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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSSL-68
ex
 USS LCS(L)(3)-68 (1945 - 1949)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Uniform - Mike
 NVUM
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 (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

USS LSSL-68 was transferred to Japan and named Hamayu (439) and finally to the Philippines
LCS(L)(3)-1 Class Landing Craft Support (Large)(Mark3):
  • Laid down, 9 November 1944, at Albina Engine and Machine Works Inc., Portland OR.
  • Launched, 7 December 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCS(L)(3)-68, 15 January 1945, LT. M. G, Laessig USN in Command
  • During World War II USS LCS(L)(3)-68 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LCS(L)(3) Flotilla Four, CDR. N. Phillips USN (24);
     LCS(L)(3) Group Twelve, LCDR. B. D. Voegelin USNR;
     LCS(L)(3) Division Twenty-Three, and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 10 May to 30 June 1945

  • Following World War II USS LCS(L)(3)-68 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 2 September 1945 to 20 March 1946
  • Decommissioned in April 1946, at Astoria, OR.
  • Laid up in the Astoria Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Redesignated Landing Ship Support Large USS LSSL-68, 28 February 1949
  • Transferred, on loan, to Japan 30 June 1953, named Hamayu (439)
  • Returned to US custody, date unknown
  • Transferred to the Republic of the Philippines 17 November 1975, for spare parts, never commissioned
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LCS(L)(3)-68 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    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 twin 40 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:
    Ships' Data U.S. Naval Vessels, Navships 250-012, April 15 1945
    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)
    There is no history for USS LCI(L)((3)-68 available at NavSource
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS LCS(L)(3)-68
    LCS(L)(3)-68 84k LCS(L)(3)-68 launching ceremony, 7 December 1944, at Albina Engine and Machine Works, Portland, OR.
    US National Archives Photo # 80-G 394914, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives     		National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    LCS(L)(3)-68 38k In the foreground is USS LCS(L)(3)-91
    and USS LCS(L)(3)-68 in the background while under way, location unknown, circa 1945.    		 National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    Hamayu (439)
    LCS(L)(3)-68 132k Ex-USS LCS(L)(3)-68 in Japanese service as Hamayu (439) National Association of
    USS LCS(L)(3) 1-130
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Laessig, M. G. USN15 January 1945 - ?
    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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 11 August 2017