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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Launcher (YV-2)
ex
 USS E-LSM-446 (1947 - 1954)
 USS LSM-446 (1945 - 1947)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 16 March 1945, at Dravo Corp., Wilmington DE.
  • Launched, 28 April 1945
  • Commissioned USS LSM-446, 25 May 1945, LCDR. Harry E. Harman III in command
  • During World War II USS LSM-446 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LSM Flotilla Eleven;
     LSM Group Thirty-One;
     LSM Division Sixty-One
  • USS LSM-446 was converted to a Radar Test and Evaluation Ship in January 1947
  • Redesignated USS E-LSM-446, July 1947
  • Decommissioned, 20 December 1951, at Green Cove Springs FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs
  • Reclassified a Drone Aircraft Catapult Control Ship in August 1954
  • Recommissioned USS YV-2, 20 October 1954
  • Named USS Launcher (YV-2), 1 June 1957
  • Decommissioned, 3 May 1960
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 4 November 1960, to Portsmouth Salvage Co., Portsmouth, VA.
    LSM 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 General Motors (model GM 16-278A, 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
    USS LSM-446
    LSM-446 53k USS LSM-446 launch at Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, DE., 28 April 1945. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-446 83k USS LSM-446 moored to a buoy, date and location unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    USS E-LSM-446
    LSM-446 65k USS E-LSM-446 under way, date and location unknown.
    Photo @copyWar Ship Photo Graphs, Atlantic Fleet Sales Co., Norfolk, VA.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    USS Launcher (YV-2)
    LSM-446 87k USS Launcher (YV-2) under way, date and location unknown.
    A Ted Stone photo.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-446 82k USS Launcher (YV-2) under way, date and location unknown.
    A Ted Stone photo.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-446 63k USS Launcher (YV-2) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Stan Svec
    LSM-446 241k USS Launcher (YV-2) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Tommy Trampp
    USS LSM-446 / USS E-LSM-446 / USS Launcher (YV-2)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Ottaway, G. Hollis, USNR25 May 1945 - November 1945LSM-446
    01LCDR. Harman III, Harry E., USNRNovember 1945 - March 1946LSM-446
    02LCDR. Callies, Fred H., USNRMarch 1946 - January 1947LSM-446
    03LT. Petroff, Christopher Clement,USNJanuary 1947 - ?LSM-446
     Decommissioned20 October 1951 - 20 May 1954 :
    04LT. Derrickson, Clarence Raymond, USNR1955 - 22 November 1957Launcher (YV-2)
    05LT/LCDR. Schleuning Jr., Henry Herman, USN22 November 1957 - 16 July 1959Launcher (YV-2)
    06LT. Scalese Jr., Anthony Carmine, USN (USNA 195216 July 1959 - 3 May 1960Launcher (YV-2)
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Ship Medium (LSM) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 2 January 2026