Landing Ship Medium

A Landing Ship Medium (LSM) was originally an amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy in World War II. Of a size between that of Landing Ships Tank and Landing Craft Infantry, 558 LSMs were built for the USN between 1944 and 1945. Most of the vessels built on this frame were regular transports, but several dozen were converted during construction to specialized roles. Most LSMs were scrapped during the Cold War, but several were sold by the United States Department of Defense to foreign nations or private shipping companies.

OPNAV N95 established a new LSM program in 2020. The new LSM will be 350 to 400 feet (110 to 120 m) long, able to operate at 22 knots and have a range of 6,500 miles (10,500 km). The cost will be much lower than traditional amphibious shipping, according to a story in the March 2023 Marine Corps Gazette. The piece suggests that a MLR (Marine Littoral Regiment) would need nine LSMs.[1][2][3] The lead ship of the new class is LSM-1 USS McClung.

LSM-1-class Landing Ship Medium (Transport)

USS LSM-175 underway off Charleston Navy Yard in 1944
General characteristics
Class & typeLSM-1 class Landing Ship Medium
Displacement
  • 530 long tons (539 t) empty
  • 900 long tons (914 t) loaded
Length203 ft 6 in (62.03 m)
Beam34 ft (10 m)
Draft
  • Landing :
  • 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) forward
  • 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) aft
  • Full load :
  • 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) forward
  • 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) aft
PropulsionFairbanks-Morse or GM Cleveland diesel engines, 2,800 shp (2,088 kW), direct drive, 2 screws
Speed13.3 knots (24.6 km/h; 15.3 mph)
Range5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 7 kn (13 km/h; 8.1 mph)
Capacity
Troops54 troops
Complement4 officers, 54 enlisted
Armament

List of LSM-1-class ships

In total, 558 LSM ships were launched. Some notable examples include:

Name Year launched Fate Short summary
USS LSM-17 7 May 1944 Sold on 15 November 1974

The USS LSM-17 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium of the United States Navy, commissioned at Brown Shipyards in Houston, Texas, on 14 June 1944.[4] During the remainder of World War II, it served in the Pacific.

USS LSM-19 14 May 1944 Unknown

USS LSM-19 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium in the United States Navy during World War II. She was later sold to South Korean Navy as ROKS Girin (LSM-610).[5]

USS LSM-20 14 May 1944 Sank on 5 December 1944

USS LSM-20 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium of the United States Navy, commissioned at Brown Shipyards in Houston, Texas, on 16 June 1944.[6] During WWII, she operated in the Pacific. On 5 December 1944, the vessel sunk after she was hit by a Japanese kamikaze in the Surigao Strait in the Philippines. Five sailors were killed and another nine were wounded.[7]

USS LSM-45 30 June 1944 Scrapped after 1998

USS LSM-45 was a LSM-1-class medium landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. The ship also served as Ypoploiarchos Grigoropoulos (L161) in the Hellenic Navy from 1958 to 1993. She was the last known surviving LSM in its original configuration. Her last location before scrapping was Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. LSM-45 was donated to the Museum of the Marine by the now defunct Amphibious Ship Museum[8] under the understanding that it would be put on display at the museum, and was towed to North Carolina in 2004 from Omaha, Nebraska. The museum decided in 2007 that the ship would not be a part of the museum[9] and tried looking for another home for the ship. In 2009, there were reports that the Museum was considering scrapping or sinking the ship as an artificial reef,[10] and she was scrapped sometime between 2010 and 2014.

USS LSM-46 30 June 1944 Sold on 23 October 1948

USS LSM-46 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium in the United States Navy during World War II.

USS LSM-56 21 July 1944 Sold on 23 October 1948

USS LSM-56 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium in the United States Navy during World War II.

USS LSM-60 29 July 1944 Scuttled on July 25, 1946

USS LSM-60 was a World War II era landing ship, medium (LSM) amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy. It was notable for being used as the float to suspend a fission bomb underwater during the Operation Crossroads BAKER test, becoming the first naval vessel to deploy a nuclear weapon.[11]

USS LSM-105 21 October 1944 Sold on 10 December 1958

USS LSM-105 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium of the United States Navy, commissioned at Brown Shipyards in Houston, Texas, on 15 November 1944.[12] During the remainder of World War II, it served in the Pacific.

USS LSM-110 28 October 1944 Scrapped on 9 June 1976

USS LSM-110 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium in the United States Navy during World War II. The ship was transferred to France as L9012, South Vietnam as RVNS Hàn Giang (HQ-401) and Philippines to be cannibalized for spare parts.

