Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSSL-20
ex
 USS LC(L)(3)-20 (1944 - 1949)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Tango- Juliet
 NVTJ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, Okinawa) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippine Liberation Medal
Personnel Awards

Purple Hearts (7-WIA, Okinawa, 1 April 1945)

USS LCS(L)(3)-20 also served in the Japanese Self-defense Force as JMSDFS Himeyuri
LCS(L)(3)-1 Class Landing Craft Support (Large)(Mark3):
  • Laid down, 4 September 1944, at George Lawley & Sons Corp., Neponset, MA.
  • Launched, 13 September 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCS(L)(3)-20, 10 October 1944, LT. L. R. Hof USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LCS(L)(3)-20 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LCS(L)(3) Flotilla Three, CAPT. T.C. Aylward USN (23):
     LCS(L)(3) Group Eight, LCDR. E. C. Thomas USNR;
     LCS(L)(3) Division Sixteen and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 26 March to 25 June 1945     		Minesweeping Operations Pacific
    Tsushima Straits (Kyushu-Korea Area), 8 to 19 November and 20 November to 4 December 1945

  • Following World War II USS LCS(L)(3)-20 was assigned to Occupation Service in the Far East from 2 September 1945 to 15 February 1946
  • Decommissioned, 27 June 1946
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group, Astoria, OR.
  • Redesignated Landing Ship Support Large, LSSL-20, 28 February 1949
  • Transferred, on loan, to Japan, 29 July 1953, named JMSDFS Himeyuri
  • Returned to US Navy custody, 29 August 1958
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LCS(L)(3)-20 earned two battle stars for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, destroyed as a target by gunfire December 1958
    Specifications:
    Displacement 250 t (lt), 387 t (fl)
    Length 158' o.a.
    Beam 23' 8"
    Draft
    5' 8" limiting and max draft
    loaded, 4' 9" fwd, 6' 6" aft
    Speed
    14.4 trial
    16.5k max at 650 shaft rpm
    14.5kts at 585 shaft rpm
    Armor 10-lb STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning tower
    Complement
    6 Officers
    65 Enlisted
    Endurance 5,500 miles at 12kts at 45" pitch (350 tons dspl.)
    Fuel/Stores
    635 Bbls Diesel (76 tons)
    10 tons fresh water
    6 tons lubrication oil
    8 tons provisions and stores at full load
    Fresh Water Capacity distill up to 1,000 gals. per day
    Armament
    bow gun, one single 40mm gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four single 20mm AA gun mounts
    four .50 cal machine guns
    ten MK7 rocket launchers
    Propulsion
    2 quad packs of 4 General Motors 6051 series 71 Diesel engines per shaft, BHP 1,600
    single General Motors Main Reduction Gears
    2 Diesel-drive 60Kw 450V. A. C. Ships Service Generators
    twin variable pitch propellers
    Specifications Sources
    Baker, A.D. III. Allied Landing Craft of World War II. Annapolis: United States Naval Institute Press, 1989. 47
    Lawley, George & Sons Corporation. Instructions for LCS(L)(3) Class Lawley, George & Sons Corporation. Original Plans of LCS(L)(3)
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LCS(L) (3)-20 219k Artist's conception of USS LCS(L)(3)-20 as she appeared during World War II by the well known graphic illustrator John Barrett. His company, Navy Yard Associates offers, in addition to prints of LCS(L)s, many other navy types including most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your biography, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource. Navy Yard Associates
    LCS(L) (3)-20 66k USS LCS(L)(3)-20, at sea, date and location unknown. National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    LCS(L)(3)-17/18/20/21 55k USS LCS(L)(3)-20 and the rest of LCS(L) Group 8 practicing off Guadalcanal, early 1945 National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    History of LCS(L)(3)-20 as provided by the National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Hof, L. R., USNR10 October 1944 - ?
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Other Crew Contact and Reunion Information
    National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130
    Dennis Steenbergen, Secretary
    7345 W. Lakeside Drive, Littleton, CO, 80125
    Phone 303-470-1187
    E-mail Dennis Steenbergen
    Additional Web Sites of Interest
    National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130
    Additional Resources
    Rielly, Robin L. Mighty Midgets at War: The Saga of the LCS(L) Ships from Iwo Jima to Vietnam. Central Point, Oregon: Hellgate Press, 2000. (ISBN 1-55571-522-2)
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Craft Support (LCS(L) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 11 August 2017