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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSSL-52
ex
 USS LCS(L)(3)-52 (1944 - 1949)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Tango - Golf
 NVTG
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive - 28 May 1945) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Personnel Awards

Purple Heart (2-KIA, 10-WIA, 28 May 1945)

USS LCS(L)(3)-52 was loaned to Japan, named JMSDFS Sasayuri
LCS(L)(3)-1 Class Landing Craft Support (Large)(Mark3):
  • Laid down, 21 June 1944, at Albina Engine and Machine Works Inc., Portland, OR.
  • Launched, 14 August 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCS(L)(3)-52, 23 September 1944, LT. J. O. Harper USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LCS(L)(3)-52 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LCS(L)(3) Flotilla Three, CAPT. T.C. Aylward USN (23);
     LCS(L)(3) Group Seven, LCDR. F. P. Stone USNR;
     LCS(L)(3) Division Thirteen, and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 February to 8 March 1945     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto., 1 April to 30 June 1945

  • Following World War II USS LCS(L)(3)-52 was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    19 September to 20 November 194522 November to 10 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Redesignated Landing Ship Support Large USS LSSL-52, 28 February 1949
  • Transferred on loan to Japan, 29 July 1953, named JMSDFS Sasayuri
  • Returned to US custody, 29 August 1958
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LCS(L)(3)-52 earned two battle stars for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sunk as a target by gunfire, December 1958
    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 40mm 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
    LCS(L)(3)-52 23k USS LCS(L)(3)-52 under way, date and location unknown. National Association of
    USS LCS(L) 1-130
    LCS(L)(3)-52
    1005005204 - NA 148728556     		399k USS LCS(L)(3)-52 off Iwo Jima tied up alongside USS Nevada (BB-36), 22 February 1945, while taking aboard 8000 rounds of 40mm ammunition. Note the Vought OS2U Kingfisher float planes on the Nevada catapults.
    US National Archives Identifiers 148728556 and 148728558, a US Navy photos.    		 David Upton
    LCS(L)(3)-52
    1005005203 - NA 148728558    		 410k
    LCS(L)(3)-52 55k USS LCS(L)(3)-52 off Okinawa, date unknown.
    Photo by Dave Conrad LTjg. USNR, USS LCI(M)-1012    		 Submitted by Roy Hawk for
    Philip M. Dampf Jr. LTjg. USNR USS LCI(M)-1010
    The History of LCS(L)(3)-52 was provided by the National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Harper, J. O., USNR23 September 1944 - ?
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    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)
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 16 April 2021