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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LCS(L)(3)-68 / LSSL-68


USS LSSL-57 was transferred to Japan and named Hamayu (439)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (2-Okinawa, 25 May, 11 June 1945) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
LCS(L)(3)-1 Class Landing Craft Support (Large)(Mark3):
  • Laid down, 9 November 1944, at Albina Engine and Machine Works Inc., Portland OR.
  • Launched, 7 December 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCS(L)(3)-68, 15 January 1945
  • Decommissioned in April 1946, at Astoria, OR.
  • Laid up in the Astoria Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Redesignated Landing Ship Support Large USS LSSL-68, 28 February 1949
  • Transferred, on loan, to Japan 30 June 1953, named Hamayu (439)
  • Returned to US custody (date unknown)
  • Transferred to the Republic of the Philippines 17 November 1975, never commissioned
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • LCS(L)-68 earned one battle star 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 3"/50 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)
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS LCI(L)(3)-68
    LCS(L)(3)-68 84k LCS(L)-68 launching ceremony, 7 December 1944, at Albina Engine and Machine Works, Portland, OR.
    NARA 80-G 394914    		 National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    LCS(L)(3)-68 38k In the foreground is LCS(L)(3)-91
    and LCS(L)(3)-68 in the background while underway, location unknown, circa 1945.    		 National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    Hamayu (439)
    LCS(L)(3)-68 132k Ex-LCS(L)-68 in Japanese service as Hamayu (439) National Association of
    USS LCS(L)(3) 1-130
    1
    Last Updated 20 April 2007 Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Other Crew Contact and Reunion Information
    National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130
    John Rooney, Secretary
    2 Emery Lane, Phoenixville, PA, 19460
    Phone 610-935-0902
    E-mail John Rooney
    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
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