USS LSM-115 11 November 1944 Sold on 29 December 1946

USS LSM-115 was a LSM-1-class Landing Ship Medium of the United States Navy that saw active service in World War II in the Pacific Theater.

Built by the Brown Ship Building Co., Houston, Texas, the ship was commissioned on 2 December 1944.

USS LSM-125 25 November 1944 Scrapped on 4 October 1977

USS LSM-125 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium in the United States Navy during World War II. The ship was transferred to France as L9013 and Japan as JDS LSM-3001.

USS LSM-135 23 April 1944 Sank on 25 May 1945

USS LSM-135 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium built for the United States Navy during World War II. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

She was laid down on 13 March 1944, at the Charleston Navy Yard, launched on 23 April 1944, and commissioned as USS LSM-135 on 31 May 1944.

USS LSM-149 27 May 1944 Grounded on 5 December 1944

USS LSM-149 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium built for the U.S. Navy in World War II. Like most ships of her class, she was not named and known only by her designation.

LSM-149 was laid down at the Charleston Navy Yard on 4 May 1944, and was launched 27 May 1944. She was commissioned along with sister ship USS LSM-148 on 8 July 1944 by Rear Admiral Jules James.[13]

Assigned to the Pacific Theatre, LSM-149 was damaged and breached while attempting to recover a barge in heavy surf off Sansapor, New Guinea on 30–31 July 1944. LSM-149 was grounded off the Philippines on 5 December 1944. (According to the United States Navy this happened on 14 December 1944, but her fate has also been reported as on 5 December 1944.) She was declared a total loss, and decommissioned on 15 April 1945.

USS LSM-157 N/a Sank in September 1958 Transferred to Nationalist China in 1949, recommissioned as Mei Le, sunk by Red Chinese artillery 9/1958
USS Kodiak (LSM-161) 27 June 1944 Scrapped on 14 August 1972

USS LSM-161 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium built for the United States Navy during World War II. Like many of her class, she was not named and was properly referred to by her hull designation for much of her service life.

LSM-161 was laid down on 3 June 1944 by Charleston Navy Yard; launched on 27 June 1944; and commissioned on 16 August 1944.

USS Oceanside (LSM-175) 3 August 1944 Scrapped in 1989
USS LSM-216 N/a Scrapped in 1960

USS LSM-216 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

LSM-216 was laid down by the Dravo Corporation of Wilmington, Delaware; launched on an unknown date; and commissioned on 29 July 1944.

During World War II LSM-216 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima in February 1945. In the film To the Shores of Iwo Jima, LSM-216 can be seen in action just off Yellow Beach[14] on 19 February 1945.[15]

Following the war, LSM-216 was decommissioned on 2 May 1946 at Calcasieu River, Lake Charles, Louisiana. She was struck from the Naval Register and sold in November 1946 to the navy of the Dominican Republic. She was renamed San Rafael (BA-103) and served in the Dominican Republic Navy until she was disposed of in 1960.

LSM-216 earned one battle star for World War II service.

USS LSM-217 N/a Unknown
USS LSM-236 4 July 1944 Scrapped in 1972
USS LSM-247 N/a Sold in February 1947
USS LSM-256 N/a Sank on 16 June 1969 Transferred to Nationalist China in 1949, recommissioned as Mei Hua, sunk in a collision with M.V. Ta Tung 16/6/69
USS LSM-275 11 September 1944 Scrapped in 1976 Later renamed and reclassified USS Portunus (ARC-1)
USS LSM-297 30 October 1944 Scrapped in 1958
USS LSM-315 N/a Unknown
USS LSM-319 N/a Sank in 1971
USS LSM-333 13 October 1944 Scuttled on 17 September 2006
USS LSM-335 N/a N/a Later USNS LSM-335 (T-AG-335) Assigned Ryukyuan shuttle.[16]
USS LSM-338 5 December 1944 Scrapped
USS LSM-355 2 December 1944 Unknown
USS LSM-380 13 January 1945 Waiting for preservation
USS LSM-397 6 January 1945 Sold in November 1958
USS Hunting (LSM-398) 6 January 1945 Scrapped after 1983 Later reclassified (E-AG-398)
USS LSM-462 3 February 1945 Unknown
USS LSM-469 17 February 1945 Scuttled on 1 February 2003
USS LSM-471 17 February 1945 Unknown
USS LSM-477 N/a Sank in 1971
USS LSM-478 3 March 1945 Unknown
USS Raritan (LSM-540) 1 August 1945 Unknown
USS LSM-547 N/a Abandoned by 1972

