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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Smyrna River (LSMR-532)
ex
 USS LSM(R)-532 (1945 - 1955)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

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

USS Smyrna River (LSMR-532) was transferred to the Federal Republic of Germany and named FGS Otter (L754)
LSM(R)-501 Class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket):
  • Laid down, 2 June 1945, at Brown Ship Building Co, Houston, TX.
  • Launched, 7 July 1945
  • Commissioned USS LSM(R)-532, 12 October 1945, LT William C. Jack, USNR in command
  • Decommissioned, 17 June 1946, at Green Cove Springs, FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs
  • Named USS Smyrna River (LSMR-532), 1 October 1955
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Transferred to Federal Republic of Germany, 5 September 1958, named Otter (L754)
  • Final Disposition, decommissioned and scrapped by the Federal Republic of Germany, 15 December 1967
    LSM(R) Specifications:
    Displacement 758 t.(light), 993 t. (attack) 1,175 t. (fully loaded)
    Length 206' 3"
    Beam 34' 6"
    Draft light, 5' 4" (mean), attack 6' 9" (mean), fully loaded 7' 9" (mean)
    Speed 13 kts.
    Complement 6 officers, 137 enlisted
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    ten twin continuous loading 5" SS 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
    Endurance 3,000 miles @ 13kts
    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
    USS Smyrna River
    Smyrna River 83k USS LSM(R)-532 drydocked at Galveston, TX, date unknown. Ed Herstein to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    Smyrna River 80k USS LSM(R)-532's 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount, Naval Station Charleston, S.C., October 1945 Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 54k USS LSM(R)-532 crew, October 1945, Naval Station Charleston, S.C. Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 86k "Salty" USS LSM(R)-532's mascot, October 1945, Naval Station Charleston, S.C. Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 71k USS LSM(R)-532's main deck looking aft from the bow while underway during shakedown cruise in either the Chesapeake Bay or off the Virginia Capes (VACAPES), circa December 1944-January 1945. Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 86k USS LSM(R)-532's main deck looking forward from the conning tower while underway during shakedown cruise in either the Chesapeake Bay or off the Virginia Capes (VACAPES), circa December 1944-January 1945. Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 79k USS LSM(R)-532 firing 5" rockets while underway during shakedown cruise in either the Chesapeake Bay or off the Virginia Capes (VACAPES), circa December 1944-January 1945. Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 69k USS LSM(R)-532 firing 5" rockets while underway during shakedown cruise in either the Chesapeake Bay or off the Virginia Capes (VACAPES), circa December 1944-January 1945. Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 86k USS LSM(R)-532's dual 40mm AA gun mount Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 96k USS LSM(R)-532's dual 40mm AA gun mount crew exercise their gun during shakedown cruise in either the Chesapeake Bay or off the Virginia Capes (VACAPES), circa December 1944-January 1945.. Perry R Stephens seated forefront in the pointers seat. Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Smyrna River 66k USS LSM(R)-532's forward starboard dual 20mm AA gun mount crew exercise their gun during shakedown cruise in either the Chesapeake Bay or off the Virginia Capes (VACAPES), circa December 1944-January 1945. Perry R. Stephens, Jr. for his father Perry R. Stephens S1/c SV-6 USNR USS LSMR-532
    Thames River 62k Page one of the Schedule of Events pamphlet for the Transfer and Commissioning Ceremonies of six US Navy ships that will comprise the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron, 5 September 1958 at US Naval Shipyard Charleston, S.C.
    USS Thames River (LSMR-534) to Germany renamed FGS Natter (L755)
    USS Smyrna River (LSMR-532) to Germany renamed FGS Otter (L-754)
    USS LSM-537 to Germany named FGS Krokodil (L750)
    USS LSM-491 to Germany named FGS Eidechse (L751)
    USS LSM-553 to Germany named FGS Salamander (L752)
    USS LSM-558 to Germany named FGS Viper (L753)    		 Ingo Zeitz
    Thames River 45k Page two of the Transfer and Commissioning Ceremonies pamphlet for the six US Navy ships that will comprise the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron, 5 September 1958 at US Naval Shipyard Charleston, S.C. Ingo Zeitz
    FGS Otter (L754)
    Thames River 33k ex-USS Thames River (LSMR-534) in German service as the Second Landing Squadron flagship FGS Natter (L755) and ex-USS Smyrna River (LSMR-532) in German service as FGS Otter (L754) moored pierside, German Federal Republic Naval Base at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Ingo Zeitz
    Thames River 62k FGS Natter (L755) and FGS Otter (L754) moored pierside, German Federal Republic Naval Base at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Note: The German Training Ship SS Gorch Fock in the background. Ingo Zeitz
    Thames River 28k FGS Natter (L755) and FGS Otter (L-754) moored pierside, German Federal Republic Naval Base at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Ingo Zeitz
    Smyrna River 42k FGS Otter (L754) underway, date and location unknown. Meine Marineziet und Bilder von
    "Blohm & Voss" (A German language web site)
    Smyrna River 64k
    Smyrna River 44k
    Thames River 48k FGS Otter (L-754) underway, circa 1967, location unknown.
    Official Germany Federal Republic Navy photo from "Janes Fighting Ships (1967-68)"    		 Mike Green and Robert Hurst
    USS LSM(R)-532 / USS Smyrna River (LSM)-532)
    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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    Last Updated 5 December 2014