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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-553

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-553 transferred to the Federal Republic of Germany, named Salamander (L-752)
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 12 February 1945, at U.S. Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C.
  • Launched, 3 March 1945
  • Commissioned USS LSM-553, 6 September 1945, LT. Donald H. Blue USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LSM-553 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LSM Flotilla Fifteen;
     LSM Group Forty-Three;
     LSM Division Eighty-Six;
  • Decommissioned, 19 April 1946, at Green Cove Springs, FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Transferred, 5 September 1958, to the Federal Republic of Germany and named Salamander (L-752)
  • Final Disposition, decommissioned, struck by the German Navy and disposed of in February 1969, 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 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-553
    LSM-558 127k Charleston Navy Yard fitting out pier "C" looking north to river end. Shop field offices and Building Ways 1 and 2 in background on left. Ships present USS LSM-556, USS LSM-557, USS LSM-558 front row. Second row USS LSM-553, USS LSM-554 and USS LSM-555. Beyond the LSMs is USS Tidewater (AD-31).
    Charleston Navy Yard photo # 1997-45    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    Thames River 62k Page one of the Schedule of Events pamphlet for the Transfer and Commissioning Ceremonies of six US Navy ships that will comprise the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron, 5 September 1958 at US Naval Shipyard Charleston, S.C.
    USS Thames River LSM(R)-534 to Germany renamed Natter (L-755)
    USS Smyrna River LSM(R)-532 to Germany renamed Otter (L-754)
    USS LSM-537 to Germany named Krokodil (L-750)
    USS LSM-491 to Germany named Eidechse (L-751)
    USS LSM-553 to Germany named Salamander (L-752)
    LSM-558 to Germany named USS Viper (L-753)    		 Ingo Zeitz
    Thames River 45k Page two of the Transfer and Commissioning Ceremonies pamphlet for the six US Navy ships that will comprise the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron, 5 September 1958 at US Naval Shipyard Charleston, S.C. Ingo Zeitz
    Salamander (L-752)
    LSM-553 69k The four LSMs of the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron moored pierside at the German Naval Base at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. From outboard to inboard;
    Ex-USS LSM-558 in Germany service as Viper (L-753)
    Ex-USS LSM-553 in Germany service as Salamander (L-752)
    Ex-USS LSM-537 in Germany service as Krokodil (L-750)
    Ex-USS LSM-491 in Germany service as Eidechse (L-751), date unknown.    		 Ingo Zeitz
    LSM-553 49k The four LSMs of the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron beached during amphibious exercises, date and location unknown.From left to right;
    USS Eidechse (L-751)
    USS Krokodil (L-750)
    USS Salamander (L-752)
    USS Viper (L-753), date unknown.    		 Ingo Zeitz
    LSM-553 47k Three LSMs of the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron beached during amphibious exercises, date and location unknown.From left to right;
    Salamander (L-752)
    Krokodil (L-750)
    Eidechse (L-751), date unknown.    		 Ingo Zeitz
    LSM-553 43k Three LSMs of the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron beached during amphibious exercises, date and place unknown.From left to right;
    Salamander (L-752)
    Krokodil (L-750)
    Eidechse (L-751), date unknown.    		 Ingo Zeitz
    LSM-553 69k Salamander (L-752) underway circa 1960, location unknown.
    Official Bundesmarine photo from "Jane's Fighting Ships" 1961-62 edition.    		 Robert Hurst
    LSM-553 117k Salamander (L-752)underway in Wilhelmshaven inner Harbor in 1968. At right is Bontekai, background Wiesbadenbruecke. Curt Janson Salamander
    The history extract for USS LSM-553 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Blue, Donald H., USNR6 September 1945 - ?
    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
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    Last Updated 6 October 2017