Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LSM-139

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 (5) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippine Liberation Medal (4)

LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:

Laid down, 4 April 1944, at US Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C.

Launched, 1 May 1944

Commissioned USS LSM-139, 10 June 1944, LT. James H Decker, USNR, in command

During WWII LSM-139 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:

Leyte operation;
(a) Leyte landings, 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
Consolidation of the southern Philippines;
(a) Mindanao Island landings, 10 March and 17 to 23 April 1945
Borneo operation;
(a) Brunei Bay operation, 10 to 14 June 1945

Decommissioned, 23 April 1946, at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C.

Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)

Final Disposition, sold, 8 March 1948, to Dica Inc., New York, NY, fate unknown

LSM-139 earned five 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
65k	*LSM-258* and *LSM-139* approach the beach at Leyte on A-Day, 20 October 1944. US Navy photo # 59508, released 6 November 1944.	Richard Miller USS LSM-47 to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
76k	*LSM-139* seen here in the right background as General Douglas MacArthur wades ashore at White Beach during the Leyte landings, 20 October 1944, during the Philippines Liberation. This photo was published in Life magazine's November, 13, 1944 issue, courtesy of Perry T. Egger who was on the bridge of *LSM-139* at the time and who was given copy of the photo by Life.	Photo Courtesy Jim Tusing USS LSM-372, Editor "Alligator Alley" The Newsletter of the USS LSM - LSMR Association
162k	*LSM-139* loaded with trucks, date and place unknown.	Photo Courtesy Jim Tusing USS LSM-372, Editor "Alligator Alley" The Newsletter of the USS LSM - LSMR Association
101k	*LSM-139* and *LSM-138* beached in the Philippines, date and place unknown.	USS LSM / LSMR Association

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest

Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index

Back To The Landing Ship Medium (LSM) Photo Index

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.

Last Updated 14 May 2004