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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-237


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Delta - November
 NVDN
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
Bottom Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 31 March 1944, at Western Pipe and Steel Company, San Pedro, CA.
  • Launched, 30 July 1944
  • Commissioned USS LSM-237, 7 September 1944, LTjg. John L. Poole USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LSM-237 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Borneo operation
    Brunei Bay operation, 10 to 14 June 1945     		Consolidation and capture of the southern Philippines
    Palawan Islands landings, 28 February to 1 March 1945
    Visayan Island landings, 28 March to 24 April 1945

  • Following World War II USS LSM-237 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 23 October to 5 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, 2 May 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LSM-237 earned two battle stars for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sold, 15 November 1946, to Ming-Sung Industrial Co., Ltd., China, seized in October 1949, by Chinese Communist forces, 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 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
    LSM-237 102k USS LSM-237 underway during acceptance trials in the Los Angeles Harbor area, circa September 1944. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-237 81k USS LSM-237 underway during acceptance trials in the Los Angeles Harbor area, circa September 1944. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-237 73k USS LSM-237 underway during acceptance trials in the Los Angeles Harbor area, circa September 1944. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-168 52k From left to right LCT-678, USS LSM-168, USS LSM-237 and USS LSM-133 at Mindoro Island while loading for the invasion of Palawan Island, Philippine Islands, date unknown.. Submitted by James Tusing, courtesy George Berry USS LSM 168
    LSM-237 51k USS LSM-237 beached at Palawan Island, P.I., date unknown USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-237 234k USS LSM-237 beached at Palawan Island, P.I., date unknown Hugh L. Hudson, Jr., RM/2c, USS LSM-467, USS LSM-49, from the Gordon D. Dorian, RM2/c, USS LSM-377 collection.
    LSM-237 73k USS LSM-237 moored at Palawan Island, P.I., date unknown Hugh L. Hudson, Jr., RM/2c, USS LSM-467, USS LSM-49, from the Gordon D. Dorian, RM2/c, USS LSM-377 collection.
    LSM-237 60k USS LSM-237 beached at Palawan Island, P.I., date unknown Hugh L. Hudson, Jr., RM/2c, USS LSM-467, USS LSM-49, from the Gordon D. Dorian, RM2/c, USS LSM-377 collection.
    LSM-237 51k USS LSM-237 at anchor, date and location unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-237 63k USS LSM-237 underway, date and place unknown Hugh L. Hudson, Jr., RM/2c, USS LSM-467, USS LSM-49, from the Gordon D. Dorian, RM2/c, USS LSM-377 collection.
    LSM-237 168k A large tractor is seen being driven ashore from USS LSM-237 at Brunei, North Borneo, 10 June 1945. The scene is at the north end of Green Beach during Operation OBOE 6.
    Australian War Memorial, Photo No. 108954    		 Mike Green
    LSM-237 61k Matilda tanks of the 2/9 Armored Regiment being driven ashore from USS LSM-237 at Brunei, North Borneo, 10 June 1945. The scene is at the north end of Green Beach during Operation OBOE 6. Identifiable personnel (L to R) facing the camera are Trooper A. Kenny (1), Cpl J. Murphy (3) and TRP S.L. Cockram (4).
    Australian War Memorial, Photo No. 108958    		 Mike Green
    LCS(L)-118/LSM-237 46k USS LSM-237 moored pierside aft of USS LCS(L)-118, Panama, January 1946 Contributed by Earl Blanton, CO USS LCS(L)-118
    to the National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    The history extract for USS LSM-237 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Poole, John L., USNR7 September 1944 - November 1945
    02LTjg. Pike, Robert Alex, 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
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    Last Updated 15 April 2022