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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSSL-63
ex
 USS LCS(L)(3)-63 (1944 - 1949)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Uniform - Charlie
 NVUC
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive - Okinawa) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal

USS LSSL-63 was transferred to Italy, renamed ITS Molosso (L9854)
LCS(L)(3)-1 Class Landing Craft Support (Large)(Mark3):
  • Laid down, 2 October 1944, at Albina Engine and Machine Works Inc., Portland OR.
  • Launched, 2 November 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCS(L)(3)-63, 11 December 1944, LT. W. E. Pfau USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LCS(L)(3)-63 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LCS(L)(3) Flotilla Four, CDR. N. Phillips USN (24);
     LCS(L)(3) Group Twelve, LCDR. B. D. Voegelin USNR;
     LCS(L)(3) Division Twenty-One and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 17 April to 30 June 1945

  • Following World War II USS LCS(L)(3)-63 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 2 September to 3 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Laid up in reserve with the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group
  • Redesignated Landing Ship Support Large USS LSSL-63, 28 February 1949
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LCS(L)(3)-63 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Withdrawn from reserve and transferred to Italy in 1953,, named Molosso (L-9854)
  • Final Disposition, scrapped by the Italian Navy in 1983
    Specifications:
    Displacement 250 t (lt), 387 t (fl)
    Length 158' o.a.
    Beam 23' 8"
    Draft
    5' 8" limiting and max draft
    loaded, 4' 9" fwd, 6' 6" aft
    Speed
    14.4 trial
    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
    Endurance 5,500 miles at 12kts at 45" pitch (350 tons dspl.)
    Fuel/Stores
    635 Bbls Diesel (76 tons)
    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
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four single 20mm AA gun mounts
    four .50 cal machine guns
    ten MK7 rocket launchers
    Propulsion
    2 quad packs of 4 General Motors 6051 series 71 Diesel engines per shaft, BHP 1,600
    single General Motors Main Reduction Gears
    2 Diesel-drive 60Kw 450V. A. C. Ships Service Generators
    twin variable pitch propellers
    Specifications Sources:
    Ships' Data U.S. Naval Vessels, Navships 250-012, April 15 1945
    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)
    5006
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS LCS(L)(3)-63
    LCS(L)-61/62/63 67k USS LCS(L)(3)-63 moored outboard of USS LCS(L)(3)-62, and LCS(L)(3)-61 at San Diego, CA., January 1946. National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    LCS(L)(3)-62/63 78k USS LCS(L)(3)-63, moored inboard of USS LCS(L)(3)-62 and USS LC(FF)-503, date and location unknown. National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    LCS(L)(3)-63 57k USS LCS(L)(3)-63, under way, date and location unknown. National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    Molosso (L-9854)
    LCS(L)-63 51kEx-USS LSSL-63 while in Italian Naval service as Molosso (L9854), a support gunship, circa 1970.
    Official Italian Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    History of USS LCS(L)(3)-63 as provided by the National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Pfau, W. E., USNR11 December 1944 - ?
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    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)
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Craft Support (LCS(L) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 11 August 2017