LSM(R)-188-class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket)

Main article: LSM(R)-188-class landing ship medium
USS LSM(R)-194 passing under the Cooper River Bridge, Charleston, SC, 2 December 1944
General characteristics
Class & typeLSM(R)-188-class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket)
Displacement
  • LSM(R)-188 to LSM(R)-195 :
  • 968 long tons (984 t) loaded
  • LSM(R)-196 to LSM(R)-199 :
  • 1,008 long tons (1,024 t) loaded
Length203 ft 6 in (62.03 m)
Beam34 ft (10 m)
Draft
  • 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) forward
  • 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) aft
PropulsionGM Cleveland diesel engines, 2,800 shp (2,088 kW), direct drive, two screws
Speed13.2 knots (24.4 km/h; 15.2 mph)
Range5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 7 kn (13 km/h; 8.1 mph)
Complement5 officers, 76 enlisted
Armament
Name Year launched Fate Short summary
USS LSM(R)-188 12 September 1944 Sold for scrapping, 17 February 1948

USS LSM(R)-188 was the lead ship of her class of twelve Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) of the United States Navy during World War II. The ship took part in the Battle of Okinawa.

USS LSM(R)-189 12 September 1944 Sold for scrap, 17 February 1948

USS LSM(R)-189 was a LSM(R)-188 class Landing Ship Medium (rocket) of the United States Navy during World War II. She was commanded by Lieutenant James Malcolm Stewart, USNR during the Battle of Okinawa.

USS LSM(R)-190 21 September 1944 Sunk by Japanese Kamikaze plane off Okinawa, 4 May 1945

USS LSM(R)-190 was a United States Navy LSM(R)-188-class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket). She was built at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina and was commissioned on 21 November 1944. LSM(R)-190 took part in the Battle of Okinawa from 7 April–4 May 1945. She was hit and sunk by a Japanese suicide plane on 4 May 1945 while on the radar picket line. She later received a Navy Unit Commendation for her service off Okinawa.

USS LSM(R)-191

LSM(R)-191 was a World War II LSM(R)-188-class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) fitted for firing a rocket barrage.

USS LSM(R)-192

LSM(R)-192 was a LSM(R)-188 class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) of the US Navy during World War II. Laid down at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina, the ship was commissioned on 21 November 1944.

USS LSM(R)-193

LSM(R)-193 was an American Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) built in 1944, which provided naval gunfire and rocket support for US and Allied amphibious landings in World War II. It was laid down at Charleston Navy Yard and commissioned on 21 November 1944. It participated in the Battle of Okinawa as well as the run-up to the battle

USS LSM(R)-194

USS LSM(R)-194 was a LSM(R)-188-class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) of the United States Navy during World War II, which took part in the Battle of Okinawa. LSM(R)-194 was laid down at the Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina on 21 November 1944. It sank on 4 May 1945 when it was hit by a Japanese suicide plane while on radar picket duty.

USS LSM(R)-195

LSM(R)-195 was laid down at Charleston Navy Yard. The ship was commissioned on 21 November 1944.

USS LSM(R)-196

LSM(R)-196 was a US amphibious assault ship, laid down at Charleston Navy Yard. It was commissioned on 12 December 1944.

USS LSM(R)-197

LSM(R)-197 was a United States Navy vessel laid down at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina. The ship was commissioned on 8 December 1944.

USS LSM(R)-198

USS LSM(R)-198 was a Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) of the US Navy during World War II.

USS LSM(R)-199

LSM(R)-199 was a LSM(R)-188 class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) of the US Navy during World War II. laid down at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina, The ship was commissioned on 12 December 1944.

LSM(R)-401-class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket)

USS LSM(R)-407, later renamed the USS Chariton River. Date and location unknown.
General characteristics
Class & typeLSM-401(R)-class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket)
Displacement1,175 long tons (1,194 t) loaded
Length203 ft 6 in (62.03 m)
Beam34 ft (10 m)
Draft7 ft 9 in (2.36 m)
PropulsionGM Cleveland diesel engines, 2,800 shp (2,088 kW), direct drive, two screws
Speed13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Range5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 7 kn (13 km/h; 8.1 mph)
Complement6 officers, 137 enlisted
Armament
  • USS Big Black River (LSM(R)-401), later reclassified (LFR-401)
  • USS Big Horn River (LSM(R)-402)
  • USS Blackstone River (LSM(R)-403)
  • USS Black Warrior River (LSM(R)-404), later reclassified (LFR-404)
  • USS Broadkill River (LSM(R)-405), later reclassified (LFR-405)
  • USS Canadian River (LSM(R)-406)
  • USS Chariton River (LSM(R)-407)
  • USS Charles River (LSM(R)-408)
  • USS Clarion River (LSM(R)-409), later reclassified (LFR-409)
  • USS Clark Fork River (LSM(R)-410)
  • USS Cumberland River (LSM(R)-411)
  • USS Desplaines River (LSM(R)-412), later reclassified (LFR-412)

