LST-325, which landed tanks and men at Normandy, arrives in Muscatine

MUSCATINE — LST-325 cruise director Ken Rupp says that for the decommissioned tank landing ship's 50-member crew, "we get by with a little help from our friends."

As the 327-foot museum ship was coming to the end of its five-day trip up the Mississippi River to Muscatine, a medical emergency on board threw off the schedule. Arriving on the Muscatine riverfront around 11 p.m. Tuesday, the initial plan was for the ship to run its twin General Motors 900 HP engines all night to hold the ship in place and then dock properly in the morning.

A passing tug boat proved to be a friend that could help, though, and was able to move the ship into place on the riverfront.

“It depends on which day,” Rupp said of the crew’s journey with the ship, which reaches speeds of about 14 mph. “If things were working fine, it was great. If something was broken, we had things to do.”

Last week, LST-325 left its home port in Evansville, Ind., to come to Muscatine. The ship had previously sailed past Muscatine in 2023, but this is the first time it landed on the riverfront. Muscatine-based Stanley Consultants Inc. engineering firm designed the ship’s permanent docking facility in Evansville.

Rupp jokingly commented about the LSTs’ nicknames among people who served on them — "large slow target," "last ship there," and several other acronyms.

“It had one purpose — to put 20 Sherman tanks on the beach,” he said, recalling the history of the craft. “When (British Prime Minister Winston) Churchill got with the powers that be in the U.S., he said that he needed a ship that could put tanks on the beach.”

LST-325 is the last fully operational World War II "landing ship, tank" of its kind, first commissioned on Feb. 1, 1943. Its service during the war included sailing to the beaches of Normandy, France, during D-Day on June 6, 1944, and subsequent supply runs.

On Dec. 28, 1944, LST-325 helped rescue 700 men from the S.S. Empire Javelin as it sank after being torpedoed or hitting a mine. Many missions later, including a period of service in the Greek navy, LST-325 was decommissioned in 1999 before being acquired by the USS Ship Memorial in 2000. It now sets sail every year to visit a variety of port cities along U.S. rivers. Its next stops this month will be in Alton, Ill., and Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Evansville had the factory that produced many LST ships used during World War II. Rupp said at the time, 75 percent of the factory’s workers were women.

These ships could carry 20 Sherman tanks in their hold. On the main deck they could also carry 30 to 40 trucks, tons of fuel, ammunition or supplies and soldiers.

The LST-325 will be open for walking tours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Monday. Tickets can be purchased on board the ship. Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for children.

Rupp said this is a good chance for people to honor and learn more about the Greatest Generation.

“The whole country pulled together like it never had before,” he said. “It’s a great story and people need to know it.”