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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-157

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Mike - Bravo
NVMB

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

USS LSM-157 was transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan), renamed Mei Lo (242)

LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:

Laid down, 19 May 1944, at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C.

Launched, 19 June 1944

Commissioned USS LSM-157, 8 August 1944, LTjg. Howard E. Fleming, USNR, in command

During World War II USS LSM-157 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
LSM Flotilla One, LCDR. H. B. Taliaferro USN (28);
LSM Group One, LCDR. F. L. O'Leary USNR;
LSM Division One and participated in the following campaign:

Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 8 to 30 June 1945

Following World War II USS LSM-157 was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal	China Service Medal (extended)
2 to 27 September 1945	26 September 1945 to 12 June 1946

Decommissioned, 12 June 1946, and loaned to the Republic of China the same day, renamed Mei Lo (242)

Permanently transferred to the Republic of China, and Struck from the Naval Register, 7 February 1948

USS LSM-157 earned one battle star for World War II service

Escaped to Taiwan, October 1949

Seriously damaged, 8 September 1958, by hostile Communist action off Quemoy Island in the Formosa Straits

Final Disposition, destroyed in September 1958 by Communist Chinese artillery fire

Specifications:
Displacement 520 t.(light), 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
Length 203' 6" (ovl)
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 twin 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

Fuel Capacity

Diesel 1,225 Bbls

Troop Accommodations

2 officers

46 enlisted

Armor 10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station

Endurance 4,900 miles @ 12kts.(928 tons displacement)

Propulsion

two General Motors (model GM 16-278A, reversible with hydraulic clutch) Diesel engines, direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm
Ship's Service Generators
two Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
one Diesel-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.

twin propellers, 2,800shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS LSM-157
	81k	*LSM-157* launching, 19 June 1944 at US Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C. US Navy photo.	USS LSM / LSMR Association
	74k	*LSM-157* after being launched, 19 June 1944 at US Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C. US Navy photo.	USS LSM / LSMR Association
	71k	Port side view of USS LSM-157 in Charleston Harbor probably in August, 1944, wearing camouflage 31/10L, recently commissioned. The vertical colors should be dull black (BK), navy green (5-NG) and ocean green (5-OG) with edges feathered. US National Archives, US Navy Bureau of Ships Collection, Photo # BS 69736US Navy photo.	Photo-USS LSM / LSMR Association Caption-Mike Green
	93k	USS LSM-157 and USS LSM 156 during beaching operations, date and location unknown.	Tommy Tramp and USS LSM / LSMR Association
	56k		Tommy Tramp and USS LSM / LSMR Association
	56k	USS LSM-157 beached at Ie Shima, date unknown.	USS LSM / LSMR Association
	100k	USS LSM-173 and USS LSM-157 at Tientsin, China. The ship transported US Marines to rescue allied POWs and take the surrender of the Japanese garrison, 1 October 1945. Photo from "Life" Magazine, 12 November 1945.	USS LSM / LSMR Association
	318k	USS LSM-157, USS LSM-470 and USS LSM-390 moored together while performing China Service, 12 March 1946.	National Museum of the US Navy
	49k	USS LSM-157, USS LSM-470, USS LSM-390 and *YOG-62* during China Service, circa 30 September 1945 to 12 June 1946.	Bill Brinkley and the USS LSM-LSMR Association
	49k	USS LSM-157 underway, date and location unknown..	Hugh L. Hudson, Jr., RM/2c, USS LSM-467, USS LSM-49, from the Gordon D. Dorian, RM2/c, USS LSM-377 collection.
Mei Lo (242)
	12k	The hulk of ex-*LSM-157* which was in service as the Republic of China Ship Mei Lo (242) lies abandoned on the beach at Jinmen, China after being hit by Communist Chinese artillery, 8 September 1958. Photo from Republic of China Navy web site	Karl Lemmerman

Commanding Officers
01	LTjg. Fleming, Howard E. USNR	8 August 1944 - 10 August 1944
02	LTjg. Phillips, George Wakeham, USNR (temporary)	10 August 1944 - 13 August 1944
03	LT. Craycroft Jr., Thomas Veazey, USNR	13 August 1944 - December 1944
04	LTjg. Phillips, George Wakeham, USNR (temporary)	December 1944 - 11 January 1945
05	LT. Craycroft Jr., Thomas Veazey, USNR	11 January 1945 - December 1945
06	LTjg. Bruning, John V., USNR	December 1945 - 12 January 1946
07	LTjg. Brenner, Joseph D., USNR	12 January 1946 - 4 February 1946
08	LTjg. McLoughlin, Raymond T., USNR	04 February 1946 - 12 June 1946


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
USS LSM-LSMR Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
"The History of the U.S.S. LSM-157" Booklet

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 26 April 2019