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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-355

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Mike - Sierra
NVMS

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
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal )with Asia clasp) - Korea Service Medal (2)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

USS LSM-355 was transferred to France, redesignated RFS L 9011, later transferred to South Vietnam, named RVNS Hat Giang (HQ-400) later transferred to the Philippines, renamed BPR Western Samar (LP-66)

LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:

Laid down, 11 November 1944, at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, TX.

Launched, 2 December 1944

Commissioned USS LSM-355, 24 December 1944, LT. H. P. Reeves USNR in command (May 1945)

During World War II USS LSM-355 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
LSM Flotilla Twelve, LCDR. A. F. Dineen USN (22);
LSM Group Thirty-Five, LCDR. W. K. Bradbury USNR;
LSM Division Sixty-Nine

Following World War II USS LSM-355 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 2 September to 23 December 1945

Decommissioned, 23 October 1946

Laid up in the Reserve Fleet

Recommissioned, 18 September 1950

During the Korean War USS LSM-355 participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Korean War Campaigns
U.N. Summer-Fall Offensive 1 to 31 October 1952	Korean Defense, Summer-Fall 1952 12 to 20 November 1952

During the Korean War USS LSM-355 was one of three supply vessels that serviced the various Air Force units scattered between the Korean peninsula and Japan. Among these units were Detachment 21 of the 618th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron stationed on Tsuchima Island and a Detachment of the 624 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron.
W.E. Gatchell

Decommissioned, 11 January 1954

USS LSM-355 earned two battle stars for Korean War service

Transferred, on loan, to France, 18 January 1954, redesignated L 9011

Transferred to South Vietnam in December 1955, commissioned RVNS Hat Giang (HQ-400)

Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown

Escaped to Philippines after the fall of South Vietnam government, 30 April 1975

Interned at Subic Bay

Transferred, 17 November 1975, to the Republic of the Philippines, renamed BPR Western Samar (LP-66)

Final Disposition, disposed of by Philippine Navy in 1989, 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
USS LSM-355
	99k	The Industrial Dept. dock at NOB Guam, date unknown. Ships that can be identified include USS LSM-355 USS LSM-274 and USS LSM-171 astern of USS LSM-274. US Navy photo # 369940.	USS LSM / LSMR Association
	62k	USS LSM-110 and USS LSM-355 in dry dock, Long Beach, CA., circa March 1952 to 22 May, 1952.	Kenneth Oliver Photo Courtesy Jim Tusing LSM-372, Editor "Alligator Alley" The Newsletter of the USS LSM - LSMR Association
	71k	USS LSM-355 underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo # USN 1045158	USS LSM / LSMR Association
	79k	USS LSM-355 beached, date and location unknown.	Joe Schwerther to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
101435507	141k	USS LSM-355 moored pierside at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, 23 Oct 1953, while being prepared for decommissioning and lay up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet US National Archives Riverside photo # 20676	Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
101435508	225k	USS LSM-355 drydocked at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, 23 Oct 1953, while being prepared for decommissioning and lay up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet US National Archives Riverside photo # 20686	Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
RFS L 9011
	33k	Ex-USS LSM-355 in French service as RFS L 9011 alongside *USS Algol* (AKA-54)** in Indo-China waters as they transfer anti-Communist refugees. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine December 1954	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
RVNS Hat Giang (HQ-400)
	24k	Ex-USS LSM-355, in South Vietnamese service as *RVNS Hat Giang* (HQ-400)** Armed Hospital Ship	Peter Bayliss
101435509	138k	*RVNS Hat Giang* (HQ-400)** Armed Hospital Ship, moored pierside, October 1967. Flickr - Navy Medicine	Michael Rhode
	66k	*RVNS Hat Giang* (HQ-400) secured outboard of South Vietnamese RVNS Huong Giang (HQ-404) ex USS Oceanside (LSM-175)** at Nha Be RVN, February1972.	© Richard Leonhardt
	41k	*RVNS Hat Giang* (HQ-400)** at anchor, date and location unknown.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
Commercial Service
	171k	Ex-USS LSM-355 for sale while in commercial service, date and location in the Philippines, unknown.	Edison Sy
	138k
	122k
	142k