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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-297


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - India - Foxtrot
NVIF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal


LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 5 October 1944, at U.S. Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C.
  • Launched, 30 October 1944
  • Commissioned USS LSM-297, 18 December 1944, LTjg. Gilbert A. Harre USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LSM-297 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, 4 November 1957, at Astoria, OR.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in November 1958, to Western Contracting Corp., Sioux City, IA., converted to a barge, 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

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    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LSM-297 84k USS LSM-297 under way, date and location unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-297 81k USS LSM-297 and USS LST-1041 beached while unloading equipment, date and location unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-297 48k USS LSM-297 underway in San Diego Bay, May 1956.
    Photo by Oather Morper.
    Bill Brinkley and the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-297 75k USS LSM-297 under way, date and location unknown. Bill Brinkley and the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-297 48k USS LSM-297 at anchor, date and location unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-297 50k USS LSM-297 being maneuvered by landing craft up to a pontoon causeway during amphibious exercises, date and location unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-297 49k USS LSM-297 beached at San Salvador Island while serving as island supply ship, 1956. Ron Gray
    LSM-297 76k USS LSM-297, USS LST-521 and USS Krishna (ARL-38) during "Operation Blue Jay" the construction of Thule Air Force Base in Greenland, July 1951. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-297 69k USS LSM-297 on the Severn River off the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD., 10 October 1952. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-297 85k USS LSM-297 approaching the dock at the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD., 10 October 1952. Other ships present include USS Eaton (DD-510), USS Beal (DD-471) and USS Diablo (SS-469). USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-397/297 58k USS LSM-297 and USS LSM-397 moored at South Beach, Miami, FL., 29 June 1954. Photo by Raymond A. Biswanger, Jr., Ph.D., LT. USN (Ret) USS LSM-9 and USS LSM-538
    LSM-397/297 63k

    The history extract for USS LSM-297 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Harre, Gilbert A., USNR18 December 1944 - ?
    02ENS. Benner, James Robert, USNR (acting)December 1945 7 January 1946
    03LTjg. Voige Jr., John H., USNR07 January 1946 - June 1946
    04LTjg. Miller, Tilford D., USNRJune 1946 - September 1946
    05LT. McAnnally, Lawson Turner, USNSeptember 1946 - November 1946
    06LTjg. Therriault, William Woodrow, USNNovember 1946 - ?
    07LT. Hayden, Charles Hilary, USN1948
    08LT. Simmons Jr., John Alexander, USN? - July 1950
    08LT. Grantham, Delbert David, USN (USNA 1947)1952
    10LT. Smith, Floyd Earnest, USNno dates
    11LT. Gordon, Jack Wallace, USN1955 - 19 May 1957
    12LT. Olsen Jr., Richard L., USNR19 May 1957 - 4 November 1957
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves. Photos courtesy Bill Gonyo

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

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    Last Updated 15 March 2024