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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-138


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Kilo - Papa
 NVKP
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 (2)
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 World War II USS LSM-138 was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, 11 October to 29 November 1944     		Manila Bay operation
    Mariveles-Correigidor, 14 to 28 February 1945
    Luzon operation
    Mindoro landings, 12 to 18 December 1944     		Borneo operation
    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
  • USS 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)
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    LSM-138 98k USS 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
    LSM-138/18 118k USS 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
    LSM-138 77k USS 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
    LSM-138 101k USS LSM-138 and LSM-139 beached in the Philippines, date and location unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    The DANFS history extract for USS LSM-138 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
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved
    Last updated 10 October 2008