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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LSM-37

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippine Liberation Medal (3)

LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:

Laid down at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston TX, in 1944

Launched, (date unknown)

Commissioned USS LSM-37, 19 July 1944, LTjg Gordon W. Smith, USNR in command

During World War II LSM-37 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:

Luzon operation;
(a) Mindoro landings, 12 to 18 December 1944
Manila Bay-Bicol operations;
(a) Mariveles-Corregidor, 14 to 28 February 1945
Consolidation of the southern Philippines;
(a) Mindanao Island landings, 10 March 1945, 17 to 23 April 1945, and 3 May 1945
Borneo operation;
(a) Balikpapan operations, 26 June to 6 July 1945

Decommissioned, 6 March 1947 at San Diego, CA.

Struck from the Naval Register, (date unknown)

Final Disposition, sold, 1959, to Pacific Inland Navigation Co., Aberdeen, WA, converted to a barge, Official Number (290463)

Current Disposition, owned by Tidewater Barge Lines, Vancouver, WA., renamed #542, was used to transport wheat, now serving as a tie-off barge "Spud Barge"

LSM-37 earned four battle stars for World War II service.

Specifications:
Displacement 520 t.(light), 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
Length 203' 6" o.a.
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 General Motors (non-reversible with airflex clutch) diesels. Direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm, twin screws
Endurance 4,900 miles @ 12kts.(928 tons displacement)

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
61k	*LSM-37* and *LSM-130* beached in the Philippines, date and place unknown.	USS LSM / LSMR Association
92k	*LSM-37* coming to the assistance of *LSM-169* at Mariveles Bay, P.I., 15 February 1945, after *LSM-169* began burning after striking a mine.	Bill Brinkley and the USS LSM-LSMR Association
53k	Bow view of ex *LSM-37* in service as *#542* a "Spud Barge" for Tidewater Barge Lines, on the Columbia River, December 2002	Ron Gray / Captain
107k	Stern view of ex *LSM-37* in service as *#542, a "Spud Barge" for Tidewater Barge Lines, on the Columbia River, December 2002. She is stern to stern with #541, ex LSM-359*	Ron Gray / Captain
48k	Interior view of ex *LSM-37* bow doors, note ramp has been removed. February 2003	Ron Gray / Captain
36k	Interior view of ex *LSM-37* of the compartment forward of the officers' and crew's quarters on the starboard bow. Note the coat hooks near the top of the picture. February 2003	Ron Gray / Captain
39k	ex *LSM-37*, in use as a SPUD Barge (tie-off barge) by Tidewater Barge Lines, high and dry on the banks of the Columbia River, March 2003.	Ron Gray / Captain
52k	ex *LSM-37*, in use as a SPUD Barge (tie-off barge) by Tidewater Barge Lines, high and dry on the banks of the Columbia River, March 2003.	Ron Gray / Captain

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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Last Updated 2 April 2004