LST 1156 Returns Home from Joint Training Exercise
Submitted by Gary Benson, YN2, (’54-’56)
Hudson Falls, N.Y.
Norfolk, Va., March 30, 1955 – Twenty-two Amphibious Force ships, including the LST 1156, returned here after completing training maneuvers in the joint Navy-Marine amphibious training exercise, dubbed “TraEx 3-55.
The maneuver, which began in early March, was designed to test and increase the efficiency of participating personnel in the techniques of amphibious warfare. En route to the exercise area in Caribbean waters, the PhibLant units held drills in ship maneuvering, communications, and gunnery. Troop indoctrination aboard ship was also a major part of the afloat training phase of the exercise.
The Marine training group included elements of the 2nd Marine Division, Force Troops, Atlantic, and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
The Naval Amphibious Force and the Marine Training Group conducted rehearsal landings that were followed by a full-scale assault employing the most recent concepts of amphibious warfare.
During the Vieques, P.R. landing, ships, Marines, planes, and landing craft combined talents to place a reinforced Marine Infantry Regiment on the beaches. Upon completion of the landing, Naval and Marine commands conducted their training in their particular specialties. Ships engaged in exercises emphasizing logistic support of an amphibious operation and in Naval gunfire support.
Phiblant units returning to Norfolk included the amphibious command ship Adirondack; the attack transports Fremont, Deuel, and Olmstead; the attack cargos Oglethorpe, Achernar, and Rankin; the landing ships dock Fort Mandan and Donner; the high speed transport Bassett; the amphibious repair ship Krishna; and the landing ships tank 509, 938, 983, 1153, 1156, 1160, 1161, 1165, 1167, 1168, and 1169.