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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-216


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Bravo - Xray
 NVBX
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, Iwo Jima)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal

USS LSM-216 was sold to the Dominican Republic named San Rafael (BA-103)
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 12 May 1944, at Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, DE.
  • Launched, 28 June 1944
  • Commissioned USS LSM-216, 29 July 1944, LT. Charles P. Haber, USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LSM-216 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 to 21 February 1945
  • Decommissioned, 2 May 1946, at Calcasieu River, Lake Charles, LA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Sold in November 1946, to the Dominican Republic, named San Rafael (BA-103)
  • Final Disposition, disposed of in 1960 by the Dominican Republic Navy, fate unknown
  • USS LSM-216 earned one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 520 t.(light), 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
    Length 203' 6" o.a.
    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 single 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
    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 Contributed
    By
    USS LSM-216
    LSM-216 58k Launching of USS LSM-216 at Dravo Shipbuilding Co, Wilmington DL. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-216 88k USS LSM-216 nested with other LSMs, probably in West Loch, Pearl Harbor circa 1946 Norman Horwitz to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-216 70k USS LSM-216 nested with other LSMs, probably in West Loch, Pearl Harbor circa 1946 Norman Horwitz to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    San Rafael (BA-103)
    LSM-216 46k Ex-USS LSM-216 underway in the service of the Dominican Republic Navy as San Rafael (BA-103), circa 1953, location unknown.
    Official Dominican Republic Navy photo from "Jane's Fighting Ships, 1954-55"    		 Robert Hurst
    The DANFS history extract for USS LSM-216 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
    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
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 10 April 2009