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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Patch at right contributed by Mike Smolinski

APM-2 / LSD-2 Belle Grove


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Oscar - Papa
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (7) - - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba, 3-Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (7)
Fourth Row - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (6) - Philippines Liberation Medal (2) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Ashland Class Dock Landing Ship:
  • Originally authorized as (APM-2), a Mechanized Artillery Transport
  • Reclassified Landing Ship Dock (LSD-2), 1 July1941
  • Laid down, 27 October 1942, at Moore Drydock Co. Oakland, CA.
  • Launched, 17 February 1943
  • Commissioned USS Belle Grove (LSD-2), 9 August 1943, LCDR. Morris Seavey, USNR, in command
  • During World War II Belle Grove was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    World War II Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Gilbert Islands operation
    Makin Island, 20 November to 2 December 1943     		Leyte operation
    Leyte Gulf landings, 20 to 22 October 1944
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to 8 February 1944     		Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings - Abuyo and San Pedro Bay, 9 to 16 January 1945
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 15 to 29 June 1944     		Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and capture of Iwo Jima, 19 February to 20 March 1945
    Tinian capture and occupation
    24 to 28 July 1944     		.

  • Decommissioned, 30 August 1946
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet San Diego Group
  • Recommissioned, 27 December 1950, CDR. W. R. Smith, III, USN in command
  • During the Vietnam War Belle Grove participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnam Defense
    4 July to 27 August 1965
    4 to 10 September 1965
    17 to 18 September 1965
    28 to 29 September 1965
    23 to 24 October 1965     		Tet Counteroffensive
    3 to 6 February 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    9 to 12 February 1966
    5 March to 23 April 1966     		Tet69/ Counteroffensive
    4 March to 7 March 1969
    16 to 20 March 1969
    26 to 31 March 1969
    3 to 10 April 1969
    20 to 23 May 1969
    30 May to 2 June 1969
    5 to 8 June 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    20 October to 4 November 1966     		Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    11 to 17 June 1969
    21 to 30 June 1969
    14 to 17 July 1969
    27 July to 1 August 1969
    3 to 15 August 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    7 September to 26 October 1967
    8 to 21 November 1967
    26 November to 1 December 1967
    21 to 25 December 1967
    1 to 5 January 1968     		.

  • Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 12 November 1969
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping 24 July 1970, to N. W. Kennedy Ltd, Vancouver, B.C.
  • Belle Grove earned seven battle stars for World War II service and seven campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications: (as reported by Office of Naval Intelligence, 7 April 1944)
    Displacement 4,032 (light draft), 7,930 (seagoing - loaded)
    Length 457' 9" o.a.
    Beam 72"
    Draft 8' 2 ½" fwd, 10' ½" aft (light draft); 15' 5 ½" fwd, 16' 2" aft (seagoing loaded)
    Speed 17 knots maximum (design speed)
    Endurance 8,000 miles @ 15 knots
    Crew Complement 17 officers, 237 men; Landing Craft: 6 officers, 30 men
    Troop Complement 22 officers, 218 men
    Well Deck Capacity (varies with mission)
    3 LCT (Mk V or VI) each w/ 5 medium tanks or
    2 LCT (Mk III or IV) each w/ 12 medium tanks or
    14 LCM (Mk III) each w/ 1 medium tank or 1, 500 long tons cargo or
    47 DUKW or
    41 LVT or
    Any combination of landing vehicles and landing craft up to capacity
    Armament
    1 - 5"/.38 caliber Dual Purpose single barrel mount in open tub (w/director)
    2 - 40MM quad barrel Anti-Aircraft mounts (w/directors)
    2 - 40MM twin barrel Anti-Aircraft mounts (w/directors)
    16- 20MM single barrel Anti-Aircraft mounts (local control)
    Aircraft (still in commission in late 40's or early 50's) were fitted/retro-fitted with a prefabricated steel grated "Portable Deck" suspended between the wing walls and supported by removable I-beam girders. The aft end of the portable deck contained a wooden helicopter platform, enabling the ship to land and launch 1 helicopter at a time. Stowage of helicopters was limited to capacity of the portable deck installed for the mission. Aircraft servicing was limited to re-fueling. With portable deck and aircraft platform installed, the Landing ship, dock was still capable of transporting, launching and repairing smaller amphibious craft and vehicles up to the size of a Landing craft, utility (LCU) in their well decks.
    Propulsion
    2 - oil fired Babcock and Wilcox Boilers, D Type, 2 Drum, Single Furnace, Single Uptake
    2 - Skinner Uni-Flow reciprocating engines
    Twin screws
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Belle Grove 111k Belle Grove (LSD-2) undergoing sea trials in San Francisco Bay, 16 August 1943.
    US Navy photo.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    Belle Grove 73k Belle Grove (LSD-2) undergoing sea trials in San Francisco Bay, 16 August 1943.
    US Navy photo.    		 Hyperwar US Navy in World War II
    Belle Grove 76k Belle Grove (LSD-2), date and place unknown. .
    View the Belle Grove (LSD-2)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Belle Grove (LSD-2)
    The LSD's of the US Navy
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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 14 December 2007