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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-459

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 - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 6 January 1945, at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, TX.
  • Launched, 27 January 1945
  • Commissioned USS LSM-459, 28 February 1945, LTjg. Roy H. Neilson USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LSM-459 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LSM Flotilla Eleven
     LSM Group Thirty-Two;
     LSM Division Sixty-Two
  • Following World War II USS LSM-459 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 20 to 30 October 1945
  • While proceeding from Adak Island to Amchitka, Alaska, USS LSM-459 ran aground, 2 November 1946, severely damaged by high seas and winds she was declared a total loss, 9 December 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Final Disposition, hulk destroyed, 25 January 1947, by explosive charges
    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
    LSM-383 56k USS LSM-459 and USS LSM-383 beached while unloading "C" rations for survivors of the October typhoon at Okinawa, circa 20 October 1945. Photo by LT. Edgar W. Stanton, III, USNR CO USS LSM-383 donated to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-459 52k USS LSM-459 moored with other LSMs, date and location unknown.
    A Ted Stone photo.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    The history extract for USS LSM-459 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg/LT. Neilson, Roy H., USNR28 February 1945 - July 1946
    02LT. Gillingham, Frank Howard, USNJuly 1946 - 2 November 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 2 January 2026