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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LSM-138

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, 15 March 1944, at US Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C.

Launched, 1 May 1944

Commissioned USS LSM-138, 10 June 1944, LT. Merle Prinkey, USNR, in command

During WWII LSM-138 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:

Leyte operations;
(a) Leyte landing, 11 October to 29 November 1944
(b) Ormoc Bay landings, 7 to 8 December 1944
Luzon operation;
(a) Mindoro landings, 12 to 18 December 1944
(b) Lingayen Gulf Landings, 16 to 18 January 1945
Manila Bay-Bicol operations;
(a) Mariveles-Corregidor, 14 to 28 February 1945
Borneo operation;
(a) Brunei Bay operation, 10 to 14 June 1945

Decommissioned, 12 April 1946

Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)

Final Disposition, sold, 12 August 1947, to Jeffersonville Boat and Machine Co., Jeffersonville, IN., fate unknown

LSM-138 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" 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 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)

Size	Image Description	Source
98k	*LSM-138* beached at Seeadler Harbor, Los Negros, Admiralty Islands Group, while loading rations, small arms ammunition, and trucks, 7 October 1944. US Army Signal Corps photo # SC 196081-S.	USS LSM / LSMR Association
118k	*LSM-138* and *LSM-18* beached at Leyte while unloading equipment, circa October - November 1944. US Navy photo, Courtesy Ken Roberts	Bill Brinkley and the USS LSM-LSMR Association
77k	*LSM-138* beached at Iloilo, Panay Island, P.I. while unloading equipment, 8 September 1945. US Army Signal Corps photo # SC 350409.	USS LSM / LSMR Association
101k	*LSM-138* and *LSM-139* beached in the Philippines, date and place unknown.	USS LSM / LSMR Association

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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