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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LSM(R)-197

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
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
LSM(R)-188 Class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket):
  • Laid down, 13 September 1944, at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C.
  • Launched, 12 October 1944
  • Commissioned USS LSM(R)-197, 8 December 1944, LT. John M. Cooper, USN, in command
  • During WWII LSM(R)-197 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:
  • Decommissioned, 13 February 1946, at Terminal Island Navy Yard, San Pedro, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Final Disposition, sold, 3 February 1948, to Robert W. Erbacher, Cape Giradeau, MO., fate unknown
  • LSM(R)-197 received one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 758 t.(light), 983 t. (attack) 1,175 t.(fully loaded)
    Length 203' 6" oa
    Beam 34'
    Draft light, 5' 4" (est. mean); attack, 5' 8" (est. mean); fully loaded, 7' 9" (est. mean)
    Speed 13.2 kts. (max.)
    Complement 5 officers, 76 enlisted
    Armor 10-STS on conning tower, pilot-house, radio room, radar plot, and rocket control. 10-lb, ASPP around 40 and 20mm mounts and directors
    Armament one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount, two 40mm AA guns, three 20mm AA guns and eighty-five MK 51 automatic rocket launchers
    Propulsion two General Motors (non-reversible with airflex clutch) diesels. Direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm, twin screws; Endurance, 3,000miles @ 12kts. (est.)
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LSMR-197 74k LSM(R)-197 firing rockets at Okinawa, sometime between 26 March and 18 June 1945.
    US Navy photo.    		 Contributed in the name of Purl Allan Ferrier, S1c, SV-6 USNR, USS LSM-87 by Vicki Purl Ferrier-Taylor
    LSM(R)-197 95k LSM(R)-197 underway and firing rockets, date and place unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSMR-198 120k LSM(R)-197 inboard of LSM(R)-198 underway along with another LSMR, date and place unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSMR-189/197 62k LSM(R)-189 and LSM(R)-197, two of the seven LSM(R)s comprising Groups 53 and 54 arriving home at the Port of Los Angeles, 8 October 1945, after the conclusion of World War II. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSMR-197/189 88k Seven LSM(R)s comprising Groups 53 and 54 arriving home at the Port of Los Angeles, 8 October 1945, after the conclusion of World War II. Identifiable in this photo are LSM(R)-197 and LSM(R)-189. A "Los Angeles Times" photo, dated 9 October 1945. Jana Teehan
    View C.T.G. 52.21 (LSM Flotilla Nine)'s Action Report
    IE SHIMA and Southeastern OKINAWA, 2 April through 20 April 1945
    The DANFS history extract for LSM(R)-197 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, ©1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS LSM / LSMR Association
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Ship Medium (LSM/LSMR) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 25 June 2004