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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive


Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5)-A
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USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) (1943 - 1949)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Zulu - Bravo - Lima
NZBL
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Elbow Quebec
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (9) - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Third Row - Korean Service Medal (8)- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Cuba, Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (7)
Fourth Row - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (11) - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)



USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) was transferred to Argentina and renamed ARA Candido de Lasala (Q43)
Ashland Class Dock Landing Ship:
  • Originally authorized as (APM-5), a Mechanized Artillery Transport
  • Reclassified Landing Ship Dock (LSD-5), 1 July1941
  • Laid down, 28 December 1942, at Moore Drydock Co. Oakland. CA.
  • Launched, 1 May 1943
  • Commissioned USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5), 10 November 1943, CDR. D. E. Collins in command
  • During World War II USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls
    1 to 6 February 1944
    Leyte operation
    Leyte landings
    20 October 1944
    Bismarck Archipelago operation
    Emirau Island
    20 March 1944
    Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings
    9 January 1945
    Hollandia operation
    22 April 1944
    Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima
    19 February 1945
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Guam
    21 July 1944
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto
    1 April 1945
    Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands
    Peleliu, 15 September 1944
     

  • Decommissioned, 7 July 1947, at Naval Station Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Converted for Arctic Service and recommissioned, USS Gunston Hall LSD-5(A), 5 March 1949, at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
  • During the Korean War USS Gunston Hall LSD-5(A) participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    North Korean Aggression
    26 October 1950
    Second Korean Winter
    5 to 6 December 1951
    17 to 18 December 1951
    22 to 23 January 1952
    3 to 4 February 1952
    21 March to 1 April 1952
    20 to 30 April 1952
    Communist China Aggression
    November 1950 to 12 January 1951
    Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    1 May 1952
    Inchon Landing
    15 to 17 September 1950
    Third Korean Winter
    26 March to 22 April 1953
    UN Summer-Fall Offensive
    1 September to 18 October 1951
    Korea, Summer-Fall 1953
    8 to 18 May 1953
    1 to 11 June 1953
    21 to 22 June 1953
    20 July 1953
    26 July 1953

  • During the Vietnam War USS Gunston Hall participated in the following campaigns:

    Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Advisory Campaign
    16 to 18 February 1965
    1 March 1965
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    7 to 9 April 1968
    13 to 17 April 1968
    9 to 12 May 1968
    21 to 23 May 1968
    28 May to 3 June 1968
    10 to 14 June 1968
    19 to 25 June 1968
    Vietnam Defense Campaign
    6 to 16 April 1965
    4 to 8 May 1965
    10 to 20 May 1965
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    13 to 19 July 1968
    24 to 28 July 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    14 to 17 June 1966
    28 to 29 June 1966
    Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    1 to 10 September 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    21 July to 11 August 1966
    25 August to 4 September 1966
    10 to 20 September 1966
    2 October 1966
    25 October to 6 November 1966
    14 to 18 December 1966
    Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    5 to 11 November 1969
    27 November to 1 December 1969
    12 to 15 December 1969
    20 to 22 December 1969
    30 December 1969 to 2 January 1970
    14 to 16 January 1970
    22 to 27 January 1970
    17 to 20 February 1970
    Tet Counteroffensive
    3 to 14 March 1968
    26 to 30 March 1968
     

  • Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register in May 1970
  • USS Gunston Hall earned nine battle stars for World War II service, eight battle stars Korean War service, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and seven campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Transferred (sold) to Argentina, under terms of the Security Assistance Program, renamed ARA Candido de Lasala (Q43). Named in honor of Teniente de Navío (Lieutenant) Cándido de Lasala, Spanish Royal Navy
  • Decommissioned by the Argentine Navy in 1981
  • Final Disposition, scrapped at Campana, Buenos Aires, Argentina
    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 kts (design speed)
    Endurance 8,000 miles @ 15 knots
    Complement
    Officers 17
    Enlisted 237
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 22
    Enlisted 218
    Well Deck Capacity (varies with mission)
    three LCT (Mk V or VI) each w/ 5 medium tanks or
    two LCT (Mk III or IV) each w/ 12 medium tanks or
    fourteen LCM (Mk III) each w/ 1 medium tank or 1, 500 long tons cargo or
    forty-seven DUKW or
    forty-one LVT or
    Any combination of landing vehicles and landing craft up to capacity
    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.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount in open tub (w/director)
    two quad 40mm AA gun mounts (w/directors)
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts (w/directors)
    sixteen single 20mm AA gun mounts (local control)
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 11,720 Bbls
    Diesel 160 Bbls
    Gasoline 5,085 Gals
    Propulsion
    two Skinner Uniflow 5-cylinder reciprocating steam engines
    two Babcock and Wilcox oil fired D-type boilers, two drum, single furnace, single uptake, 250psi
    Ship's Service Generators
    two turbo-drive 150Kw 120V D.C.
    one Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    twin propellers, 7,400shp
    Arctic Conversion SHIPALTS
    Enclosed Pilot House
    Moved Flying Bridge up one deck
    Enclosed 5"/38 Mount, Gun Director and Plotting Shack
    Peak Tank filled with cement
    Heating and Ventilation systems modified for cold weather operations
    One each 24" Westinghouse carbon-arc signal/search light added outboard on Signal Bridge port and starboard
    Enclosed water-tight bow lookout compartment

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Source/
    Contributed By
    USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5)
    Gunston Hall
    10120523
    212k
    Namesake
    Gunston Hall is an 18th-century Georgian mansion near the Potomac River in Mason Neck, Virginia, United States. The house was the home of the United States Founding Father George Mason. It was located at the center of a 5,500 acre plantation. The home is also located not far from George Washington's home. The construction period of Gunston Hall was between 1755 and 1759. (Wikipedia)
    Skip Sanders
    Gunston Hall 110k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) newly commissioned, circa November 1943 underway in San Francisco Bay during acceptance trials.
    US Navy photos from "Allied Landing Craft of World War Two", published by Arms and Armor Press..
    Robert Hurst
    Gunston Hall 45k
    Gunston Hall 49k
    Gunston Hall 69k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) underway during World War II, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Robert Hurst
    Gunston Hall 40k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5), circa 1945. Photo courtesy Commander Donald J. Robinson, USN(MSC), 1978
    US Navy photo # NH 86539 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center
    US Naval Historical Center
    Gunston Hall 115k Invitation to the Recommissioning of USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 5 March 1949. David Buell in honor of his father CWO4 Benton E. Buell, USN (Ret), Main Propulsion Assistant USS Oak Hill
    Gunston Hall 738k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) underway, soon after recommissioning in March 1949, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    David Buell in honor of his father CWO4 Benton E. Buell, USN (Ret), Main Propulsion Assistant USS Oak Hill
    Gunston Hall 703k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) underway, soon after recommissioning in March 1949, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    David Buell in honor of his father CWO4 Benton E. Buell, USN (Ret), Main Propulsion Assistant USS Oak Hill
    Gunston Hall 122k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) during 1949-early 1950s.
    US Navy photo # NH 96886 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
    US Naval Historical Center
    Gunston Hall 104k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) en route to the Wonsan invasion area, 26 October 1950. One of many ships in the invasion convoy.
    US Navy photo # NH 96879 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center
    US Naval Historical Center
    Catamount 84k From left to right; unknown LSD, USS Colonial (LSD-18), USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) and USS Catamount (LSD-17) rendezvous at a Japanese port, date unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine November 1954
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Gunston Hall 55k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5), September 1967, Operation Duke, Qui Nhon Harbor, Vietnam, 84th E.B.C. US Army loading men and equipment. Paul Farley
    Gunston Hall 60k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5), September 1967, Operation Duke, Qui Nhon Harbor, Vietnam, 84th E.B.C. US Army loading men and equipment. Paul Farley
    Gunston Hall 51k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5), September 1967, Operation Duke, Qui Nhon Harbor, Vietnam, 84th E.B.C. US Army loading men and equipment. Paul Farley
    Gunston Hall 73k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5), September 1967, Operation Duke, Qui Nhon Harbor, Vietnam, 84th E.B.C. US Army loading men and equipment. Paul Farley
    Gunston Hall 55k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5), September 1967, Operation Duke, Qui Nhon Harbor, Vietnam, 84th E.B.C. US Army loading men and equipment Paul Farley
    Gunston Hall 85k A Patrol Air Cushion Vehicle (PACV) leaves USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5)'s well deck, circa January-February 1967, probably in the vicinity of San Diego. The PACVs had seen experimental service in South Vietnam's Mekong River Delta. The original photograph was released by Commander Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet, 15 February 1967.
    US Navy photo # NH 96887 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center
    US Naval Historical Center
    Gunston Hall 65k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) underway on the Saigon River, in South Vietnam, circa 1969. Photo taken from ex-LSM-547 in Australian service as Clive Steele (AV1356), circa 1967 Dave Perham
    Gunston Hall 87k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) carried replacement gun barrels for New Jersey (BB-62) from Hawaii to Subic Bay during her 1968 WestPac deployment. Cliff Boxer
    Gunston Hall 58k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) underway, date and location unknown. Gunston Hall (LSD-5) web site
    Flagstaff 79k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) with USS Flagstaff (PGH-1) in her well deck enroute to Vietnam, circa 1969 Cliff Boxer
    Tucumcari 111k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) with USS Tucumcari (PGH-2) in her well deck enroute to Vietnam circa 1969 Cliff Boxer
    Gunston Hall 106k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) proceeding out of San Diego harbor at a speed of 12 knots (Indicated by flag hoist on outboard starboard halyard on yardarm.) Point Loma in the background. Donald J. Wagner USS Gunston Hall
    Gunston Hall
    10120524
    160k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) underway off San Diego date unknown.
    © George Barber
    Nicholas Tiberio
    Gunston Hall 106k USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) as seen from USS Waddell (DDG-24), circa 1971-72 WestPac. Photo courtesy GMG2 Bill Liesch, contributed by Bob Canchola
    ARA Candido de Lasala (Q43)
    (Cándido Francisco José de Lasala (born in Buenos Aires, 1770; died in Buenos Aires, 29 June 1807), sailor from the River Plate region, who fought against the English Invasions and died in combat against the Second Invasion in the Retiro (city of Bueno Aires).
    Gunston Hall
    10120525
    69k Ex-USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) in Argentine naval service as ARA Candido de Lasala (Q43) underway soon after turn over by the U.S. Navy. Note her hull number is still visible.
    Photo courtesy of Col. Martín Otero
    Robert Hurst
    Gunston Hall 70k ARA Candido de Lasala (Q43) moored pierside at Puerto Belgrano Naval Base, circa 1972. Photo by Col. Martín Otero. Robert Hurst

