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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Landing Craft Tank LCT-638
Landing Ship Utility LSU-638
Landing Craft Utility LCU-638

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Korean Service Medal (6) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Landing Craft Tank (Mark 6):
  • Laid down at Buffalo Shipbuilding Corp., Buffalo, NY, 18 December 1943
  • Launched, 20 January 1944
  • Delivered, 21 January 1944
  • During World War II LCT-638 was assigned to the European Theater, LCT Flotilla 19, and participated in the
  • Dismantled in March 1945 for shipment back to US aboard a Liberty ship. Mid-section broke loose during fowl weather and was jettisoned and sunk by 5" gun fire for the Liberty ship
  • LCT-638 was reconstructed with a replacement mid-section upon return to US
  • Redesignated Landing Ship Utility, LSU-638 in 1949
  • During the Korean War LSU-638 participated in the following campaigns:
    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    North Korean Aggression
    18 September to 2 November 1950    		 First UN Counter Offensive
    25 January to 16 March 1951
    Inchon Landing
    13 to 17 September 1950    		 Second Korean Winter
    5 December 1951 to 1 February 1952
    Communist China Aggression
    3 November 1950 to 24 January 1951    		 Korean Defensive Summer
    12 August to 9 September 1952
  • Following service in Korea LSU-638 was reassigned to Naval Base Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, circa mid-1950s
  • Redesignated Landing Craft Utility LCU-638, 15 April 1956
  • Placed out of service (date unknown)
  • Struck from the Naval Register in 1958
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 143 to 160 t.(lt), 309 to 320 t.(fl)
    Length 119' 1" ovl.
    Beam 32' 8"
    Draft 5' (max)
    Speed 10 kts.
    Range 700 nautical miles at 7 kts.
    Complement 14
    Cargo Capacity 150 short tons
    Armament 2 single 20mm AA gun mounts, 4 .50 cal. machine guns
    Armor 20lbs wheelhouse, 10lbs gun shield
    Propulsion 3 Grey Marine Diesels, 3 propellers, Shaft horsepower 225 per shaft
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    LCT-555 116k Scene on "Omaha" Beach soon after the "D-Day" landings, showing stranded landing craft, piles of supplies, and dead Soldiers awaiting evacuation or burial. LCT-199 is offshore in left center. LCT(A)(5)-2421, LCT-555 and LCT-638 are on the beach in the center (listed from the middle distance to further away). An LCVP from Thurston (AP-77) is in the left foreground. The photograph was received by the Naval Photo Science Laboratory, 14 June 1944, but was probably taken on or about 6 June.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-252557, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center web site
    LCT-520/638/742/783 84k Amphibious shipping beached on the Hungnam waterfront during the evacuation in December 1950. Ships present are (from left to right): LSU-520; LSU-638; LSU-742, two unidentified LSUs, LSU-783; and two Japanese-manned LSTs. Note the trucks and jeeps in the foreground.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-425954, a US Navy photo now in the collects of the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    LCT-638 120k LSU-638 entering the well-deck of Gunston Hall (LSD-5) circa 1950-1952, in Korea or Japan.
    Photo by Warren G. Gilbert USN Ret. USS Gunston Hall    		 Susan Neese
    LCT-638 133k LSU-638 moored pierside, date and place unknown.
    Photo by Warren G. Gilbert USN Ret.USS Gunston Hall    		 Susan Neese
    LCT-638/1159 58k LSU-638 beached at the ramp on Grande Island, Naval Station Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, , circa 1954-56. Harvey Kimbro LCU-638
    LCT-638/1159 74k LSU-638 looking forward into the tank deck from the conning tower. LSU-638, LSU-1159 and an unidentified YTL are all moored at the "inner basin" Naval Station Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, circa 1954-56. Harvey Kimbro LCU-638
    There is no DANFS history for LCT-638 / LSU-638 / LCU-638 at NavSource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    LCU-638 at Subic Bay. Philippine Islands
    The Saga of LCT 638
    World War II LCT Flotillas
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To the Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Craft Tank (LCT) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2006 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 1 July 2005