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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LSM-256


USS LSM-256 also served as a unit of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy, redesignated LSM-341
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 (date unknown) at Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newark, N.J.
  • Launched (date unknown)
  • Commissioned USS LSM-256, 27 May 1944, LTjg. Joseph R. Gilmore, USNR, in command
  • During WWII LSM-256 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:
  • Decommissioned, 3 September 1946, at Shanghai, China, transferred the same day to the Republic of China
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Eluded Communist Chinese capture in October 1949 and escaped to Taiwan, redesignated LSM-341
  • Final Disposition, sunk, 16 June 1969, after colliding with the merchant ship Ta Tung in a dense fog
  • LSM-256 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" oa
    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
    LSM-256 108k LSM-256 entering the well deck of Casa Grande (LSD-13), in the Chesapeake Bay, 20 June 1944.
    US Navy photo.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-256 148k LSM-256 in the well deck of Casa Grande (LSD-13), in the Chesapeake Bay, 20 June 1944.
    US Navy photo.    		 Bill Brinkley and the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-256 70k LSM-256 moored at either Saipan or Guam, Christmas 1945. R.L. Petry
    Photo Courtesy Jim Tusing LSM-372,
    Editor "Alligator Alley" The Newsletter
    of the USS LSM - LSMR Association
    LSM-256 115k Aerial view of Little Creek Amphibious Base, 1 August 1944. LSM-256 is at the bottom of the photo. Other ships that are identified and marked are LSM-201, LSM-2, LSM-127, LSM-203, LSM-16, LSM-126, LSM-134 and LSM-144. The two LSTs are unidentified.
    US Navy photo.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    The DANFS history extract for LSM-256 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