USS LST-167 was a ship of the class Landing Ship, Tank in the service of the United States Coast Guard

United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...

 during World War II. The ship was built in Evansville, Indiana by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company and was commissioned April 27, 1943. She was placed under the command of LT Edward C. Simons, USCG.

WWII Contribution

LST-167 participated in the advances of Operation Cartwheel

Operation Cartwheel

Operation Cartwheel was a major military strategy for the Allies in the Pacific theater of World War II. Cartwheel was a twin-axis of advance operation, aimed at militarily neutralizing the major Japanese base at Rabaul...

 in the Solomon Islands after the success of the Guadalcanal Campaign

Guadalcanal campaign

The Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by Allied forces, was a military campaign fought between August 7, 1942 and February 9, 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theatre of World War II...

 in February 1943.

Beginning on August 15, 1943, LST-167 supported the landing for the taking of Vella Lavella

Land Battle of Vella Lavella

The Battle of Vella Lavella was fought from 15 August-9 October 1943 between Japan and the Allied forces from New Zealand and the United States. Vella Lavella is an island located in the Solomon Islands that had been occupied by Japanese forces. The Allies successfully recaptured the...

.

On September 25, 1943, while beached at the previously unused Ruravai Beach, she was struck by 2 enemy bombs and destroyed by ensuing fires and explosions. After being towed to Rendova, the ship was evaluated and declared economically unsalvageable.

In addition to 1 officer and 19 enlisted men wounded, 2 officers and 8 enlisted men were killed as a result of the attack. 5 others were missing in action. The destruction of LST-167 caused the greatest loss of life aboard a Coast Guard vessel during World War II.

External links

• http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l12/lst-167.htm