Landing Ship Medium
Landing Ship Medium were amphibious assault ships of the United States Navy in World War II.
Of comparable size to Landing Ship, Tank and the Landing Craft Infantry, there were 558 LSM (Landing Ship, Medium) made for the USN between 1944 and 1945. The majority of vessels built on this versatile frame were regular transports however there were several dozen that were converted during construction for specialized roles. Most vessels of this type were scrapped during the Cold War, but several were sold by the United States Department of Defense to foreign nations or private shipping companies.
One LSM, USS LSM-45, survived in its original configuration until around 2010. It was in storage at Marine Station Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC. It was slated to become the centerpiece of the Museum of the Marine, but due to changed plans was scrapped between 2010 and 2014.
LSM-1-class Landing Ship Medium (Transport)
![]() USS LSM-175 underway off Charleston Navy Yard in 1944. | |
General characteristics | |
---|---|
Class and type: | LSM-1 class Landing Ship Medium |
Displacement: |
|
Length: | 203 ft 6 in (62.03 m) |
Beam: | 34 ft (10 m) |
Draft: |
|
Propulsion: | Fairbanks-Morse or GM Cleveland diesel engines, 2,800 shp (2,088 kW), direct drive, 2 screws |
Speed: | 13.3 knots (24.6 km/h; 15.3 mph) |
Range: | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 7 kn (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) |
Capacity: |
|
Troops: | 54 troops |
Complement: | 4 officers, 54 enlisted |
Armament: |
|
List of LSM-1-class ships
- USS LSM-1
- USS LSM-2
- USS LSM-3
- USS LSM-4
- USS LSM-5
- USS LSM-6
- USS LSM-7
- USS LSM-8
- USS LSM-9
- USS LSM-10
- USS LSM-11
- USS LSM-12
- USS LSM-13
- USS LSM-14
- USS LSM-15
- USS LSM-16
- USS LSM-17
- USS LSM-18
- USS LSM-19
- USS LSM-20
- USS LSM-21
- USS LSM-22
- USS LSM-23
- USS LSM-24
- USS LSM-25
- USS LSM-26
- USS LSM-27
- USS LSM-28
- USS LSM-29
- USS LSM-30
- USS LSM-31
- USS LSM-32
- USS LSM-33
- USS LSM-34
- USS LSM-35
- USS LSM-36
- USS LSM-37
- USS LSM-38
- USS LSM-39
- USS LSM-40
- USS LSM-41
- USS LSM-42
- USS LSM-43
- USS LSM-44
- USS LSM-45
- USS LSM-46
- USS LSM-47
- USS LSM-48
- USS LSM-49
- USS LSM-50
- USS LSM-51
- USS LSM-52
- USS LSM-53
- USS LSM-54
- USS LSM-55
- USS LSM-56
- USS LSM-57
- USS LSM-58
- USS LSM-59
- USS LSM-60
- USS LSM-61
- USS LSM-62
- USS LSM-63
- USS LSM-64
- USS LSM-65
- USS LSM-66
- USS LSM-67
- USS LSM-68
- USS LSM-69
- USS LSM-70
- USS LSM-71
- USS LSM-72
- USS LSM-73
- USS LSM-74
- USS LSM-75
- USS LSM-76
- USS LSM-77
- USS LSM-78
- USS LSM-79
- USS LSM-80
- USS LSM-81
- USS LSM-82
- USS LSM-83
- USS LSM-84
- USS LSM-85
- USS LSM-86
- USS LSM-87
- USS LSM-88
- USS LSM-89
- USS LSM-90
- USS LSM-91
- USS LSM-92
- USS LSM-93
- USS LSM-94
- USS LSM-95
- USS LSM-96
- USS LSM-97
- USS LSM-98
- USS LSM-99
- USS LSM-100
- USS LSM-101
- USS LSM-102
- USS LSM-103
- USS LSM-104
- USS LSM-105
- USS LSM-106
- USS LSM-107
- USS LSM-108
- USS LSM-109
- USS LSM-110
- USS LSM-111
- USS LSM-112
- USS LSM-113
- USS LSM-114
- USS LSM-115
- USS LSM-116
- USS LSM-117
- USS LSM-118
- USS LSM-119
- USS LSM-120
- USS LSM-121
- USS LSM-122
- USS LSM-123
- USS LSM-124
- USS LSM-125
- USS LSM-126
- USS LSM-127
- USS LSM-128
- USS LSM-129
- USS LSM-130
- USS LSM-131
- USS LSM-132
- USS LSM-133
- USS LSM-134
- USS LSM-135
- USS LSM-136
- USS LSM-137
- USS LSM-138
- USS LSM-139
- USS LSM-140
- USS LSM-141
- USS LSM-142
- USS LSM-143
- USS LSM-148
