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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Raccoon River (LSMR-520)
ex
 USS LSM(R)-520 (1945 - 1955)

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
LSM(R)-501 Class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket):
  • Laid down, 28 April 1945, at Brown Ship Building Co, Houston, TX.
  • Launched, 2 June 1945
  • Commissioned USS LSM(R)-520, 31 July 1945, LT William F. Chapman, USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LSM(R)-520 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LSM(R) Flotilla Eighteen, CAPT. C. F. Macklin USN
     LSM(R) Group Forty-Four
     LSM(R) Division One Hundred Eight
  • Decommissioned, 15 May 1946, at Green Cove Springs, FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs
  • Recommissioned, 2 February 1951, at Green Cove Springs
  • Decommissioned, 8 April 1955, at Orange, TX.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Texas Group, Orange
  • Named USS Raccoon River LSM(R)-520, 1 October 1955
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 February 1960
  • Final Disposition, sold, 22 June 1960, to Petromar Corp, Rockport, TX., converted to a barge, fate unknown
    LSM(R) Specifications:
    Displacement 758 t.(light), 993 t. (attack) 1,175 t. (fully loaded)
    Length 206' 3"
    Beam 34' 6"
    Draft light, 5' 4" (mean), attack 6' 9" (mean), fully loaded 7' 9" (mean)
    Speed 13 kts.
    Complement 6 officers, 137 enlisted
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    ten twin continuous loading 5" SS rocket launchers
    four 4.2" mortars
    Armor 10-lb. STS on conning station, pilot-house, radio room, radar plot, and rocket control, 10-lb. ASPP around 40 and 20mm gun mounts and directors
    Endurance 3,000 miles @ 13kts
    Propulsion
    two General Motors 16-278A (non-reversing with airflex clutch) Diesel engines, direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm
    Ship's Service Generators
     four Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
     two Diesel-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.
    twin screws 2,800 shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Raccoon River 53k USS LSM(R)-520 moored pierside at Detroit, MI., circa October 1945. Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Pit River 58k Seventeen LSM(R)s at Green Cove Springs, FL. during Operation "Zipper", the process of decommissioning the fleet, commonly called "mothballing", March 1946.
    From front to back:
    USS LSM(R)-519
    USS LSM(R)-526,
    USS LSM(R)-527,
    USSLSM(R)-525,
    USS LSM(R)-524, (See Deck Log entry below)
    USS LSM(R)-529,
    USS LSM(R)-521,
    USS LSM(R)-528,
    USS LSM(R)-522,
    USS LSM(R)-531,
    USS LSM(R)-536,
    USS LSM(R)-535,
    USSLSM(R)-534,
    USS LSM(R)-520,
    USS LSM(R)-533,
    USSLSM(R)-530,
    USS LSM(R)-523,
    The LSMR-524 Deck Log states during the month of March 1946
    Moored in Birth Oak 31, St. Johns River Green Cove Springs. Fla. Anchorage in 14 feet of water, mud bottom with 65 fathoms of chain to bow anchor and 495 feet of cable to the stern anchor. Nested with LSM (R) type ships: 523, 530, 533, 520, 534, 535, 536, 531, 522, 528, 521, and 529, moored to our starboard numbering from inboard to outboard. LSM(R) type ships: 525, 527, 526, and 519, moored to our port numbering from inboard to outboard , on the following bearing: bridge opening 180 .5 (T), signal tower 235 (T), pt. of land 336 (T). The following machinery in operation: #1 generator, #1 evaporator, #2 fire & flushing pumps, #2 fresh water pumps, #2 refrigeration unit.
    		Robert Hanle to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    Log Entry submitted by Mark McDonald for his father John A. McDonald S1/c USS LSM(R)-524
    Raccoon River 95k USS LSM(R)-520 under way off San Diego, CA., 26 July 1954.
    photo by Oather Morper.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    Raccoon River 88k USS LSM(R)-520 under way, date and location unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    Raccoon River 69k USS LSM(R)-520 under way in 1954, location unknown.
    US Navy photo # NH 85000 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center, courtesy D.M. McPherson, 1976.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    Raccoon River 63k USS LSM(R)-520 under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Richard L. Bissell USS LSM(R)-520
    Raccoon River 54k USS LSM(R)-520 under way firing rockets, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Richard L. Bissell USS LSM(R)-520
    Raccoon River 64k USS LSM(R)-520 moored with USS LSM(R)-512 at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, VA., circa 1952.
    US Navy photo    		 Richard L. Bissell USS LSM(R)-520
    Raccoon River 96k USS LSM(R)-520 firing rockets, location unknown, circa 1952.
    US Navy photo    		 Richard Crank, USS LSM(R)-520
    Raccoon River 55k USS LSM(R)-520's rockets hit their mark, location unknown, circa 1952.
    US Navy photo    		 Richard Crank, USS LSM(R)-520
    Raccoon River 56k USS LSM(R)-520 firing rockets at night, location unknown, circa 1952.
    US Navy photo    		 Richard Crank, USS LSM(R)-520
    Raccoon River 110k USS LSM(R)-520 twin 5" rocket launcher, circa 1952.
    US Navy photo    		 Richard Crank, USS LSM(R)-520
    Raccoon River 60k USS LSM(R)-520 rocket hoist and ammunition storage. circa 1952.
    US Navy photo    		 Richard Crank, USS LSM(R)-520
    USS LSM(R)-520 / Raccoon River (LSMR-520)
    Dictionary of American Navy Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    USS LSM-LSMR Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS LSM(R)-520 Crew Photos
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Ship Medium (LSM) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 13 February 2009