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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LSM-2

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down (date unknown) at Brown Shipbuilding Co, Houston, TX.
  • Launched (date unknown)
  • Commissioned USS LSM-2, 8 May 1944, Ltjg John Himmelberger USNR, in command
  • During WWII LSM-2 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:
  • Decommissioned, 20 December 1945, at Terminal Island, San Pedro, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, (date unknown)
  • Sold in December 1946 to A. G. Schoonmaker, New York, NY, for conversion to a barge, Official Number (259363)
  • Commercial Service, owned and operated by Tidewater Barge Lines, Vancouver, WA., renamed Big Moose, used to transport wheat, now in use as a tie-off barge.
  • LSM-2 earned one battle star for World War II service.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 520 t.(light), 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
    Length 203' 6" oa
    Beam 34' 6"
    Draft light, 3' 6" forward, 7' 8" aft, fully loaded, 6' 4" forward, 8' 3" aft
    Speed 13.2 kts. (max.), (928 tons displacement)
    Complement 5 officers, 54 enlisted
    Armament one single bow mounted 40mm gun, four single 20mm gun mounts
    Vehicle/Boat Capacity 5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVT's, or 9 DUKW's
    Troop Capacity 2 officers, 46 enlisted
    Armor 10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station
    Propulsion two Fairbanks Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) diesels. Direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm, twin screws
    Endurance 4,900 miles @ 12kts.(928 tons displacement)
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LSM-256 115k Aerial view of Little Creek Amphibious Base, 1 August 1944. Ships that can be identified are:
    LSM-256,
    LSM-201,
    LSM-2,
    LSM-127,
    LSM-203,
    LSM-16,
    LSM-126,
    LSM-134 and
    LSM-144. The two LSTs are unidentified.
    US Navy photo.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-2 139k LSM-2 and LCT-1057 secured to the starboard side of LST-1083 as they are moved into a floating drydock, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-2 67k LSM-2 at Hickam Field Wharf, Pearl Harbor, T.H., about to load 120 Navy personnel for return to Long Beach, CA., for discharge, 21 September 1945. Raymond A. Biswanger, Jr., Ph.D., LT. USN Ret. USS LSM-9
    LSM-2 127k LSM-2 and unidentified lead ship followed by LSM-9, homeward bound from Hawaii, 21 September 1945. Note, This was the first time these ships were allowed to use their running lights and the white, red and green colors added to the festive atmosphere. Photo taken from LSM-9 Raymond A. Biswanger, Jr., Ph.D., LT. USN Ret. USS LSM-9
    LSM-2 63k ex LSM-2 in service as the barge Big Moose, with the barge TBL-77 behind it on the Columbia River, winter 1978-1979 Photo by Ron Gray/Captain
    LSM-2 43k ex LSM-2 in service as the barge Big Moose, on the port bow of the tow entering the lower - basin of McNary Dam on the Columbia River, May 1972 Photo by Ron Gray/Captain
    LSM-2 43k ex LSM-2 in service as a SPUD-BARGE (tie-off barge) on the Columbia River, owned by Tidewater Barge Lines, Vancouver, WA., March 2003 Photo by Ron Gray/Captain
    LSM-2 35k ex LSM-2 in service as a SPUD-BARGE (tie-off barge) on the Columbia River, owned by Tidewater Barge Lines, Vancouver, WA.. Note that her original US Navy hull number is still visible on her bow, March 2003 Photo by Ron Gray/Captain
    The DANFS history extract for LSM-2 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) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2004 Gary P. Priolo © 1996-2004 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 7 May 2004