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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Smoky Hill River (LFR-531)
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 USS Smoky Hill River (LSMR-531) (1955 - 1969)
 USS LSM(R)-531 (1946 - 1955)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Zulu - Charlie
 NIZC
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

USS Smoky Hill River (LFR-531) was sold to Panama <
LSM(R)-501 Class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket):
  • Laid down, 2 June 1945, at Brown Shipbuilding Co, Houston, TX.
  • Launched, 7 July 1945
  • Commissioned USS LSM(R)-531, 25 September 1945, LT. James W. Macky, USN in command
  • Decommissioned, 29 May 1946, at Green Cove Springs, FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs
  • Named USS Smoky Hill River (LSMR-531), 1 October 1955
  • Redesignated Inshore Fire Support Ship (LFR-531), 1 January 1969
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 May 1973
  • Final Disposition, sold, 25 April 1974, to Max Wender, Detroit, MI. resold, 14 March 1975, to Panama and commissioned in Panamanian Navy, struck from the Panamanian Navy, 1988-1989, sold for commercial service, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement
    light 758 t.
    attack 993 t.
    fully loaded 1,175 t.
    Length 203' 6" o.a.
    Beam 34' 6"
    Draft
    light 5'4" (mean)
    attack 6'9" (mean)
    fully loaded 7'9" (mean)
    Speed 13 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 6
    Enlisted 137
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    two twin 40mm gun mounts
    four twin 20mm gun mounts
    ten twin tube continuous loading 5" (SS) spin stabilizer rocket launchers
    four 4.2" mortars
    Armor 10-lb. STS on conning station, pilot-house, radio room, radar plot, and rocket control, 10-lb. ASPP around 40 and 20mm gun mounts and directors
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 1,225 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two General Motors 16-278A (non-reversing with airflex clutch) Diesel engines, direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm
    Ship's Service Generators
     four Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
     two Diesel-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.
    twin screws 2,800 shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Smoky Hill River 64k USS LSM(R)-531 moored pierside at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, VA., late 1945. George A. Bergfeld USS LSM(R)-531
    Pit River 58k Seventeen LSM(R)s at Green Cove Springs, FL. during Operation "Zipper", the process of decommissioning the fleet, commonly called "mothballing", March 1946.
    From front to back:
    USSLSM(R)-519
    USS LSM(R)-526,
    USS LSM(R)-527,
    USS LSM(R)-525,
    USS LSM(R)-524, (See Deck Log entry below)
    USS LSM(R)-529,
    USS LSM(R)-521,
    USS LSM(R)-528,
    USS LSM(R)-522,
    USS LSM(R)-531,
    USS LSM(R)-536,
    USS LSM(R)-535,
    USS LSM(R)-534,
    USS LSM(R)-520,
    USS LSM(R)-533,
    USS LSM(R)-530,
    USS LSM(R)-523,
    The USS LSM(R)-524 Deck Log states during the month of March 1946
    Moored in Birth Oak 31, St. Johns River Green Cove Springs. Fla. Anchorage in 14 feet of water, mud bottom with 65 fathoms of chain to bow anchor and 495 feet of cable to the stern anchor. Nested with LSM (R) type ships: 523, 530, 533, 520, 534, 535, 536, 531, 522, 528, 521, and 529, moored to our starboard numbering from inboard to outboard. LSM(R) type ships: 525, 527, 526, and 519, moored to our port numbering from inboard to outboard , on the following bearing: bridge opening 180 .5 (T), signal tower 235 (T), pt. of land 336 (T). The following machinery in operation: #1 generator, #1 evaporator, #2 fire & flushing pumps, #2 fresh water pumps, #2 refrigeration unit.
    		Robert Hanle to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    Log Entry submitted by Mark McDonald for his father John A. McDonald S1/c USS LSM(R)-524
    USS Smoky Hill River LSM(R)/LFR-531
    Dictionary of American Navy Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    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
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    Last Updated 20 April 2007