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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-55

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Echo - Foxtrot
NVEF

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:

Laid down, 30 June 1944, at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, TX.

Launched, 21 July 1944

Commissioned USS LSM-55, 21 August 1944, LTjg. Ben Dyer, USNR in command

During World War II USS LSM-55 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
LSM Flotilla Thirteen, LCDR. C. L. Weigle USN (27);
LSM Group Thirty-Nine, LCDR. J. M. Rose;
LSM Division Seventy-Eight and participated in the following campaign:

Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto 2 April to 17 June 1945

Following World War II USS LSM-55 was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal	China Service Medal (extended)
22 September 1945 to 4 May 1946	5 to 26 May 1946

Decommissioned, 26 May 1946, at Shanghai, China and transferred the same day to the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Agency (UNRRA) in demilitarized status

Struck from the Naval Register, 13 December 1946

USS LSM-55 earned one battle star for World War II service

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 520 t.(light), 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
Length 203' 6" (ovl)
Beam 34' 6"
Draft

light, 3' 6" forward, 7' 8" aft

fully loaded, 6' 4" forward, 8' 3" aft

Speed 13.2 kts. (max.), (928 tons displacement)

Complement

5 officers

54 enlisted

Armament

one twin bow mounted 40mm gun

four single 20mm gun mounts

Vehicle/Boat Capacity 5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVT's, or 9 DUKW's

Fuel Capacity

Diesel 1,225 Bbls

Troop Accommodations

2 officers

46 enlisted

Armor 10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station

Endurance 4,900 miles @ 12kts.(928 tons displacement)

Propulsion

two Fairbanks Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) Diesel engines, direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm
Ship's Service Generators
two Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
one Diesel-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.

twin propellers, 2,800shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
	156k	USS LSM-55 moored on the Whangpoo River at Shanghai, China, circa 18 May to 2 June 1946. The ship was demilitarized and transferred to the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Agency (UNRRA). USS LSM-55 is seen in this photo with at least six other LSMs, all unidentified at this time. Photo courtesy Mr. Jack Christensen USS LSM-55		USS LSM / LSMR Association
	162k	USS LSM-55 at decommissioning, 26 May 1946, on the Whangpoo River at Shanghai, China. Photo courtesy Mr. Jack Christensen USS LSM-55		USS LSM / LSMR Association

Commanding Officers
01	LTjg. Dyer, Ben, USNR	21 August 1944 - 18 November 1945
02	LTjg. Weber, Robert E., USNR	18 November 1945 - 12 April 1946
03	LTjg. Lucas, Kenneth C., USNR	12 April 1946 - 26 May 1946


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
USS LSM-LSMR Association

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 19 May 2018