- USS LSM-157 - Transferred to Nationalist China in 1949. Recommissioned as "Mei Le". Sunk by Red Chinese artillery 9/1958.[1]
- USS LSM-158
- USS LSM-159
- USS LSM-160
- USS Kodiak (LSM-161)
- USS LSM-162
- USS LSM-163
- USS LSM-164
- USS LSM-165
- USS LSM-166
- USS LSM-167
- USS LSM-168
- USS LSM-169
- USS LSM-170
- USS LSM-171
- USS LSM-172
- USS LSM-173
- USS LSM-174
- USS Oceanside (LSM-175)
- USS LSM-176
- USS LSM-177
- USS LSM-178
- USS LSM-179
- USS LSM-180
- USS LSM-181
- USS LSM-182
- USS LSM-183
- USS LSM-184
- USS LSM-185
- USS LSM-186
- USS LSM-187
- USS LSM-200
- USS LSM-201
- USS LSM-202
- USS LSM-203
- USS LSM-204
- USS LSM-205
- USS LSM-206
- USS LSM-207
- USS LSM-208
- USS LSM-209
- USS LSM-210
- USS LSM-211
- USS LSM-212
- USS LSM-213
- USS LSM-214
- USS LSM-215
- USS LSM-216
- USS LSM-217
- USS LSM-218
- USS LSM-219
- USS LSM-220
- USS LSM-221
- USS LSM-222
- USS LSM-223
- USS LSM-224
- USS LSM-225
- USS LSM-226
- USS LSM-227
- USS LSM-228
- USS LSM-229
- USS LSM-230
- USS LSM-231
- USS LSM-232
- USS LSM-236
- USS LSM-237
- USS LSM-238
- USS LSM-239
- USS LSM-240
- USS LSM-241
- USS LSM-242
- USS LSM-243
- USS LSM-244
- USS LSM-245
- USS LSM-246
- USS LSM-247
- USS LSM-248
- USS LSM-249
- USS LSM-250
- USS LSM-251
- USS LSM-252
- USS LSM-253
- USS LSM-254
- USS LSM-255
- USS LSM-256 - Transferred to Nationalist China in 1949. Recommisioned as "Mei Hua"; sunk in a collision with M.V. Ta Tung 16/6/69.[1]
- USS LSM-257
- USS LSM-258
- USS LSM-259
- USS LSM-260
- USS LSM-261
- USS LSM-262
- USS LSM-263
- USS LSM-264
- USS LSM-265
- USS LSM-266
- USS LSM-267
- USS LSM-268
- USS LSM-269
- USS LSM-270
- USS LSM-271
- USS LSM-272
- USS LSM-273
- USS LSM-274
- USS Portunus (LSM-275), later reclassified (ARC-1)
- USS LSM-276
- USS LSM-277
- USS LSM-278
- USS LSM-279
- USS LSM-280
- USS LSM-281
- USS LSM-282
- USS LSM-283
- USS LSM-284
- USS LSM-285
- USS LSM-286
- USS LSM-287
- USS LSM-288
- USS LSM-289
- USS LSM-290
- USS LSM-291
- USS LSM-292
- USS LSM-293
- USS LSM-294
- USS LSM-295
- USS LSM-296
- USS LSM-297
- USS LSM-298
- USS LSM-299
- USS LSM-300
- USS LSM-301, later reclassified (MMC-6)
- USS LSM-302
- USS LSM-303, later reclassified (MMC-7)
- USS LSM-304
- USS LSM-305
- USS LSM-306
- USS LSM-307
- USS LSM-308
- USS LSM-309
- USS LSM-310
- USS LSM-311
- USS LSM-312
- USS LSM-313
- USS LSM-314
- USS LSM-315
- USS LSM-316
- USS LSM-317
- USS LSM-318
- USS LSM-319
- USS LSM-320
- USS LSM-321
- USS LSM-322
- USS LSM-323
- USS LSM-324
- USS LSM-325
- USS LSM-326
- USS LSM-327
- USS LSM-328
- USS LSM-329
- USS LSM-330
- USS LSM-331
- USS LSM-332
- USS LSM-333
- USS LSM-334
- USS LSM-335, later reclassified (T-AG-335)
- USS LSM-336
- USS LSM-337
- USS LSM-338
- USS LSM-339
- USS LSM-340
- USS LSM-341
- USS LSM-342
- USS LSM-343
- USS LSM-344
- USS LSM-345
- USS LSM-346
- USS LSM-347
- USS LSM-348
- USS LSM-349
- USS LSM-350
- USS LSM-351
- USS LSM-352
- USS LSM-353
- USS LSM-354
- USS LSM-355
- USS LSM-356
- USS LSM-357
- USS LSM-358
- USS LSM-359
- USS LSM-360
- USS LSM-361
- USS LSM-362
- USS LSM-363
- USS LSM-364
- USS LSM-365
- USS LSM-366
- USS LSM-367
- USS LSM-368
- USS LSM-369
- USS LSM-370
- USS LSM-371
- USS LSM-372
- USS Lakeland (LSM-373)
- USS LSM-374
- USS LSM-375
- USS LSM-376
- USS LSM-377
- USS LSM-378
- USS LSM-379
- USS LSM-380
- USS LSM-381
- USS LSM-382
- USS LSM-383
- USS LSM-384
- USS LSM-385
- USS LSM-386
- USS LSM-387
- USS LSM-388
- USS LSM-389
- USS LSM-390, later reclassified (MMC-8)
- USS LSM-391
- USS LSM-392, later reclassified (MMC-9)