    Additional Ships Patches
    Gunston Hall
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski
    Gunston Hall
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski
    Gunston Hall
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski


    For more photos and information about USS Gunston Hall, see:
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
  • Western Caroline Islands Attack Landing Order
  • Beach White Peleliu - CTF 32 Operation Plan A501-44 Appendix 4 to Annex "D"

  • Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Collins, Dale Edmond :RADM10 November 1943 - 14 February 1945
    02LT. Bentley, William F.14 February 1945 - 9 April 1945
    03LCDR. Powell, Morgan Allen9 April 1945 - 10 December 1945
    04LCDR. Barkmann, Walter Henry10 December 1945 - 7 July 1947
      Decommissioned7 July 1947 - 5 March 1949
    05CDR. Motes Jr., Jesse Hogan5 March 1949 - 27 August 1950
    06CDR. Musgrave, Charles Weigel27 August 1950 - 31 August 1951
    07CDR. Baker, George Towne31 August 1951 - 7 February 1953
    08CAPT. Lindsay Jr., Harry Meakin, USN (USNA 1933)7 February 1953 - 12 April 1954
    09CDR. Duryea, Robert Joseph12 April 1954 - 29 June 1955
    10CDR. Cohen, David Barney 29 June 1955 - 19 October 1956
    11CDR. Best, Charles Lewis Jr.19 October 1956 - 11 November 1958
    12CDR. Burns Jr., John Scott, USNR11 November 1958 - 11 December 1959
    13CDR. Ochsner, Robert Perkins11 December 1959 - 4 August 1961
    14CDR. Sparger, John4 August 1961 - 23 February 1963
    15CDR. Ball, Edwin Lee, USN (USNA 1946)23 February 1963 - 28 July 1964
    16CDR. Radcliffe, Robert John28 July 1964 - 27 September 1966
    17CDR. Sundt, Wilbur Allan27 September 1966 - 3 October 1968
    18CDR. West, Gordon Ray3 October 1968 - 1 May 1970
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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    Last Updated 7 April 2023