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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-137


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Kilo - November
 NVKN
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 18 March 1944, at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C.
  • Launched, 18 April 1944
  • Commissioned USS LSM-137, 30 May 1944, LT. William P. Baxter, USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LSM-137 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landing, 9 January 1945     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 April to 17 June 1945

  • Grounded during typhoon "Louise," 9 October 1945, at Buckner Bay Okinawa
  • Decommissioned, 7 December 1945, at Buckner Bay
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Final Disposition, hulk sold, November 1947, to Oklahoma-Philippines Co., P.I., fate unknown
  • LSM-137 earned two battle stars 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
    five single 20mm AA 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-137 67k USS LSM-137 immediately after launching, 18 April 1944, at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C. Note the stacks of the two tugs on her port side.
    US Navy Yard Charleston photo.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-137 74k USS LSM-137 moored pierside, date and location unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-137 316k USS LSM-137 at Cebu, P.I., to transport the Americal division to Yokohama, Japan 30 August 1945. In the background are; USS LSM-256, USS LSM-107, USS LSM-177, USS LSM-212, USS LSM-83, USS LSM-82, USS LSM-134, USS LSM-4, and USS LSM-17, Photo was taken from USS LSM-186 Photo by Ken Roberts Engineering Officer USS LSM-186
    LSM-137 57k LSM-137 conning tower Joe Flynn for his father LT. Joe Flynn USN USS LSM-137
    LSM-137 92k LSM-137 hard aground at Buckner Bay, Okinawa after the typhoon of 9 October 1945
    Photo by PHM1/c Paul Uslan, USN    		 Joe Flynn for his father LT. Joe Flynn USN USS LSM-137
    The DANFS history extract for USS LSM-137 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 - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 21 November 2008