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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-72

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Foxtrot - November
NVFN

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive - Zambales and Okinawa) - Navy Unit Commendation
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)

LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:

Laid down, 29 July 1944, at Brown Ship Building Co., Houston, TX.

Launched, 22 August 1944

Commissioned USS LSM-72, 17 September 1944, LT. James F. Barlow USNR in command

During WWII USS LSM-72 was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
LSM Flotilla Six, CDR. A. R. Quinn USN;
LSM Group Seventeen, (flagship) LCDR. C. H. Johnson, USNR;
LSM Division Thirty-Three and participated in the:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
Manila Bay-Bicol operations Zambales - Subic Bay Operation, 29 to 31 January 1945	Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 9 April to 17 June 1945

Following World War II USS LSM-72 was assigned to Occupation service in Japan from 20 September to 20 November 1945

Decommissioned, 5 April 1946, at Norfolk, VA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 5 June 1946

USS LSM-72 earned the Navy Unit Commendation and two battle stars for World War II service

Sold, 10 November 1947, to Capitol Salvage & Sales Co., Edgewater, N.J.

Final Disposition, 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 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
	72k	USS LSM-72, USS LSM-77 and USS LSM-228 beached on the Okinawa reef, April 1945.		Bob Stoll USS LSM-228 to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
	57k	USS LSM-72 and USS LSM-78 beached at Okinawa, April 1945.		Donald McClain USS LSM-72

Official US Navy history of USS LSM-72 at NavSource contributed by Ron MacKay, Jr., Historian, USS LSM-LSMR Association

Commanding Officers
01	LT. Barlow, James F., USNR	17 September 1944 - December 1944
02	LTjg. Bostow, Lawrence, USNR	December 1944 - December 1945
03	LTjg. Webb, Theodore J., USNR	December 1945 - March 1946
04	LTjg. Bagnulo, Richard M., USNR	March 1946 - 5 April 1946


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 19 May 2018