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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSSL-38
ex
 USS LCS(L)(3)-38 (1944 - 1949)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Sierra - Echo
 NVSE
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

USS LSSL-38 was transferred to to Italy, named Bracco (L-9852)
LCS(L)(3)-1 Class Landing Craft Support (Large)(Mark3)
  • Laid down, 11 September 1944, at Commercial Iron Works, Portland OR.
  • Launched, 1 October 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCS(L)(3)-38, 13 October 1944, LT. Jack C. Smith USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LCS(L)(3)-38 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LCS(L)(3) Flotilla Three, CAPT. T.C. Aylward USN (23);
     LCS(L)(3) Group Nine, LT. B. A. Thiakield USNR;
     LCS(L)(3) Division Seventeen, and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 27 March to 2 June May 1945     		Minesweeping Operations Pacific
    Tschibana Wan (Kyushu-Korea Area), 24 November to 4 December 1945

  • Following World War II USS LCS(L)(3)-38 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 10 September to 19 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, 27 June 1946
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs, FL.
  • Redesignated Landing Ship Support Large USS LSSL-38, 28 February 1949
  • Transferred to Italy, 25 July 1951, named Bracco (L-9852)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LCS(L)(3)-38 earned two battle stars for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, scrapped by the Italian Navy in 1983.

    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
    USS LCS(L)(3)-38
    LCS(L)(3)-38 93k LCS(L)(3)-38 under way mid-Pacific Ocean, December 1944 National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    LCS(L)(3)-19 554k USS LCS(L)(3)-19, USS LCS(L)(3)-38, USS LCS(L)(3)-23, and USS LCS(L)(3)-12, moored at Sasebo, Japan, fall 1945 National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    LCS(L)(3)-38 93k USS LCS(L)(3)-38 crew photos, May 1945 at Okinawa. National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    LCS(L)(3)-38 153k
    LCS(L)(3)-109/38/LCI(l)-536 58k USS LCS(L)(3)-38 moored outboard of USS LC(FF)-536 and inboard of USS LCS(L)(3)-109 at Sasebo, Japan, November 1945. Donated by Robert H. Ochs
    to the National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    LCS(L)(3)-38/LC(FF)-536/485 83k USS LC(FF)-485 and USS LC(FF)-536 moored astern of USS LCS(L((3)-38 at Sasebo, Japan, November or December 1945. Courtesy Robert H. Ochs, submitted by the National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    Bracco (L-9852)
    LCS(L) (3)-38 46k ex LCS(L)-38 seen here in Italian service as Bracco (L-9853), circa early 1950.
    US National Archives photo    		 National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    The History of USS LCS(L)(3)-38 was provided by the National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Smith, Jack C., USNR13 October 1944 - ?
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    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
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 11 August 2017