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

USS LSM-209


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Bravo - Juliet
 NVBJ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 14 March 1944, at Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, DE.
  • Launched, 18 May 1944
  • Commissioned USS LSM-209, 17 June 1944, ENS. Leighton Spadone USN in command
  • During WWII USS LSM-209 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LSM Flotilla One, LCDR. H. B. Taliaferro USN (28);
     LSM Group Two, LCDR. H. G. Maxey USNR;
     LSM Division Four and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 28 April to 13 June 1945

  • Decommissioned, 29 December 1945, at Terminal Island Navy Yard, San Pedro, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 21 January 1946
  • USS LSM-209 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Sold, 20 February 1948, to Hugo Neu Corp., New York, N.Y., converted to a barge, Official Number (259179)
  • Purchased by Tidewater Barge Line, Vancouver, WA., renamed Mahopac, and used to transport wheat on the Columbia and Snake Rivers
  • Current Disposition, used by Tidewater Barge Lines as a Tie-off Barge Spud Barge 9 on the Columbia River.
    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
    landing, 5' 3"
    fully loaded, 6' 4" forward, 8' 3" aft
    Speed 12.5 kts. (max.), (928 tons displacement)
    Endurance 4,900 miles @ 12kts.(928 tons displacement)
    Complement
    5 officers
    54 enlisted
    Armament
    one twin bow mounted 40mm AA gun mount
    six single 20mm gun mounts
    Vehicle/Boat Capacity 5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVT's, or 9 DUKW's
    Troop Accommodations
    2 officers
    46 enlisted
    Armor 10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station
    Fuel Capacity Diesel 1,225 Bbls
    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.
     two Diesel-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.
    twin propellers 2,800shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS LSM-209
    LSM-209 50k LSM-209 side launching at Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, DE., 18 May 1944. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-213 77k From front to back USS LSM-213, USS LSM-209, USS LSM-17 and five additional LSMs during beaching operations at the Amphibious Training Base Camp Bradford, VA., 30 September 1944. Note the tank in the well deck of USS LSM-213.
    US Navy photo # 266168.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-209 158k USS LSM-209 beached, at Okinawa, date unknown. Johanne Schmidt Regan to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    Merchant Service
    LSM-209 76k Ex-USS LSM-209, ex-barge Mahopac, in use as a tie-off barge Spud Barge 9 for the Tidewater Barge Line, on the Columbia River.
    Photo, February 2003    		 Ron Gray / Capt.
    LSM-209 47k Ex-LSM-209, ex-barge Mahopac, in use as a tie-off barge Spud Barge 9 for the Tidewater Barge Line, on the Columbia River.
    Photo, March 2003    		 Ron Gray / Capt.
    LSM-209 70k Ex-LSM-209, Tidewater Barge Line tie-off barge Spud Barge 9 anchor recess., March 2003
    Photo, March 2003    		 Ron Gray / Capt.
    LSM-209 53k Ex-LSM-209, ex-barge Mahopac, in use as a tie-off barge Spud Barge 9, port engine room and the base for the main engine partially under water, March 2003 Ron Gray / Capt.
    The history extract for USS LSM-209 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01ENS. Spadone, Leighton, USN17 June 1944 - 20 September 1945
    02LTjg. Horton, Andrew J., USN20 September 1945 - 29 December 1945
    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
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 8 April 2022