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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) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

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:
    LSM Flotilla Three, CDR. W. F Morrison USN (35);
     LSM Group Eight, LCDR. J. G. Blanche USN (25);
     LSM Division Sixteen 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

  • Following World War II USS LSM-216 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 4 September to 25 November 1945
  • Decommissioned, 2 May 1946, at Calcasieu River, Lake Charles, LA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LSM-216 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Sold, 3 December 1946, to the Dominican Republic, named San Rafael (BA-103)
  • Final Disposition, disposed of in 1960 by the Dominican Republic Navy, 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
    USS LSM-216
    LSM-216 58k Launching of USS LSM-216 at Dravo Shipbuilding Co, Wilmington DL., 28 June 1944. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-216 184k USS LSM-216 beached, probably in the Philippines, date unknown Marcus Brandel
    LSM-216 248k LSM-216 and LSM-217 crew members on the ramp of USS LSM-216 while beached, probably in the Philippines, date unknown Marcus Brandel
    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 356k Ex-USS LSM-216 in the service of the Dominican Republic Navy as San Rafael (BA-103), drydocked circa late-1946 early-1947 at Gulfport Shipbuilding, Port Arthur TX. Note the US Navy number 216 is still visible on the hull. James Swank
    LSM-216 46k San Rafael (BA-103), circa 1953, location unknown.
    Official Dominican Republic Navy photo from "Jane's Fighting Ships, 1954-55"    		 Robert Hurst
    The 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).
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Haber, Charles Percy, USNR29 July 1944 - November 1945
    02LT. Long, Hirris C., USNRNovember 1945 - 2 May 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 8 April 2022