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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-73

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Foxtrot - Oscar
NVFO

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)

LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:

Laid down, 29 July 1944, at Brown Ship Building Co., Houston, TX.

Launched, 22 August 1944

Commissioned USS LSM-73, 16 September 1944, ENS. Evan E. Jones USN in command

During World War II USS LSM-73 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
LSM Flotilla Six, CDR. A. R. Quinn USN;
LSM Group Seventeen, LCDR. C. H. Johnson, USNR;
LSM Division Thirty-Three and participated in the following campaign:

Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 9 to 26 April 1945

Following World War II USS LSM-73 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 5 September to 26 November 1945

Decommissioned, 2 April 1946 at Charleston, S.C.

Struck from the Naval Register, 5 June 1946

USS LSM-73 earned one battle star for World War II service

Sold, 9 February 1948, to the Chesapeake Bay Ferry District of Cape Charles, VA.

Taken over by the Virginia Ferry Corporation, converted to serve as a fuel tanker for the seven car ferries that ran between Kiptopeke Beach (Northampton County Virginia) and Little Creek, VA.

Placed in service as the M/V Kiptopeke

Sold to either Chilean or Peruvian owners circa 1963 when the Chesapeake Bridge Bay Tunnel opened

Final Disposition, fate unknown

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
USS LSM-73
	49k	USS LSM-73 beached, date and location unknown.	K. Lang to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
	76k	USS LSM-73 at anchor, date and location unknown.	K. Lang to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
Merchant Service
	62k	Ex-USS LSM-73 in merchant service as the Virginia Ferry Commission tanker M/V Kiptopeke. She served the seven car ferries that ran between Kiptopeke and Little Creek, VA. Note - she had a superstructure added just aft of midship and tanks fitted inside the hull. The hull was black and upper works were white with "straw" colored stack.	Paul Burket

Commanding Officers
01	ENS. Jones, Evan Edward, USN	16 September 1944 - September 1945
02	ENS. Ozmun, Donald B., USNR	September 1945 - 2 April 1946


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
USS LSM-LSMR Association

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 19 May 2018