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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-47


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Delta - Oscar
 NVDO
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, Iwo Jima)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 14 June 1944, at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, TX.
  • Launched, 7 July 1944
  • Commissioned USS LSM-47, 9 August 1944, LT. Frank J. Chokel USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LSM-47 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LSM Flotilla Five, CDR. W. H. Carpenter USN (26);
     LSM Group Thirteen, LCDR. T. F. Griswold USNR;
     LSM Division Twenty-Five and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 February to 16 March 1945

  • Decommissioned, 27 February 1946, at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor, TH.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 12 March 1946
  • USS LSM-47 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Transferred, 21 November 1946, to the Department of Interior
  • Transferred, 19 April, 1948 to the War Assets Administration
  • Sold, April 1948, to Foss Launch & Tug Co., Seattle, WA, for conversion to a barge, named Foss 162
    Specifications:
    Displacement 520 t.(light), 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
    Length 203' 6" (ovl)
    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 twin 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
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 1,225 Bbls
    Troop Accommodations
    2 officers
    46 enlisted
    Armor 10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station
    Endurance 4,900 miles @ 12kts.(928 tons displacement)
    Propulsion
    two Fairbanks Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) Diesel engines, direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm
    Ship's Service Generators
     two Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
     one Diesel-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.
    twin propellers, 2,800shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS LSM-47
    LSM-47 16k USS LSM-47 beached, date and location unknown. Paul Burket USS LSM-341
    LSM-47 93k USS LSM-47 beached at Iwo Jima, date unknown. Note: the very busy anchorage in the background and LST-42 approaching the beach to make a landing. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-47 70k USS LSM-47 beached at Iwo Jima, date unknown. André Pilon
    LSM-47 52k USS LSM-47 beached at Iwo Jima, date unknown. André Pilon
    LSM-43 80k Scene on a Iwo Jima beach, as supplies are unloaded and trucked inland, circa late February 1945. Note USS LSM-43 and USS LSM-47 at right, mobile crane at left and truck in the center foreground. The original print came from Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison's World War II history project working files. It was provided to Morison by Admiral William H.P. Blandy, USN.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo #104307.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    LSM-43 80k Scene on a Iwo Jima beach, as supplies are unloaded and trucked inland, circa late February 1945. Note USS LSM-43 and USS LSM-47 at right, mobile crane at left and truck in the center foreground. The original print came from Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison's World War II history project working files. It was provided to Morison by Admiral William H.P. Blandy, USN.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo #104307.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    LSM-242 121k Aerial view of the Iwo Jima beachhead, circa February 1945. Ships that can be identified include USS LST-715, USS LST-790, USS LST-724, USS LST-224, USS LST-784 and USS LST-779. LSM's include USS LSM-242, USS LSM-140, USS LSM-47 and USS LSM-43. LCTs include LCT-892 and LCT-1029. The one lone LCI that is identifiable is LCI(L)-1077.
    USMC photo # 110582    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-47 76k USS LSM-47 at anchor off Saipan, July 1945. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    Commercial Service
    LSM-47 60k Ex-USS LSM-47 in commercial service as the Foss Launch & Tug Co., Seattle, WA. barge Foss-162. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-47 55k Foss Launch & Tug Co., Seattle, WA. barge Foss-162. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    The history extract for USS LSM-47 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Chokel, Frank J., USNR9 August 1944 - ?
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    USS LSM-LSMR Association
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 12 May 2017