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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM(R)-197

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Alpha - Lima
NVAL

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Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


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

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During WWII USS LSM(R)-197 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
LSM Flotilla Nine, CDR. D. L. Francis USN (23);
LSM Group Twenty-Seven, LCDR. J. H. Fulweiler USNR;
LSM Division Fifty-Four and participated in the following campaign:

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Campaign and Dates
Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 26 March to 18 June 1945

Final Disposition, sold, 3 February 1948, to Robert W. Erbacher, Cape Giradeau, MO., fate unknown

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Specifications:
Displacement 758 t.(light), 983 t. (attack) 1,175 t.(fully loaded)
Length 203' 6" oa
Beam 34' 6"

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 cal dual purpose gun mount

two single 40mm AA gun mounts

three single 20mm AA gun mounts

seventy-five 4-rail MK36 rocket launchers

thirty 6-rail MK 30 rocket launchers

Propulsion

two General Motors 16-278A Diesel engines, (non-reversible with airflex clutch), direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm
Ship's Service Generators
two Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
two Diesel-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.

twin propellers, 2,800shp

Endurance, 3,000miles @ 12kts. (est.)

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Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
	74k	USS 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
	95k	USS LSM(R)-197 underway and firing rockets, date and location unknown.		USS LSM / LSMR Association
	120k	USS LSM(R)-197 inboard of USS LSM(R)-198 underway along with another LSMR, date and location unknown.		USS LSM / LSMR Association
100619705	109k	USS LSM(R)-197, USS LSM(R)-196, USS LSM(R)-198 and USS LSM(R)-199 conducting a rocket attack, 26 March 1945, ont the town of Aka at Aka-Jima, Kerama Islands, Okinawa, Japan. Frame from a short film called "Invasion of Aka Jima--Rocket Fire, Landings". U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Identifier 78137; Local Identifier 428-NPC-7538; NAIL Control Number NWDNM(m)-428-NPC-7538		David Upton
100619616	117k	USS LSM(R)-196 and USS LSM(R)-197 firing rockets, 26 March 1945, off the town of Aka, Aka-Jima, Kerama Islands, Okinawa, Japan. Frame from a short film called "Invasion of Aka Jamia--Rocket Fire, Landings". National Archives National Archives Identifier 78137; Local Identifier 428-NPC-7538; NAIL Control Number NWDNM(m)-428-NPC-7538		David Upton
100619706	132k	USS LSM(R)-197 conducting a rocket attack, 26 March 1945, off the town of Aka at Aka-Jima, Kerama Islands, Okinawa, Japan. After firing her rockets LSM(R)-197 is making a hard turn to port short of Aka Beach, parts of it are burning from the attack. Frames from a short film called "Invasion of Aka Jima--Rocket Fire, Landings". U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Identifier 78137; Local Identifier 428-NPC-7538; NAIL Control Number NWDNM(m)-428-NPC-7538		David Upton
100619707	148k
100619708	154k
100619709	154k
100619704	159k	Areial view of USS LSM(R)-197 moored pierside, berth 18, US Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor, T.H., 13 or 14 August 1945. US National Archives Photo # 80-G-K-6051, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.		Rick Davis and John Chiquoine
	62k	USS LSM(R)-189 and USS 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.		Photo by LTtjg. Laurie R. Russell, USNR, Gunnery Officer, USS LSM(R) 191.
	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 USS LSM(R)-197 and USS LSM(R)-189. A "Los Angeles Times" photo, dated 9 October 1945.		Jana Teehan

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The history extract for USS LSM(R)-197 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, ©1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).

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Commanding Officers
01	LT. Cooper, John M. USN	8 December 1944 - May 1945
02	LT. Bergkamp, Henry O. USNR	May 1945 - September 1945
03	LTjg. Redman, Fred Dalton, USN	September 1945 - 13 February 1946

Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler

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Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
C.T.G. 52.21 (LSM Flotilla Nine)'s Action Report IE SHIMA and Southeastern OKINAWA, 2 April through 20 April 1945

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 15 December 2023