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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LSM-242

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
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down (date unknown) at Western Pipe and Steel Company, San Pedro, CA.
  • Launched (date unknown)
  • Commissioned USS LSM-242, 12 October 1944, LTjg. Charles O. Gardner, USNR in command
  • During World War II LSM-242 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:
  • Decommissioned, 27 December 1945, at Terminal Island Navy Yard, San Pedro, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 10 March 1948, to Hugo Neu Corp., New York, N.Y.
  • LSM-242 received one battle star for World War II service
    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 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 Accommodations 2 officers, 46 enlisted
    Armor 10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station
    Propulsion two General Motors (non-reversible with airflex 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
    LSM-242 121k Aerial view of the Iwo Jima beachhead, circa February 1945. LSM-242 is the fourth ship from the bottom. Additional ships that can be identified include LST-715, LST-790, LST-724, LST-224, LST-784 and LST-779. Other LSM's include LSM-140, LSM-47 and LSM-43. LCTs include LCT-892 and LCT-1029. The one lone LCI that is identifiable is LCI(L)-1077.
    USMC photo # 110582    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-242 97k LSM-242 and LST-809 with LCI(G)-346 secured to her port side, beached at Iwo Jima, circa 19 February 1945 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-242 88k LSM-242 beached at Iwo Jima, circa February 1945 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-242 87k LSM-242 is in the background of this photo of ambulances lined up at Guam awaiting the arrival of Solace (AH-5) with casualties from Okinawa.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-K-5629, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    The DANFS history extract for LSM-242 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
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS LSM / LSMR Association
    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 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 7 May 2004