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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-49

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Delta - Sierra
NVDS
Voice Call Sign "Booty Niner"

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, Iwo Jima) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:

Laid down, 14 June 1944, at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, TX., (date unknown)

Launched, 7 July 1944

Commissioned USS LSM-49, 14 August 1944, LT. Richard Greenwood USN in command

During World War II USS LSM-49 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
LSM Flotilla Five, CDR. W. H. Carpenter USN (26);
LSM Group Thirteen, LCDR. T. F. Griswold USNR;
LSM Division Twenty-Five and participated in the following campaign:

Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Iwo Jima operation Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 February to 16 March 1945

Following World War II USS LSM-49 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 16 September to 16 November 1945

Decommissioned, 13 May 1946, at Terminal Island, San Pedro, CA.

Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown

USS LSM-49 earned one battle star for World War II service

Sold, 20 February 1948, to Nick Bez, Seattle, WA, Resold, 1957 to Canaveral International, Miami, FL, for use as a supply ship for the Eastern Test Range, renamed MV Western Venturer

Final Disposition, ran aground in Bahamas, 13 November 1970 and broke up

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-49
	179k	USS LSM-49 pre-commissioning crew, 24 July 1944, after completing training at NAB Little Creek. They traveled by train to Houston to commission the ship at Brown Shipbuilding Co.	Hugh L. Hudson Jr.
	62k	USS LSM-49 and USS LSM-141 at Iwo Jima, circa 19 February 1945.	Photo by Raymond R. Nase, MoMM3/c, USS LSM-49, USS LSM-467, photo 001 Contributed by Hugh Hudson
	46k	USS LSM-49 beached at Iwo Jima. circa 19 February 1945, with other LSMs including USS LSM-264 in the far distance.	Joe Helmstettger to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
	102k	USS LSM-49 beached between USS LST-792 and *LCT-1269* on the beach at Iwo Jima, circa February-March 1945. Note Mount Suribachi in the background. US Marine Corps photo.	Robert Morrissey
	188k	USS LSM-49 and USS LST-758 beached at Iwo Jima during the campaign to capture the island in February 1945.	Sandy Molenda for his father LT. Felix J. Molenda, USCG, Commanding Officer USS LST-758
	68k	USS LSM-49 seen here departing Iwo Jima for Philippines, circa 16 March 1945. Photo taken from another LSM. Note port side damage.	Photo by Raymond R. Nase, MoMM3/c, USS LSM-49, USS LSM-467, photo 002 Contributed by Hugh L. Hudson Jr.
	122k	USS LSM-49 fully loaded, circa November 1945, Philippines.	Photo by Raymond R. Nase, MoMM3/c, USS LSM-49, USS LSM-467, photo 010 Contributed by Hugh L. Hudson Jr.
	118k	USS LSM-49 with Filipino troops aboard, circa November 1945, Philippines..	Photo by Raymond R. Nase, MoMM3/c, USS LSM-49, USS LSM-467, photo 010 Contributed by Hugh L. Hudson Jr.
	130k	Filipino boys chipping paint on USS LSM-49, circa November 1945, Philippines..	Photo by Raymond R. Nase, MoMM3/c, USS LSM-49, USS LSM-467, photo 010 Contributed by Hugh L. Hudson Jr.
	159k	USS LSM-49 on the left with another LSM beached at Saipan, date unknown.	Photo by Raymond R. Nase, MoMM3/c, USS LSM-49, USS LSM-467, photo 008 Contributed by Hugh L. Hudson Jr.
	201k	USS LSM-49 moored pierside, date and location unknown.	Photo by Raymond R. Nase, MoMM3/c, USS LSM-49, USS LSM-467, photo 007 Contributed by Hugh L. Hudson Jr.
	70k	USS LSM-293, USS LSM-141, USS LSM-49 and USS LSM-4 beached, date and location unknown.	USS LSM / LSMR Association
Merchant Service
	62k	Ex-USS LSM-49 in commercial service as MV Western Venturer, 10 December 1962. *Western Venturer* was under charter to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as a Missile Ranger Tender for NASA at Cape Canaveral. FL.	USS LSM / LSMR Association
	107k	MV Western Venturer, moored pierside, date and location unknown.	Anonymous
	113k	MV Western Venturer, moored pierside, date and location unknown.	Anonymous
	101k	MV Western Venturer, moored pierside, date and location unknown.	Anonymous