LSM(R)-501-class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket)

USS Pee Dee River (LSM(R)-517) underway in 1954
General characteristics
Class & typeLSM-501(R)-class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket)
Displacement1,175 long tons (1,194 t) loaded
Length203 ft 6 in (62.03 m)
Beam34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
Draft7 ft 9 in (2.36 m)
PropulsionGM Cleveland diesel engines, 2,800 shp (2,088 kW), direct drive, two screws
Speed13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Range5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 7 kn (13 km/h; 8.1 mph)
Complement6 officers, 137 enlisted
Armament

Gypsy-class salvage lifting vessels

USS Gypsy (ARS(D)-1) underway at Houston, Texas, in 1946
General characteristics
Class & typeGypsy-class salvage lifting vessels
Displacement816 long tons (829 t)
Length224 ft 9 in (68.50 m)
Beam34 ft 10 in (10.62 m)
Draft8 ft 4 in (2.54 m)
PropulsionFairbanks-Morse diesel engines, 1,440 shp (1,074 kW), direct drive, two screws
Speed13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Range4,900 nmi (9,100 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement65 officers and enlisted
Armament2 × 20 mm AA guns

Production

Dates are launch dates.[17]

Delivery:[17]

  • Q2 1944: 74
  • Q3 1944: 129
  • Q4 1944: 132
  • Q1 1945: 111
  • Q2 1945: 58
  • Q3 1945: 30
  • Q4 1945: 15
  • 1946: 9

Legacy

One LSM, USS LSM-45, survived in its original configuration until around 2010. It was in storage at Marine Station Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. It was slated to become the centerpiece of the Museum of the Marine, but due to changed plans, was scrapped between 2010 and 2014.

Light Amphibious Warship (LAW)

As of February 2023 the US Marine Corps has proposed the purchase of 18 to 35 modern LSMs; this LSM concept was previously known as the Light Amphibious Warship (LAW).[18][19]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Acquisition Costs of the Navy's Medium Landing Ship". Congressional Budget Office. 11 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Navy launches LSM contract competition". InsideDefense.com.
  3. ^ Eckstein, Megan (5 October 2022). "Marines, Navy near agreement on light amphibious warship features". Defense News.
  4. ^ William John Stevenson (AFC 2001/001/24632), Unit History (MS01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  5. ^ "Landing Ship Medium LSM-19". NavSource. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  6. ^ "USS LSM 20 (LSM 20) of the US Navy - American Medium landing ship of the LSM class - Allied Warships of WWII". uboat.net. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Landing Ship Medium LSM-20". NavSource. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Historic WWII Ship to leave Omaha". omahariverfront.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  9. ^ "Museum casts away WWII ship – Marine Corps Community for USMC Marine Veterans". leatherneck.com. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  10. ^ "Save the USS LSM 45! in Save Our History in History Channel". boards.history.com. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  11. ^ The ill-fated USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was the first to carry (part of) a nuclear weapon.
  12. ^ "USS LSM 105 (LSM 105) of the US Navy - American Medium landing ship of the LSM class - Allied Warships of WWII". uboat.net. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  13. ^ Priolo, Gary P. (28 May 2004). "USS LSM-148 and USS LSM-149 Christening". NavSource. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  14. ^ "Annex Fox to Fourth Marine Divisions Operations Report - part 1, Iwo Jima RCT 23 Report, Page 25". American-Divisions.com. 9 April 1945. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
  15. ^ United States Marine Corps (1945). To the Shores of Iwo Jima. Event occurs at 8:34. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
  16. ^ "Meet the Fleet – USNS LSM-335". Sealift Magazine. Vol. 14, no. 8. Washington, D.C.: Military Sea Transportation Service. August 1964. p. 24. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  17. ^ a b "Landing Ships, Medium - LSM, LSM(R), LSV". Shipbuilding History. 6 January 2018.
  18. ^ Shelbourne, Mallory (February 2023). "Marine Corps Requirements Call for 9 Light Amphibious Ships per Regiment". USNI News. United States Naval Institute.
  19. ^ Grady, John (February 2023). "SECNAV Del Toro 'Excited' About New Landing Ship Mediums". USNI News. United States Naval Institute.
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