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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LSM-73

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 Ship Building Co., Houston, TX.
  • Launched (date unknown) Commissioned USS LSM-73, 16 September 1944, Ens. Evan E. Jones, USN in command
  • During World War II LSM-73 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:
  • Decommissioned, 2 April 1946 at Charleston, S.C.
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Sold, 9 February 1948, to the Chesapeake Bay Ferry District of Cape Charles, VA.
  • Taken over by the Virginia Ferry Corporation, converted to serve as a fuel tanker for the seven car ferries that ran between Kiptopeke Beach (Northampton County Virginia) and Little Creek, VA.
  • Placed in service as the M/V Kiptopeke
  • Sold to either Chilean or Peruvian owners circa 1963 when the Chesapeake Bridge Bay Tunnel opened
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • LSM-73 earned one battle star for World War II service
    LSM 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)
    Commercial Specifications:
    Official hull number 256435
    Displacement
    Gross Tons 1029
    Net Tons 646 Net Tons
    Length 195.2'
    Beam 34.1'
    Draft 17.8 '
    Propulsion 3600 HP
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS LSM-73
    LSM-73 49k LSM-73 beached, date and place unknown. K. Lang to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-73 76k LSM-73 at anchor, date and place unknown. K. Lang to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    Commercial Service
    LSM-73 62k Ex-LSM-73 in commercial service as the Virginia Ferry Commission tanker M/V Kiptopeke. She served the seven car ferries that ran between Kiptopeke and Little Creek, VA. Note - she had a superstructure added just aft of midship and tanks fitted inside the hull. The hull was black and upper works were white with "straw" colored stack. Paul Burket
    The DANFS history extract for LSM-73 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
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 14 July 2006