- USS LSM-393
- USS LSM-394
- USS LSM-395
- USS LSM-396
- USS LSM-397
- USS Hunting (LSM-398), later reclassified (E-AG-398)
- USS LSM-399
- USS LSM-400
- USS LSM-413
- USS LSM-414
- USS LSM-415
- USS LSM-416
- USS LSM-417
- USS LSM-418
- USS LSM-419
- USS LSM-420
- USS LSM-421
- USS LSM-422
- USS LSM-423
- USS LSM-424
- USS LSM-425
- USS LSM-426
- USS LSM-427
- USS LSM-428
- USS LSM-429
- USS LSM-430
- USS LSM-431
- USS LSM-432
- USS LSM-433
- USS LSM-434
- USS LSM-435
- USS LSM-436
- USS LSM-437
- USS LSM-438
- USS LSM-439
- USS LSM-440
- USS LSM-441
- USS LSM-442
- USS LSM-443
- USS LSM-444
- USS Catapult (LSM-445), later reclassified (YV-1)
- USS Launcher (LSM-446), later reclassified (E-LSM-446) and again to (YV-2)
- USS LSM-447
- USS LSM-448
- USS LSM-449
- USS LSM-450
- USS LSM-451
- USS LSM-452
- USS LSM-453
- USS LSM-454
- USS LSM-455
- USS LSM-456
- USS LSM-457
- USS LSM-458
- USS LSM-459
- USS LSM-460
- USS LSM-461
- USS LSM-462
- USS LSM-463
- USS LSM-464
- USS LSM-465
- USS LSM-466
- USS LSM-467
- USS LSM-468
- USS LSM-469
- USS LSM-470
- USS LSM-471
- USS LSM-472
- USS LSM-473
- USS LSM-474
- USS LSM-475
- USS LSM-476
- USS LSM-477
- USS LSM-478
- USS LSM-479
- USS LSM-480
- USS LSM-481, later reclassified (MMC-10)
- USS LSM-482
- USS LSM-483
- USS LSM-484, later reclassified (MMC-11)
- USS LSM-485
- USS LSM-486
- USS LSM-487
- USS LSM-488
- USS LSM-489
- USS LSM-490, later reclassified (MMC-12)
- USS LSM-491
- USS LSM-492, later reclassified (MMC-13)
- USS LSM-493, later reclassified (MMC-14)
- USS LSM-494
- USS LSM-495
- USS LSM-496
- USS LSM-497
- USS LSM-498
- USS LSM-499
- USS LSM-500
- USS LSM-537
- USS LSM-538
- USS LSM-539
- USS Raritan (LSM-540)
- USS LSM-541
- USS LSM-542
- USS LSM-543
- USS LSM-544
- USS LSM-545
- USS LSM-546
- USS LSM-547
- USS LSM-548
- USS LSM-553
- USS LSM-554
- USS LSM-555
- USS LSM-556
- USS LSM-557
- USS LSM-558
LSM(R)-188-class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket)
![]() USS LSM(R)-194 passing under the Cooper River Bridge, Charleston, SC, 2 December 1944 | |
General characteristics | |
---|---|
Class and type: | LSM(R)-188 class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) |
Displacement: |
|
Length: | 203 ft 6 in (62.03 m) |
Beam: | 34 ft (10 m) |
Draft: |
|
Propulsion: | GM Cleveland diesel engines, 2,800 shp (2,088 kW), direct drive, 2 screws |
Speed: | 13.2 knots (24.4 km/h; 15.2 mph) |
Range: | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 7 kn (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) |
Complement: | 5 officers, 76 enlisted |
Armament: |
|
LSM(R)-401-class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket)
General characteristics | |
---|---|
Class and type: | LSM-401(R) class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) |
Displacement: | 1,175 long tons (1,194 t) loaded |
Length: | 203 ft 6 in (62.03 m) |
Beam: | 34 ft (10 m) |
Draft: | 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m) |
Propulsion: | GM Cleveland diesel engines, 2,800 shp (2,088 kW), direct drive, 2 screws |
Speed: | 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) |
Range: | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 7 kn (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) |
Complement: | 6 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 and type: | LSM-501(R) class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) |
Displacement: | 1,175 long tons (1,194 t) loaded |
Length: | 203 ft 6 in (62.03 m) |
Beam: | 34 ft 6 in (10.52 m) |
