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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSSL-55
ex
USS LCS(L)(3)-55 (1944 - 1949)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Tango - Mike
NVTM

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 (2) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

LCS(L)(3)-1 Class Landing Craft Support (Large)(Mark3):

Laid down, 31 July 1944, at Albina Engine and Machine Works Inc., Portland, OR.

Launched, 2 September 1944

Commissioned USS LCS(L)(3)-55, 30 September 1944

During World War II LCS(L)(3)-55 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater LCS(L) Flotilla Three, Group Seven and participated in the following campaigns:

**Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Iwo Jima operation Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 15 February to circa 1 March 1945	Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 April 1945

Following World War II LCS(L)(3)-55 performed occupation duty in the Far East

Decommissioned, date unknown

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet

Reclassified Landing Ship Support Large USS LSSL-55, 28 February 1949

Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 29 December 1950, to Dulien Steel Products, Seattle WA.

USS LCS(L)(3)-55 earned two battle stars for World War II service

Specifications:
Displacement 250 t (lt), 387 t (fl)
Length 158' 6" o.a
Beam 23' 3"
Draft loaded, 4' 9" fwd, 6' 6" aft
Speed 16.5k max at 650 shaft rpm, 14.5kts at 585 shaft rpm
Armor 10-lb STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning tower
Complement 6 Officers, 65 Enlisted
Propulsion 8 GM diesels, 4 per shaft, BHP 1,600, twin variable pitch propellers; Endurance 5,500 miles at 12kts at 45" pitch (350 tons dspl.)
Fuel/Stores 76 tons fuel oil, 10 tons fresh water, 6 tons lubrication oil, 8 tons provisions and stores at full load
Fresh Water Capacity Distill up to 1,000 gals. per day
Armament bow gun, one single 40mm gun mount, additional guns 2 twin 40mms 4 single 20mms, 4 .50 cal MGs, ten MK7 rocket launchers
Specifications Sources:
Baker, A.D. III. Allied Landing Craft of World War II. Annapolis: United States Naval Institute Press, 1989. 47
Lawley, George & Sons Corporation. Instructions for LCS(L)(3) Class
Lawley, George & Sons Corporation. Original Plans of LCS(L)(3)

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
11k	*LCS(L) Group Seven* at Pearl Harbor prior to deployment to Iwo Jima, circa December 1944-January 1945. From left to right: USS LCS(L)(3)-35 USS LCS(L)(3)-34 USS LCS(L)(3)-51 USS LCS(L)(3)-32 USS LCS(L)(3)-56 USS LCS(L)(3)-55 USS LCS(L)(3)-33 *LCS(L)(3)-5?* USS LCS(L)(3)-53 and Group flag ship USS LCS(L)(3)-31.	Michael Hollis for his father LTjg. Jack D.Hollis, USS LCS(L)(3)-31 and LCS(L) Group Seven staff.
24k	*LCS(L) Group Seven* at Pearl Harbor prior to deployment to Iwo Jima, circa December 1944-January 1945. From left to right: USS LCS(L)(3)-51 USS LCS(L)(3)-32 USS LCS(L)(3)-56 USS LCS(L)(3)-55 USS LCS(L)(3)-33 *LCS(L)(3)-5?* USS LCS(L)(3)-53 and Group flag ship USS LCS(L)(3)-31.	Michael Hollis for his father LTjg. Jack D.Hollis, USS LCS(L)(3)-31 and LCS(L) Group Seven staff.
398k	USS LCI(R)-651 with other units of the Pacific Fleet Amphibious Force, at Maui, rehearsing for the Iwo Jima landings, date unknown. Other amphibious craft include: USS LCI(R)-707, USS LCI(R)-708, USS LCI(R)-1030, USS LCI(R)-772, USS LCS(L)(3)-56 and USS LCS(L)(3)-55. Photo from the July 2010 issue of the USS LCI National Association's newsletter "The Elsie Item".	Ardie Hunt
44k	USS LCS(L)(3)-55 and USS LCS(L)(3)-56 strafing the beach at Iwo Jima, 14 February 1945 National Archives photo	National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130 Courtesy John Palco
75k	USS LCS(L)(3)-55 in action off Okinawa while on picket duty at Radar Station No.10. Guns # 1 and # 2 firing at during a kamikaze attack, May 1945.	Submitted by John Carmony, Courtesy Lou Plant SM1/c USS LCS(L)(3)-55
26k	A mine blown up by USS LCS(L)(3)-55 while operating off Okinawa, date unknown.	Submitted by Mike Hollis, Courtesy Lou Plant SM1/c USS LCS(L)(3)-55
110k	USS LCS(L)(3)-55 underway at Wakayama, Japan in September 1945.	Submitted by Mike Hollis, Courtesy Lou Plant SM1/c USS LCS(L)(3)-55
30k	USS LCS(L)(3)-55 at anchor off Wakayama, Japan in September 1945.	Submitted by Mike Hollis, Courtesy Lou Plant SM1/c USS LCS(L)(3)-55
60k	USS LCI(L)(3)-55 passes under the Golden Gate Bridge at San Francisco as she returns home, circa late 1945, early 1946.	National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130 Courtesy John Palco

USS LCS(L)(3)-55 history provided by the National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130

Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
Fleet Reserve Association

Other Crew Contact and Reunion Information
National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130
Dennis Steenbergen, Secretary
7345 W. Lakeside Drive, Littleton, CO, 80125
Phone 303-470-1187
E-mail Dennis Steenbergen

Additional Web Sites of Interest
National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130

Additional Resources
Rielly, Robin L. Mighty Midgets at War: The Saga of the LCS(L) Ships from Iwo Jima to Vietnam. Central Point, Oregon: Hellgate Press, 2000. (ISBN 1-55571-522-2)

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 22 October 2010

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSSL-55ex USS LCS(L)(3)-55 (1944 - 1949)

USS LSSL-55
ex
USS LCS(L)(3)-55 (1944 - 1949)