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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Saipan (LCU-1534)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Presidential Unit Citation
Bottom Row - National Defense Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

LCU-1466 Class Landing Craft Tank:

Laid down, September 1954, at Avondale Shipyards, New Orleans, LA.

Launched in 1954

Placed in service in 1954

Served in Vietnam, date unknown

Retired in August 1990

Final Disposition, sunk as part of an artificial reef off Kahala, Oahu, Hawaii in 1998

Specifications:
Displacement 180 t.(lt), 360 t.(fl)
Length 119' (ovl.)
Beam 34'
Draft 6'
Speed 10 kts.
Range 700 nautical miles at 7 kts.
Complement 14
Cargo Capacity 150 short tons

Armament

two twin 20mm AA gun mounts, one port, one starboard

two.50 cal. machine guns

Armor 2 1/2" wheelhouse, 2" gun shield

Propulsion 3 Grey Marine Diesels, 3 shafts, Shaft horsepower 675 bhp per shaft

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
1018153405	257k	*Namesake* Saipan - The Battle of Saipan took place 15 June-13 July 1944. Landings of 2nd and 4th Marine divisions on 8 beaches, abreast, met instant resistance from LG Saito’s garrison and Admiral Nagumo’s 6,000 sailors ashore. By nightfall, a beachhead had been established, but continued heavy resistance necessitated commitment of the U.S. 27th Division to reinforce the assault. Departure of 59 Mitscher’s carriers (17 June) and - later- of all warships (for the battle of the Philippine Sea) deprived the attackers of much needed naval air and gunfire support. The ground troops made small but continued progress at heavy cost over terrain skillfully organized and defended by first class troops. The island’s airfield had fallen into U.S. hands by June 18, but not until July 9, following a last-ditch fanatical counter-attack by the 3,000 Japanese still surviving, did organized resistance end. American casualties on Saipan were 3,126 killed - including hundreds of Japanese civilians who committed suicide by jumping off the cliffs. Only about 2,000 were made prisoner. Photo - Marines followed tanks against the last Japanese defenders with machine gunners providing cover. Three men alongside the photographer were hit just before he took the picture. Photo by W. Eugene Smith LIFE magazine Map - Saipan Island, 15 June-9 July 1944, U.S. Department of Defense.	Tommy Trampp
1018153406	65k		Tommy Trampp
1018153407	35k	US Army LCU-1534 "picked up an Infantry Unit of the 25th Inf. Div., Tropic Lighting, and took them west around Barbers Point, and up along the west coast of Oahu. [*LCU-1534] anchored off Poohuna Point below Makua Beach, and Farrington HWY. In the distance is Makua Military Reservation. The troops are practicing rubber raft assault (to the beach)." Sail Army. Nov 1988 Faceook*	Blade Shepherd-Jones
1018153408	32k		Blade Shepherd-Jones
	374k	US Army LCU-1534 moored pierside, date and location unknown.	Lisa Casto for her father Larry E. Casto Sr. LCU-1534
	456k	Ex-US Army LCU-1534 sunk as part of an artificial reef off Kahala, Oahu, Hawaii, date of photos unknown.	Blade Shepherd-Jones
	257k
	278k

There is no history record for LCU-1534 available at NavSource

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 9 January 2026