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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSSL-4
ex
 USS LCS(L)(3)-4 (1944 - 1949)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Oscar - Oscar
 NVOO
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

USS LSSL-4 was transferred to France, named RFS Arquebuse (L9022), and later to South Vietnam, renamed RVNS Linh Kiem (HQ-226)
LCS(L)(3)-1 Class Landing Craft Support (Large)(Mark3):
  • Laid down, 5 July 1944, at George Lawley & Sons Corp., Neponset, MA.
  • Launched, 15 July 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCS(L)(3)-4, 11 August 1944, LT. E. W. Welch Jr., in command
  • During World War II USS LCS(L)(3)-4 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LCS(L)(3) Flotilla Five, CAPT. J. M. Mc Isaac USN (23);
     LCS(L)(3) Group Fifteen, LCDR. H. Heine, USNR;
     LCS(L)(3) Division Twenty-Nine and participated in the following campaign;

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 18 to 30 June 1945

  • Following World War II USS LCS(L)(3)-4 was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    2 September to 7 December 19458 to 16 December 1945

  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group, Astoria, OR.
  • Redesignated Landing Ship Support Large USS LSSL-4, 28 February 1949
  • Transferred to France 15 August 1950, redesignated RFS LSSL-2
  • Named RFS Arquebuse (L-9022), date unknown
  • Transferred to South Vietnam 1955, renamed RVNS Linh Kiem (HQ-226), then renamed RVNS Le Trong Deim (HQ-226)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LCS(L)(3)-4 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sunk in South Vietnam, 3 October 1970
    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 3"/50 dual purpose 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 quad packs of 4 General Motors 6051 series 71 Diesel engines per shaft, 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
    USS LCS(L)(3)-4
    LCS(L) (3)-4 79k Artist's conception of USS LCS(L)(3)-4 as she appeared during World War II by the well known graphic illustrator John Barrett. His company, Navy Yard Associates offers, in addition to prints of LCS(L)s, many other navy types including most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your biography, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource. Navy Yard Associates
    RFS Arquebuse (L9022)
    LCS(L) (3)-4 473k Ex-USS LSSL-2 in French naval service as RFS Arbalete (L9021) moored at Saigon, French-Indochina along with RFS Arquebuse (L9022) (ex-USS LSSL-4) and RFS Hallebarde (L9023) (ex-USS LSSL-9), 17 November 1950. France leased six LSSLs from the US Navy. After refitting in Seattle they sailed to Saigon, via San Francisco, arriving 26 August, departing 31 August 1950, Pearl Harbor, arriving 26 September, departing 10 October, Kwajalein, arriving 19 October, departing 23 October, Hollandia, 30 October to 3 November, Sandakan, arriving 10 November, departing 3 November, Saigon, arriving 17 November. Thierry Coisne in memory of his father Léon Coisne
    LCS(L) (3)-4 117k Crew of RFS Arquebuse (L9022) date and location unknown. Tommy Trampp
    LCS(L) (3)-4 68k RFS Arquebuse (L9022) and RFS Arbalete (L9021) moored at Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 1953.
    Photo courtesy Claude Coutil, QM gunner RFS Arquebuse    		 André Pilon
    RVNS Le Trong Deim (HQ-226)
    LCS(L) (3)-4 38k Ex-USS LCS(L)(3)-4 in South Vietnamese service as RVNS Le Trong Deim HQ-226, circa 1960s.
    US Navy photo    		 National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    LCS(L) (3)-4/105 49k Ex-USS LCS(L)-4 in South Vietnamese naval service as RFS Le Trong Deim (HQ-226) docked, and RFS Nguyen Van Tru (HQ-225) (ex-USS LCS(L)(3)-105) underway at the navy docks in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in June 1970.
    National Archives photo    		 National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    LCS(L) (3)-4/105 104k RVNS Le Trong Deim (HQ-226) underway, date and location unknown. Tommy Trampp
    There is no history available for USS LCS(L)(3)-4 at NavSource
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Welch Jr., E. W.11 August 1944 - ?
    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)(3) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 11 August 2017