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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-263


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Foxtrot - Mike
 NVFM
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 16 May 1944, at Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newark, N.J.
  • Launched, 17 June 1944
  • Commissioned USS LSM-263, 3 July 1944, LT. John A. Reed USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LSM-263 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LSM Flotilla One, LCDR. H. B. Taliaferro USN (28);
     LSM Group Two, LCDR. H. G. Maxey USNR;
     LSM Division Four and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 30 May to 30 June 1945

  • Following World War II USS LSM-263 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 23 September to 28 November 1945
  • Decommissioned, 29 December 1946, at NOB Guam, Marianas Islands
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LSM-263 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sold, 20 March 1947, to Standard Dredging Co., 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-263 82k USS LSM-263 under way, date and location unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-263 84k USS LSM-263 under way, date and location unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-263 117k USS LSM-263 under way with an unidentified LSM, date and location unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    The history extract for USS LSM-263 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Reed, John A., USNR3 July 1944 - February 1945
    02LTjg. Eastman, David G., USNRFebruary 1945 - February 1946
    03LTjg. Roe, Ralph K., USNRFebruary 1946 - June 1946
    04LTjg. Kolarik, John, USNRJune 1946 - 29 December 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    USS LSM-LSMR Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Action Report - Landing of Occupation Forces, Nagasaki Japan, September 1945
    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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 10 February 2023