Draft: | 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m) |
Propulsion: | GM Cleveland diesel engines, 2,800 shp (2,088 kW), direct drive, 2 screws |
Speed: | 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) |
Range: | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 7 kn (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) |
Complement: | 6 officers, 137 enlisted |
Armament: |
|
- USS Elk River (LSM(R)-501), later reclassified (IX-501)
- USS Escalanteo River (LSM(R)-502)
- USS Flambeau River (LSM(R)-503)
- USS Gila River (LSM(R)-504)
- USS Grand River (LSM(R)-505)
- USS Green River (LSM(R)-506)
- USS Greenbrier River (LSM(R)-507)
- USS Gunnison River (LSM(R)-508), later reclassified and renamed USS Targeteer (YV-3)
- USS Holston River (LSM(R)-509)
- USS James River (LSM(R)-510)
- USS John Day River (LSM(R)-511)
- USS Lamiolle River (LSM(R)-512), later reclassified (LFR-512)
- USS Laramie River (LSM(R)-513), later reclassified (LFR-513)
- USS Maurice River (LSM(R)-514)
- USS Owyhee River (LSM(R)-515), later reclassified (LFR-515)
- USS Pearl River (LSM(R)-516)
- USS Pee Dee River (LSM(R)-517)
- USS Pit River (LSM(R)-518)
- USS Powder River (LSM(R)-519)
- USS Raccoon River (LSM(R)-520)
- USS Rainy River (LSM(R)-521)
- USS Red River (LSM(R)-522), later reclassified (LFR-522)
- USS Republican River (LSM(R)-523)
- USS Saint Croix River (LSM(R)-524)
- USS St. Francis River (LSM(R)-525), later reclassified (LFR-525)
- USS St. Johns River (LSM(R)-526)
- USS St. Joseph's River (LSM(R)-527)
- USS St. Marys River (LSM(R)-528)
- USS St. Regis River (LSM(R)-529)
- USS Salmon Falls River (LSM(R)-530)
- USS Smoky Hill River (LSM(R)-531), later reclassified (LFR-531)
- USS Smyrna River (LSM(R)-532)
- USS Snake River (LSM(R)-533)
- USS Thames River (LSM(R)-534)
- USS Trinity River (LSM(R)-535)
- USS White River (LSM(R)-536), later reclassified (LFR-536)
Gypsy-class Salvage Lifting Vessels
![]() USS Gypsy (ARS(D)-1) underway at Houston, Texas, in 1946 | |
General characteristics | |
---|---|
Class and type: | Gypsy-class Salvage Lifting Vessels |
Displacement: | 816 long tons (829 t) |
Length: | 224 ft 9 in (68.50 m) |
Beam: | 34 ft 10 in (10.62 m) |
Draft: | 8 ft 4 in (2.54 m) |
Propulsion: | Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines, 1,440 shp (1,074 kW), direct drive, 2 screws |
Speed: | 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) |
Range: | 4,900 nmi (9,100 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
Complement: | 65 officers and enlisted |
Armament: | 2 × 20 mm AA guns |
- USS Gypsy (ARS(D)-1), authorized as LSM-549
- USS Mender (ARS(D)-2), authorized as LSM-550
- USS Salvager (ARS(D)-3), authorized as LSM-551, later reclassified to YMLC-3
- USS Windlass (ARS(D)-4), authorized as LSM-552, later reclassified to YMLC-4
See also
- Landing Ship, Infantry
- Mark 8 Landing Craft Tank
References
- "Mei Chin Medium Landing Ships (1944-45/49-62), Republic of China Navy (Taiwan)". Navypedia. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- LSM-LSMR: WWII Amphibious Forces, Turner Publishing Co.; Paducah, Kentucky, ISBN 1-56311-140-3
- Jane's Fighting Ships, 1980-81
- US Navy, ONI 226, Allied Landing Craft and Ships, April 1944
External links
- USS LSM/LSMR Association
- NavSource Photo Archives
- Landing Ships ibiblio.org
- My Life Aboard the LSM-319 by Eugene Carey
- The Navy's Smallest Aircraft Carrier, July 1958, Popular Mechanics small article on conversion of LSM-445 to a target drone launching vessel