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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-37


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Charlie - Uniform
 NVCU
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal
Bottom Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippine Liberation Medal (2)
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 21 May 1944, at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston TX, in 1944
  • Launched, 14 June 1944
  • Commissioned USS LSM-37, 19 July 1944, LT. Gordon W. Smith USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LSM-37 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Luzon operation
    Mindoro landings, 12 to 18 December 1944     		Borneo operation
    Brunei Bay operation, 20 June to 6 July 1945
    Manila Bay-Bicol operations
    Mariveles-Corregidor landings, 14 to 28 February 1945     		Consolidation and capture of the Southern Philippines
    Mindanao Island landings, 10 March, 17 April to 23, April and 3 May 1945

  • Following World War II USS LSM-37 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 7 October to 11 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, 13 January 1947
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LSM-37 earned four battle stars for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sold in 1959, to Pacific Inland Navigation Co., Aberdeen, WA, converted to a barge, Official Number (290463)
  • Current Disposition, owned by Tidewater Barge Lines, Vancouver, WA., renamed #542 was used to transport wheat, now serving as a tie-off barge "Spud Barge"
    Specifications:
    Displacement 520 t.(light), 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
    Length 203' 6" (ovl)
    Beam 34' 6"
    Draft
    light, 3' 6" forward, 7' 8" aft
    fully loaded, 6' 4" forward, 8' 3" aft
    Speed 13.2 kts. (max.), (928 tons displacement)
    Complement
    5 officers
    54 enlisted
    Armament
    one twin bow mounted 40mm gun
    four single 20mm gun mounts
    Vehicle/Boat Capacity 5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVT's, or 9 DUKW's
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 1,225 Bbls
    Troop Accommodations
    2 officers
    46 enlisted
    Armor 10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station
    Endurance 4,900 miles @ 12kts.(928 tons displacement)
    Propulsion
    two Fairbanks Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) Diesel engines, direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm
    Ship's Service Generators
     two Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
     one Diesel-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.
    twin propellers, 2,800shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LSM-37 61k USS LSM-37 and USS LSM-130 beached in the Philippines, date and location unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-37/130 92k USS LSM-37 coming to the assistance of USS LSM-169 at Mariveles Bay, P.I., 15 February 1945, after LSM-169 began burning after striking a mine. Bill Brinkley and the USS LSM-LSMR Association
    LSM-37 53k Bow view of ex USS LSM-37 in service as #542 a "Spud Barge" for Tidewater Barge Lines, on the Columbia River, December 2002 Ron Gray / Captain
    LSM-37 107k Stern view of ex USS LSM-37 in service as #542, a "Spud Barge" for Tidewater Barge Lines, on the Columbia River, December 2002. She is stern to stern with #541, ex LSM-359 Ron Gray / Captain
    LSM-37 48k Interior view of ex USS LSM-37 bow doors, note ramp has been removed. February 2003 Ron Gray / Captain
    LSM-37 36k Interior view of ex USS LSM-37 of the compartment forward of the officers' and crew's quarters on the starboard bow. Note the coat hooks near the top of the picture. February 2003 Ron Gray / Captain
    LSM-37 39k ex USS LSM-37, in use as a SPUD Barge (tie-off barge) by Tidewater Barge Lines, high and dry on the banks of the Columbia River, March 2003. Ron Gray / Captain
    LSM-37 52k ex USS LSM-37, in use as a SPUD Barge (tie-off barge) by Tidewater Barge Lines, high and dry on the banks of the Columbia River, March 2003. Ron Gray / Captain
    The history extract for LSM-37 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Smith, Gordon W., USNR19 July 1944 - March 1946
    02LTjg. Fisher, D. E., USNRMarch 1946 - July 1946
    03ENS. Zemlin, John C., USNRJuly 1946 - 1946
    04LTjg. Nyberg, Gordon C., USNR1946 - 13 January 1947
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last updated 28 April 2018