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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LSM-315


USS LSM-315 was transferred to Australia and renamed Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) [S.W. Pacific, 25 October 1944] - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal
Individual Awards

Purple Heart (1-KIA, S.W. Pacific 25 October 1944)
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down (date unknown) at Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing Company, Chicago, IL.
  • Launched (date unknown)
  • Commissioned USS LSM-315, 13 July 1944, LT. Alfred W. Holmes, USNR in command
  • During World War II LSM=315 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landing, 4 to 12 January 1945    		 Consolidation and occupation of Southern Philippines
    Mindanao Island landings, 10 to 16 May 1945

  • Decommissioned, 14 June 1946, at Astoria, OR.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group, Astoria
  • Struck from the Naval Register, (date unknown)
  • Sold, 26 January 1960, to the Royal Australian Army, assigned to the Australian Army Royal Engineers, 32 Small Ship Squadron, renamed Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355)
  • Sold for commercial service in 1972, possibly modified as a timber carrier
  • Final; Disposition, believed to have sunk in the Solomon Islands, circa 1984
  • LSM-315 received two battle stars 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
    USS LSM-315
    LCM-34 64k LSM-169, LSM-34, LSM-319 and LSM-315 as well as two unidentified LSMs alongside and unidentified tender or repair ship at Subic Bay, P.I., date unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-315 62k LSM-315 beached at Hollandia, 1945 Dave Perham and the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-315, LST 933/592 40k LSM-315, LST-933 and LST-592 beached at Ormoc, Leyte, P.I., date unknown. LST933 Homepage web site
    Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355)
    LSM-319 89k ex LSM-315, in Australian service as Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355), Gulf of Carpentaria, circa 1963. Darryl Graney
    LSM-319 44k ex LSM-315, in Australian service as Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355), South Vietnam, date unknown. Darryl Graney
    LSM-315 26k ex LSM-315, in Australian service as Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355), South Vietnam, 1967. Dave Perham
    LSM-315 78k ex LSM-315, in Australian service as Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355), beached, in South Vietnam, 1967. Dave Perham
    LSM-315 58k ex LSM-315, in Australian service as Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355) beached in South Vietnam, circa 1967. Dave Perham
    LSM-315 151k ex LSM-315, in Australian service as Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355) beached in South Vietnam, circa 1967. Dave Perham
    Commercial Service
    LSM-315 68k ex LSM-315, ex-Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355), laid up at Ballina, Australia, circa 1982. Dave Perham
    LSM-315 79k ex LSM-315, ex-Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355), laid up at Ballina, Australia, circa 1982. Dave Perham
    The DANFS history extract for LSM-315 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
    The Australian Involvement in Vietnam
    Long Tau Ship Channel, Australian Army
    Australian Forces in South Vietnam, 1962-1972
    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 28 October 2005