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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-558

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

USS LSM-558 was transferred to the Republic of Germany and named FGS Viper (L-753)

LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:

Laid down, 10 April 1945, at US Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C.

Launched, 28 April 1945

Commissioned USS LSM-558, 2 November 1945, LT. John B. Foster USNR in command

During World War II USS LSM-558 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
LSM Flotilla Sixteen;
LSM Group Forty-Six;
LSM Division Ninety-Two

Decommissioned, 3 June 1946, at Green Cove Springs FL.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs

Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown

Transferred, 5 September 1958, to the Federal Republic of Germany , named FGS Viper (L-753)

Retired by the Germany Navy in 1970

Merchant Service

Sold in 1970, to Norfolk Lijn, Scheveningen, NL

Rebuilt as a Roll On/Roll Off ship at Boele´s Scheepswerven, Bolnes, NL

Renamed MS Duchess of Holland in 1971, reflagged Dutch

Duchess of Holland provided RO/RO service between Scheveningen, NL and Great Yarmouth,

United Kingdom from 1971 to 1973

Sold in 1973 to Ocean Inchape Ltd. London, United Kingdom, renamed MS Oil Dragon,

reflagged United Kingdom

Sold in 1986 Vantage Shipping Ltd. Gibraltar, renamed MS Seacore

Final Disposition, sold in 1989, to Scowcroft L.H. Gibraltar, scrapped, 1991/92

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

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS LSM-558
101455801	269k	*LSM-558* launching, at Charleston Navy Yard, Saturday, 28 April 1945. *LSM-558* was sponsored by Miss Eleanor Gamble James, 14, a student at Ashley Hall, Charleston, daughter of RADM Jules James, USN, Commandant of Charleston Navy Yard and the Sixth Naval District, and Mrs. James. ADM. James presided at the launching ceremony. US Navy Yard Charleston file photo # 2198-4	David Wright
	127k	Charleston Navy Yard fitting out pier "C" looking north to river end. Shop field offices and Building Ways 1 and 2 in background on left. Ships present *LSM-556, LSM-557, LSM-558* front row. Second row *LSM-553, LSM-554* and *LSM-555. Beyond the LSMs is Tidewater* (AD-31). Charleston Navy Yard photo # 1997-45	USS LSM / LSMR Association
	90k	19 LSMs at Green Cove Springs, FL., date unknown. Ships present and identifiable are: Front Row-*LSM-558, LSM-539, LSM-543* and *LSM-544* Second Row-?, *LSM-413, LSM-542* and *LSM-540* Third Row- ?, ?, *LSM-555* and ?.	Al Edwards LSM-343 to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
	62k	Page one of the Schedule of Events pamphlet for the Transfer and Commissioning Ceremonies of six US Navy ships that will comprise the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron, 5 September 1958 at US Naval Shipyard Charleston, S.C. Thames River LSM(R)-534 to Germany renamed Natter (L-755) Smyrna River LSM(R)-532 to Germany renamed Otter (L-754) *LSM-537* to Germany named Krokodil (L-750) *LSM-491* to Germany named Eidechse (L-751) *LSM-553* to Germany named Salamander (L-752) *LSM-558* to Germany named Viper (L-753)	Ingo Zeitz
	45k	Page two of the Transfer and Commissioning Ceremonies pamphlet for the six US Navy ships that will comprise the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron, 5 September 1958 at US Naval Shipyard Charleston, S.C.	Ingo Zeitz
FGS Viper (L-753)
	96k	Ex-*LSM-558* in the Federal Republic of Germany service as *FGS Viper* (L-753)** moored pierside, date and place unknown.	USS LSM / LSMR Association
	66k	Viper (L-753) beaching, date and place unknown.	USS LSM / LSMR Association
	31k	Viper (L-753) beached, date and place unknown.	Ingo Zeitz
	69k	The four LSMs of the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron moored pierside at the German Naval Base at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. From outboard to inboard; *FGS Viper* (L-753) FGS Salamander (L-752) FGS Krokodil (L-750) FGS Eidechse (L-751)**, date unknown.	Ingo Zeitz
	49k	The four LSMs of the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron beached during amphibious exercises, date and place unknown.From left to right; *FGS Eidechse* (L-751) FGS Krokodil (L-750) FGS Salamander (L-752) FGS Viper (L-753)**, date unknown.	Ingo Zeitz
	71k	*FGS Viper* (L-753)** leaving Esbjerg, Denmark, May 1967.	Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus
	90k	Overhead view of *FGS Viper* (L-753)** underway, date and location unknown.	Robert Hurst
	51k	*FGS Viper* (L-753)** underway, circa 1960s, location unknown.	Karsten Petersen
Merchant Service
	45k	Ex-*LSM-558* in commercial as the Norfolk Lijn of Scheveningen, NL, Roll-On / Roll-Off ship MV Duchess of Holland under way, circa 1971 to 1973, location unknown.	Ingo Zeitz