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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSSL-96
ex
 USS LCS(L)(3)-96 (1945 - 1949)

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-96 was transferred to Japan named Shobu, and later to South Vietnam, renamed RVNS Nguyen Ngoc Long (HQ-230) and finally to the Philippines renamed RPS Sulu (LF-49)
LCS(L)(3)-1 Class Landing Craft Support (Large)(Mark3):
  • Laid down, 18 December 1944, at Commercial Iron Works, Portland OR.
  • Launched, 6 January 1945
  • Commissioned USS LCS(L)(3)-96, 24 January 1945, LT. O. K. Franklin USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LCS(L)(3)-96 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LCS(L)(3) Flotilla Four, CDR. N. Phillips USN (24);
     LCS(L)(3) Group Thirteen, LCDR. R. L. Jackson USN
     LCS(L)(3) Division Twenty-Five 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)-96 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 19 November 194520 November 1945 to 8 April 1946
    10 to 15 April 1946 

  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Redesignated and Landing Ship Support Large, USS LSSL-96, 28 February 1949
  • Transferred to Japan, 30 June 1953, named Shobu
  • Returned to US Navy custody, 28 April 1965
  • Transferred to South Vietnam, renamed RVNS Nguyen Ngoc Long (HQ-230)
  • With the fall of government of South Vietnam, Nguyen Ngoc Long escaped to the Philippines in 1975
  • Custody transferred to the Republic of the Philippines, renamed RPS Sulu (LF-49)
  • Struck from the US Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LCS(L)(3)-96 earned one battle star for WWII service
  • Final Disposition, non-operational as of 1983, fate unknown
    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 twin 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
    USS LCS(L)(3)-96
    LCS(L)(3)-96 30k USS LCS(L)(3)-96 at Whangpoo River, Shanghai, China, 12 February 1946, photo by unknown Chinese photographer Melissa Turner
    courtesy her grandfather, Norman D. Hinkle, crew member WWII
    RVNS Nguyen Ngoc Long (HQ-230)
    LCS(L)(3)-96 60k Ex USS LSSL-96 at anchor, date and location unknown while in South Vietnamese service RVNS Nguyen Ngoc Long (HQ-230)  
    LCS(L)(3)-96 126k RVNS Nguyen Ngoc Long (HQ-230), moored pierside at Dong Tam, South Vietnam, 21 May 1971. © Richard Leonhardt
    LCS(L)(3)-96 131k RVNS Nguyen Ngoc Long (HQ-230) underway in Vietnamese waters. Photo taken from USCGC Blackhaw (WAGL-390), 17 February 1971.
    US Coast Guard photo # 021771-28, Blackhaw file, USCG Historian's Office.    		 Robert Hurst
    LCS(L)(3)-96 44k RVNS Nguyen Ngoc Long (HQ-230) moored outboard of RVNS Nguyen Duc Bong (HQ-231) [ex-USS LSSL-129] which is outboard of an unidentified ex-US LSSL, date and location unknown. The bow of USS Gray (DE-1054) is also visible in the photo. Tommy Trampp
    There is no history available for USS LCS(L)(3)-96 at NavSource
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Franklin, O. K., USNR23 January 1945 - ?
    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)
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Craft Support (LCS(L) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 11 August 2017