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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-2


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Alpha - Charlie
 NVAC
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 14 February 1944, at Brown Shipbuilding Co, Houston, TX.
  • Launched, 23 March 1944
  • Commissioned USS LSM-2, 8 May 1944, LTjg. John G. Himmelberger USNR, in command
  • During WWII USS LSM-2 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LSM Flotilla Eight, CDR. H. Doe USN (23);
     LSM Group Twenty-Four, LCDR. B. H. Lindman USNR;
     LSM Division Forty-Seven and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 29 April 1945

  • Decommissioned, 20 December 1946, at Terminal Island, San Pedro, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 8 January 1947
  • USS LSM-2 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Sold in December 1946 to A. G. Schoonmaker, New York, NY, for conversion to a barge, Official Number (259363)
  • Commercial Service, owned and operated by Tidewater Barge Lines, Vancouver, WA., renamed Big Moose, used to transport wheat, now in use as a tie-off barge.
    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-2
    LSM-256 115k Aerial view of Little Creek Amphibious Base, 1 August 1944. Ships that can be identified are:
    USS LSM-256,
    USS LSM-201,
    USS LSM-2,
    USS LSM-127,
    USS LSM-203,
    USS LSM-16,
    USS LSM-126,
    USS LSM-134 and
    USS LSM-144. The two LSTs are unidentified.
    US Navy photo.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-2 139k USS LSM-2 and LCT-1057 secured to the starboard side of USS LST-1083 as they are moved into a floating drydock, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-2 67k USS LSM-2 at Hickam Field Wharf, Pearl Harbor, T.H., about to load 120 Navy personnel for return to Long Beach, CA., for discharge, 21 September 1945. Raymond A. Biswanger, Jr., Ph.D., LT. USN Ret. USS LSM-9
    LSM-2 127k USS LSM-2 and unidentified lead ship followed by USS LSM-9, homeward bound from Hawaii, 21 September 1945. Note, This was the first time these ships were allowed to use their running lights and the white, red and green colors added to the festive atmosphere. Photo taken from LSM-9 Raymond A. Biswanger, Jr., Ph.D., LT. USN Ret. USS LSM-9
    Merchant Service
    LSM-2 63k Ex-USS LSM-2 in service as the barge Big Moose, with the barge TBL-77 behind her on the Columbia River, winter 1978-1979 Photo by Ron Gray/Captain
    LSM-2 43k Big Moose, on the port bow of the tow entering the lower - basin of McNary Dam on the Columbia River, May 1972 Photo by Ron Gray/Captain
    LSM-2 43k Ex-LSM-2 in service as a SPUD-BARGE (tie-off barge) on the Columbia River, owned by Tidewater Barge Lines, Vancouver, WA., March 2003 Photo by Ron Gray/Captain
    LSM-2 35k Ex-LSM-2 in service as a SPUD-BARGE (tie-off barge) on the Columbia River, owned by Tidewater Barge Lines, Vancouver, WA.. Note that her original US Navy hull number is still visible on her bow, March 2003 Photo by Ron Gray/Captain
    The history extract for LSM-2 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9)
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Himmelberger, John Gut, USNR8 May 1944 - September 1945
    02LT. Garner, James B., USNR September 1945 to - December 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    USS LSM-LSMR Association
    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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 13 April 2018