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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-259


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Foxtrot - Echo
NVFE
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 (1)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)


LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 6 April 1944, at Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newark, N.J.
  • Launched, 26 May 1944
  • Commissioned USS LSM-259, 23 June 1944, LT. Howard E. Dunney USNR in command
  • During WWII USS LSM-259 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 January 1945

  • Following service in the Southwest Pacific Area USS LSM-259 came under the command of:
    LSM Flotilla Three, CDR. W. F. Morrison USN (35);
    LSM Group Nine, LCDR. J. A. Moss USN (26);
    LSM Division Eighteen
  • Decommissioned, 13 May 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LSM-259 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sold, 3 December 1946, and converted to a barge, 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
    LSM-259 212k LSM-259 crew photo taken at Little Creek Amphibious Training Base, Little Creek, VA., date unknown. Ronnie Ward for his father Durward Joiner Ward, Coxswain USN USS LSM-259
    LSM-259 63k LSM-259 moored pierside at Navy Yard, New York, 24 June 1944, bow view.
    New York Navy Yard photo.
    USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-259 70k LSM-259 moored pierside at Navy Yard, New York, 24 June 1944, stern view.
    New York Navy Yard photo # F644C6286.
    USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-259 74k LSM-259 underway, date and place unknown. Ronnie Ward for his father Durward Joiner Ward, Coxswain USN USS LSM-259
    LSM-50 51k LSM-259, LSM-50, LSM-26 and an unidentified LSM beached probably in the Philippines, date and place unknown. Note the local population going about their business on the beach oblivious to the US Navy's presence. USS LSM / LSMR Association

    The history extract for USS LSM-259 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Dunney, Howard E., USNR23 June 1944 - November 1944
    02LTjg. Brown, J. T., USNR November 1945 - 13 May 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    USS LSM-LSMR Association
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 10 February 2023