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LSM(R)-532 Smyrna River

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

USS Smyrna River (LFR-532) was transferred to the Federal Republic of Germany and named Otter (L-754)
LSM(R)-501 Class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket):
  • Laid down, 2 June 1945, at Brown Ship Building Co, Houston, TX.
  • Launched, 7 July 1945
  • Commissioned USS LSM(R)-532, 12 October 1945, LT William C. Jack, USNR in command
  • Decommissioned, 17 June 1946, at Green Cove Springs, FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs
  • Named USS Smyrna River LSM(R)-532, 1 October 1955
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Transferred to Federal Republic of Germany, 5 September 1958, named Otter (L-754)
  • Final Disposition, decommissioned and scrapped by the Federal Republic of Germany, 15 December 1967
    Specifications:
    Displacement 758 t.(light), 993 t. (attack) 1,175 t. (fully loaded)
    Length 206' 3" o.a.
    Beam 34' 6"
    Draft light, 5' 4" (mean), attack 6' 9" (mean), fully loaded 7' 9" (mean)
    Speed 13 kts.
    Complement 6 officers, 137 enlisted
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    two twin 40mm gun mounts
    four twin 20mm gun mounts
    ten twin continuous loading 5" SS rocket launchers
    four 4".2 mortars
    Armor 10-lb. STS on conning station, pilot-house, radio room, radar plot, and rocket control, 10-lb. ASPP around 40 and 20mm gun mounts and directors
    Propulsion two General Motors (non-reversing with airflex clutch) diesels. Direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm, twin screws, Endurance, 3,000 miles @ 13kts
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    USS Smyrna River LSM(R)-532
    Smyrna River 83k LSM(R)-532 drydocked at Galveston, TX, date unknown. Ed Herstein to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    Smyrna River 100k LSM(R)-532 moored pierside, Naval Station Charleston, S.C., October 1945 Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 80k LSM(R)-532's 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount, Naval Station Charleston, S.C., October 1945 Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 54k LSM(R)-532 crew, October 1945, Naval Station Charleston, S.C. Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 86k "Salty" LSM(R)-532's mascot, October 1945, Naval Station Charleston, S.C. Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 71k LSM(R)-532's main deck looking aft from the bow while underway during shakedown cruise in either the Chesepeake Bay or off the Virginia Capes (VACAPES), circa December 1944-January 1945. Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 86k LSM(R)-532's main deck looking forward from the conning tower while underway during shakedown cruise in either the Chesepeake Bay or off the Virginia Capes (VACAPES), circa December 1944-January 1945. Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 79k LSM(R)-532 firing 5" rockets while underway during shakedown cruise in either the Chesepeake Bay or off the Virginia Capes (VACAPES), circa December 1944-January 1945. Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 69k LSM(R)-532 firing 5" rockets while underway during shakedown cruise in either the Chesepeake Bay or off the Virginia Capes (VACAPES), circa December 1944-January 1945. Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 86k LSM(R)-532's dual 40mm AA gun mount Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 96k LSM(R)-532's dual 40mm AA gun mount crew exercise their gun during shakedown cruise in either the Chesepeake Bay or off the Virginia Capes (VACAPES), circa December 1944-January 1945.. Perry R Stephens seated forefront in the pointers seat. Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 66k LSM(R)-532's forward starboard dual 20mm AA gun mount crew exercise their gun during shakedown cruise in either the Chesepeake Bay or off the Virginia Capes (VACAPES), circa December 1944-January 1945. Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Thames River 62k Page one of the Schedule of Events pamphlet for the Transfer and Commissioning Ceremonies of six US Navy ships that will comprise the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron, 5 September 1958 at US Naval Shipyard Charleston, S.C.
    Thames River LSM(R)-534 to Germany renamed Natter (L-755)
    Smyrna River LSM(R)-532 to Germany renamed Otter (L-754)
    LSM-537 to Germany named Krokodil (L-750)
    LSM-491 to Germany named Eidechse (L-751)
    LSM-553 to Germany named Salamander (L-752)
    LSM-558 to Germany named Viper (L-753)    		 Ingo Zeitz
    Thames River 45k Page two of the Transfer and Commissioning Ceremonies pamphlet for the six US Navy ships that will comprise the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron, 5 September 1958 at US Naval Shipyard Charleston, S.C. Ingo Zeitz
    Otter (L-754)
    Thames River 33k ex-Thames River LSM(R)-534 in German service as the Second Landing Squadron flagship Natter (L-755) and ex-Smyrna River LSM(R)-532 in German service as Otter (L-754) moored pierside, German Federal Republic Naval Base at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Ingo Zeitz
    Thames River 62k ex-Thames River LSM(R)-534 in German service as Natter (L-755) and ex-Smyrna River LSM(R)-532 in German service as Otter (L-754) moored pierside, German Federal Republic Naval Base at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Note: The German Training Ship SS Gorch Fock in the background. Ingo Zeitz
    Thames River 28k ex-Thames River LSM(R)-534 in German service as Natter (L-755) and ex-Smyrna River LSM(R)-532 in German service as Otter (L-754) moored pierside, German Federal Republic Naval Base at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Ingo Zeitz
    Smyrna River 42k ex-Smyrna River LSM(R)-532 in German service as Otter (L-754) Meine Marineziet und Bilder von
    "Blohm & Voss" (A German language web site)
    Smyrna River 64k ex-Smyrna River LSM(R)-532 in German service as Otter (L-754) Meine Marineziet und Bilder von
    "Blohm & Voss" (A German language web site)
    Smyrna River 44k ex-Smyrna River LSM(R)-532 in German service as Otter (L-754) Meine Marineziet und Bilder von
    "Blohm & Voss" (A German language web site)
    View the Smyrna River LSM(R)-532
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS LSM / LSMR Association
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 26 January 2007