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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-500

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

USS LSM-500 was transferred to Denmark and named HDMS Hjaelperen (A-563)

LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:

Laid down, 17 March 1945, at Brown Shipbuilding Co, Houston, TX.

Launched, 7 April 1945

Commissioned USS LSM-500, 17 May 1945, LT. Ramon de Murias USNR in command

During World War II USS LSM-500 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
LSM Flotilla Sixteen;
LSM Group Forty-Seven;
LSM Division Ninety-Five;

Decommissioned, 1 August 1946, at Green Cove Springs, FL.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs

Converted to a Motor Torpedo Boat Tender, at Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, S.C, 1 April 1952 to 15 May 1953

Transferred to Denmark, 15 May 1953

Commissioned by the Danish Navy as HDMS Hjaelperen (A-563)

Struck from the US Naval Register, date unknown

Decommissioned by Royal Danish Navy, 1974

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 21 September 1976

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 General Motors (model GM 16-278A, 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-500
	69k	USS LSM-500 moored pierside at Panama, date unknown.	Craig Winkleman in honor of his father Clair Franklin Winkleman USS LSM-500
	58k	USS LSM-500 moored pierside at Panama, date unknown.	Craig Winkleman in honor of his father Clair Franklin Winkleman USS LSM-500
	110k	USS LSM-500 beached at Guam, date unknown. (Louis Damiani is the sailor standing in the foreground.)	Craig Winkleman in honor of his father Clair Franklin Winkleman USS LSM-500
	81k	USS LSM-500 at Guam, date unknown.	Photo Courtesy Jim Tusing LSM-372, Editor "Alligator Alley" The Newsletter of the USS LSM - LSMR Association
HDMS Hjaelperen (A-563)
	44k	Ex-USS LSM-500 in Danish service as *HDMS Hjaelperen* (A-563) underway, circa 1953-54, location unknown. Note she is still carrying the side number LSM 500**	Robert Hurst
	42k	*HDMS Hjaelperen* (A-563)** under way, date and location unknown.	Robert Hurst
	37k	*HDMS Hjaelperen* (A-563)** under way, circa 1956, location unknown. (RDN Official) Photo from "Jane's Fighting Ships 1956-57"	Robert Hurst
	89k	*HDMS Hjaelperen* (A-563)** under way, circa 1964, location unknown. Photo courtesy Stefan Terzibaschitsch.	Robert Hurst
	92k	*HDMS Hjaelperen* (A-563)** under way, circa 1967, location unknown. Royal Danish Navy photo.	Robert Hurst
	85k	*HDMS Hjaelperen* (A-563)** under way, circa 1971, location unknown. Royal Danish Navy photo.	Robert Hurst