Admiral Brand's statement that the ungraceful
but deadly LST's already had saved the lives of 20,000 to 25,000 American
fighting men.
Speaking at a Navy Day celebration at the American Bridge shipyards,
Admiral Brand related that nearly 100 of the husky gray craft had carried
soldiers, tanks, guns and motorized equipment to the shores of Sicily --
and only a very few were lost to bombs and torpedoes.
As LST 282 glided past Ambridge and the old settlement of Economy in
the misty afternoon, the combat officers eagerly explored the decks and
quarters that will be their home for months to come.
A grim, efficient sight met their exploring eyes. The LST is built
for on purpose -- to launch on enemy beaches as many tanks, guns and crews
as she will carry. She is strictly a utilitarian job.
Quarters in Stern
The sides of her decks are lined with davits to hold and lower smaller
landing craft and assault boats. The deck amidships is clear to carry
additional equipment.
The stern is layered and packed with wheel house, officers' quarters,
crew's quarters, galley, engine room, store rooms, ammunition room and
gun platforms.
Below deck, resembling a long, narrow gymnasium and running almost the
length of the ship, is a steel walled and floored tunnel where tanks are
store, facing the bow.
No Space is Wasted
Forward, to discharge tanks and crews to combat, are a ramp that lowers
and heavy doors that swing out from the bow.
No space is wasted. Officers sleep two and four to a small cabin
containing minimum essentials -- mirror, locker, clothes rack. The
crew sleeps in hammocks.
The trail run was under the supervision of J. P. D. Gerrese, general
superintendent of outfitting. Pilotage was under the charge of Capt.
Griffith, commodore of the river fleet of the Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corp.
Capt. Hiernaux was at the wheel.
Speeds Are Tested
As LST 282 swept past Aliquippa, Baden, Freedom, Monaca, her various
speeds were tested -- one-third, two-thirds, full speed.
Near Beaver, opposite the new synthetic rubber plant at Kobuta, speed
was reduced and her stern anchor was dropped. With the ship moving
ahead, the anchor winch was started, the vessel halted, and as the anchor
rope was stretched taut, slowly moved back.
This is a way an LST moves from shore after launching its tanks.
The stern anchor is dropped before she hits a beach. Then the winch
and the anchor rope pull the ship back from the shore.
The vessel turned around at Kobuta and headed upstream for one of its
more severe tests -- a "crash" stop. The engines suddenly were reversed
from full speed ahead to full speed astern.
No Jar Or Jolt
There was no jar or jolt, but the ship came to a dead stop in short
order.
Coming through its tests with flying colors, LST 282 was accorded the
traditional "clean sweep" ceremony. A broom, its handle painted red,
white and blue, was hoisted to the mast head.
A final demonstration was given when the vessel returned to the Ambridge
dock. the massive "barn doors" in the bow were opened, the ramp rumbled
down and all that was needed to complete the picture was a parade of tanks
rolling out.
Also speaking at the shipyard ceremonies was L. A. Paddock, president
of American Bridge. Mrs. Lois Ethel Leseman, a welder at the shipyard,
sponsored the launching of the LST 282. Music was provided by the
Ambridge High School Band.
Another Press Story...
If anyone has a diary, story, or
remembrance of any of the shipmates of the 282 that they would like to
share we would love to make a spot here for them. Please contact
us
