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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-208


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Bravo - Hotel
 NVBH
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from 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 Medal (with Asia clasp)

USS LSM-208 was transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan) seized by the Peoples Republic of China
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 3 March 1944, at Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, DE.
  • Launched, 10 May 1944, sponsor by Mrs. George H. Ritter
  • Commissioned USS LSM-208, 12 June 1944, LT. E. F. Cunningham Jr. USNR in command
  • During WWII USS LSM-208 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LSM Flotilla Six, CDR. A. R. Quinn USN;
     LSM Group Eighteen, LCDR. J. M. Fabre, USNR;
     LSM Division Thirty-Five and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 2 to 26 April 1945

  • Following World War II USS LSM-208 was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    2 September 1945 - 3 May 1946 
    4 to 20 May 19464 to 20 May 1946

  • Decommissioned, 20 May 1946 and transferred the same day to the Republic of China (Taiwan)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LSM-208 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Seized, October 1949 by Communist Chinese forces, fate unknown Final Disposition, fate unknown
    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 Fairbanks Morse (model 38D81/8X10, 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
    LSM-208 106k USS LSM-208 launching ceremony, 10 May 1944, at Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, DE. Mrs. Elizabeth W. (George H.) Ritter Photo by LCDR George H. Ritter, USNR
    LSM-208 67k USS LSM-208 launching ceremony, 10 May 1944, at Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, DE. Mrs. Elizabeth W. (George H.) Ritter Photo by LCDR George H. Ritter, USNR
    LSM-208 64k USS LSM-208 launching ceremony, 10 May 1944, at Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, DE. Mrs. Elizabeth W. (George H.) Ritter on the right, lady on the left is unidentified. Photo by LCDR George H. Ritter, USNR
    LSM-208 92k USS LSM-208 launching ceremony at Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, DE. Mrs. Elizabeth W. (George H.) Ritter on the right, with an unidentified Dravo Shipyard official. Photo by LCDR George H. Ritter, USNR
    LSM-208 75k USS LSM-208 launching ceremony, 10 May 1944, at Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, DE. Mrs. Elizabeth W. (George H.) Ritter with the rest of the ceremonial party on the launching platform. Photo by LCDR George H. Ritter, USNR
    LSM-208 55k USS LSM-208 side launching at Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, DE., 10 May 1944. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-208 57k USS LSM-208 launching, 10 May 1944, as she hits the water at Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, DE. Photo by LCDR George H. Ritter, USNR
    LSM-368 128k USS LSM-208 beached, date and location unknown.
    Photo from USS Lanier APA-125 cruise book, 1944-46.    		 Russ Padden
    LSM-208 114k USS LSM-208 underway off Okinawa, 1 April 1945. Howard Nettles to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-101 71k USS LSM-101 and USS LSM-208 beached while unloading cargo of the 136th Naval Construction Battalion, Japan, 30 August 1945 COL. R.H. Hicks to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    The history extract for USS LSM-208 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Cunningham Jr., Edward F., USNR12 June 1944 - November
    02LTjg. Brown, Gordon R., USNRNovember - 20 May 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Ship Medium (LSM) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 8 April 2022