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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-355


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Mike - Sierra
 NVMS
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
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal )with Asia clasp) - Korea Service Medal (2)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

USS LSM-355 was transferred to France, redesignated RFS L 9011, later transferred to South Vietnam, named RVNS Hat Giang (HQ-400) later transferred to the Philippines, renamed BPR Western Samar (LP-66)
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 11 November 1944, at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, TX.
  • Launched, 2 December 1944
  • Commissioned USS LSM-355, 24 December 1944, LT. H. P. Reeves USNR in command (May 1945)
  • During World War II USS LSM-355 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LSM Flotilla Twelve, LCDR. A. F. Dineen USN (22);
     LSM Group Thirty-Five, LCDR. W. K. Bradbury USNR;
     LSM Division Sixty-Nine
  • Following World War II USS LSM-355 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 2 September to 23 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, 23 October 1946
  • Laid up in the Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned, 18 September 1950
  • During the Korean War USS LSM-355 participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    U.N. Summer-Fall Offensive
    1 to 31 October 1952     		Korean Defense, Summer-Fall 1952
    12 to 20 November 1952
    During the Korean War USS LSM-355 was one of three supply vessels that serviced the various Air Force units scattered between the Korean peninsula and Japan. Among these units were Detachment 21 of the 618th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron stationed on Tsuchima Island and a Detachment of the 624 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron.
    W.E. Gatchell
  • Decommissioned, 11 January 1954
  • USS LSM-355 earned two battle stars for Korean War service
  • Transferred, on loan, to France, 18 January 1954, redesignated L 9011
  • Transferred to South Vietnam in December 1955, commissioned RVNS Hat Giang (HQ-400)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Escaped to Philippines after the fall of South Vietnam government, 30 April 1975
  • Interned at Subic Bay
  • Transferred, 17 November 1975, to the Republic of the Philippines, renamed BPR Western Samar (LP-66)
  • Final Disposition, disposed of by Philippine Navy in 1989, 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-355
    LSM-274 99k The Industrial Dept. dock at NOB Guam, date unknown. Ships that can be identified include USS LSM-355 USS LSM-274 and USS LSM-171 astern of USS LSM-274.
    US Navy photo # 369940.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-110/355 62k USS LSM-110 and USS LSM-355 in dry dock, Long Beach, CA., circa March 1952 to 22 May, 1952. Kenneth Oliver
    Photo Courtesy Jim Tusing LSM-372,
    Editor "Alligator Alley" The Newsletter
    of the USS LSM - LSMR Association
    LSM-355 71k USS LSM-355 underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo # USN 1045158    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-355 79k USS LSM-355 beached, date and location unknown. Joe Schwerther to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-355
    101435507    		 141k USS LSM-355 moored pierside at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, 23 Oct 1953, while being prepared for decommissioning and lay up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
    US National Archives Riverside photo # 20676    		 Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
    LSM-355
    101435508    		 225k USS LSM-355 drydocked at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, 23 Oct 1953, while being prepared for decommissioning and lay up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
    US National Archives Riverside photo # 20686    		 Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
    RFS L 9011
    Algol 33k Ex-USS LSM-355 in French service as RFS L9011 alongside USS Algol (AKA-54) in Indo-China waters as they transfer anti-Communist refugees.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine December 1954    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Marine Serpent
    0919062162    		 1345k RFS L9011 in a French Indochina harbor, circa winter 1954-1955. During this time she operated along the coast of Indochina transporting Vietnamese refugees from the Communist dominated North to a new life of freedom in the South. In addition she evacuated French troops and military equipment southward to ports such as Saigon and Tourane.
    Photos by LTjg Carl Berry Moseley USS Taluga (AO-62), 1954-1957.    		 Gaelynn M. Thurman for her father LTjg. Carl. B. Moseley USS Taluga (AO-62), 1954-1957.
    RVNS Hat Giang (HQ-400)
    LSM-335 24k Ex-USS LSM-355, in South Vietnamese service as RVNS Hat Giang (HQ-400) Armed Hospital Ship Peter Bayliss
    LSM-335
    101435509    		 138k RVNS Hat Giang (HQ-400) Armed Hospital Ship, moored pierside, October 1967.
    Flickr - Navy Medicine    		 Michael Rhode
    LSM-335 66k RVNS Hat Giang (HQ-400) secured outboard of South Vietnamese RVNS Huong Giang (HQ-404) ex USS Oceanside (LSM-175) at Nha Be RVN, February1972. © Richard Leonhardt
    LSM-335 41k RVNS Hat Giang (HQ-400) at anchor, date and location unknown. Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Commercial Service
    LSM-355 171k Ex-USS LSM-355 for sale while in commercial service, date and location in the Philippines, unknown. Edison Sy
    LSM-355 138k
    LSM-355 122k
    LSM-355 142k
    The history extract for USS LSM-355 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LT/LTjg. Reeves, P., USNR24 December 1944 - 1946
    02ENS. Averett, Rufus M., USNR1946 - 23 October 1946
     Decommissioned23 October 1946 - 18 September 1950
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 18 October 2024