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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSSL-114
ex
 USS LCS(L)(3)-114 (1944 - 1949)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive -Okinawa)
Second Row - Navy Unit Commendation - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippine Liberation Medal

USS LCS(L)(3)-114 was loaded to Japan, named Hiiragi
LCS(L)(3)-1 Class Landing Craft Support (Large)(Mark3):
  • Laid down, 17 October 1944, at George Lawley & Sons Corp., Neponset, MA.
  • Launched, 26 October 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCS(L)(3)-114, 12 November 1944, LT. Gerald Mefferd USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LCS(L)(3)-114 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LCS(L)(3) Flotilla Four, CDR. N. Phillips USN;
     LCS(L)(3) Group Ten, LCDR. J. A. Donson USN;
     LCS(L)(3) Division Nineteen, and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 26 March to 30 June 1945

  • Following World War II USS LCS(L)(3)-114 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 2 September to 3 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Redesignated and Landing Ship Support Large, USS LSSL-114, 28 February 1949
  • Transferred, on loan, to Japan, 30 April 1953, named Hiiragi
  • Returned to US custody 14 February 1966
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LCS(L)(3)-114 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 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 General Motors 6051 series 71 Diesel engines, 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)
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LCS(L) (3)-114 441k USS LCS(L)(3)-114 under way, date and location unknown. Contributed by John P Warner Jr to the
    National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    LCS(L) (3)-118/114 52k USS LCS(L)(3)-114 moored inboard of USS LCS(L)(3)-118, at Yokosuka, Japan, November 1945 Contributed by Earl Blanton, CO LCS(L)-118
    to the National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    The History of LCS(L)(3)-114 provided by the National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Mefferd, Gerald, USNR12 November 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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 11 August 2017