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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-79


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Golf - Alpha
 NVGA
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp)
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 14 August 1944, at Brown Ship Building Co., Houston TX.
  • Launched, 7 September 1944;
  • Commissioned USS LSM-79, 30 September 1944, LTjg. Dale S. Wahlstrom USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LSM-79 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LSM Flotilla Eight, CDR. H. Doe USN (23);
     LSM Group Twenty-Two, LCDR. N.E. Fryer Jr. USN (38);
     LSM Division Forty-Four and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 20 March to 30 June 1945

  • Following World War II USS LSM-79 was assigned to Occupation Service in the Far East from 2 September to 6 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, 29 April 1946, at Terminal Island Navy Yard, San Pedro, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LSM-79 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sold, 6 January 1947, to Ernest A. Judd, Long Beach, CA., fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 520 t.(light), 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
    Length 203' 6" (ovl)
    Beam 34' 6"
    Draft
    light, 3' 6" forward, 7' 8" aft
    fully loaded, 6' 4" forward, 8' 3" aft
    Speed 13.2 kts. (max.), (928 tons displacement)
    Complement
    5 officers
    54 enlisted
    Armament
    one twin bow mounted 40mm gun
    four single 20mm gun mounts
    Vehicle/Boat Capacity 5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVT's, or 9 DUKW's
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 1,225 Bbls
    Troop Accommodations
    2 officers
    46 enlisted
    Armor 10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station
    Endurance 4,900 miles @ 12kts.(928 tons displacement)
    Propulsion
    two Fairbanks Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) Diesel engines, direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm
    Ship's Service Generators
     two Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
     one Diesel-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.
    twin propellers, 2,800shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LSM-79 86k USS LSM-79 conning tower painting is Bugs Bunny in a bathtub - it says "What's Bouncing Doc." Painted by a crew member. Bill Karosi
    Photo Courtesy Jim Tusing USS LSM-372,
    Editor "Alligator Alley" The Newsletter
    of the USS LSM - LSMR Association
    LST-617
    1016061703    		 146k USS LST-617 and USS LSM-79 in convoy enroute to Karama Islands, 24 March 1945.
    Frame from the short film "Marines Raise American Flag Over Geruma Shima Island". National Archives ID 80229. Local ID 428-NPC-15927.    		 David Upton
    LSM-79 56k USS LSM-79 attempts to provide assistance to USS LST-599 as she burns after being struck by a Japanese Kamikaze in the Fleet anchorage at Kerama Retto, Okinawa, 3 April 1945. Note the unlaunched LCT-876 stowed on the LST's main deck.
    US Navy photo # 344937 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-79 34k USS LSM-79 alongside the burning USS LST-599 after the LST was struck by a Japanese Kamikaze in the Fleet anchorage at Kerama Retto, Okinawa, 3 April 1945.
    US Navy photo # 344939 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-79 46k USS LSM-79 alongside the burning USS LST-599 after the LST was struck by a Japanese Kamikaze in the Fleet anchorage at Kerama Retto, Okinawa, 3 April 1945.
    US Navy photo # 344940 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-79 115k USS LSM-79 beached with other LSMs, date and location unknown. Bill Karosi USS LSM-79
    LSM-79 96k USS LSM-79 stranded on the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa after the typhoon of 18 September 1945. Bill Karosi
    Photo Courtesy Jim Tusing USS LSM-372,
    Editor "Alligator Alley" The Newsletter
    of the USS LSM - LSMR Association
    LSM-79 110k USS LSM-79 stranded on the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Bill Karosi USS LSM-79
    LSM-79 88k USS LSM-79 flooded while stranded on the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay. Bill Karosi USS LSM-79
    LSM-79 101k USS LSM-79 crew at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa, 19 September 1945. Bill Karosi
    Photo Courtesy Jim Tusing USS LSM-372,
    Editor "Alligator Alley" The Newsletter
    of the USS LSM - LSMR Association
    LSM-79 72k USS LSM-79 hard aground at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa Shima after the typhoon of 18 September 1945. Bill Karosi
    Photo Courtesy Jim Tusing USS LSM-372,
    Editor "Alligator Alley" The Newsletter
    of the USS LSM - LSMR Association
    LSM-79 88k Broadside view of USS LSM-79 stranded on the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Bill Karosi USS LSM-79
    LSM-79 71k USS LSM-79 stranded on the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Bill Karosi
    Photo Courtesy Jim Tusing USS LSM-372,
    Editor "Alligator Alley" The Newsletter
    of the USS LSM - LSMR Association
    LSM-79 66k USS LSM-79 high and dry on the beach at Baton Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Bill Karosi
    Photo Courtesy Jim Tusing USS LSM-372,
    Editor "Alligator Alley" The Newsletter
    of the USS LSM - LSMR Association
    LSM-79 111k Stern view of USS LSM-79 stranded on the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Bill Karosi USS LSM-79
    LSM-79 92k Stern view of USS LSM-79 stranded on the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Bill Karosi USS LSM-79
    LSM-79 123k Stern view of USS LSM-79 stranded on the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Bill Karosi USS LSM-79
    LSM-79 94k Stern view of USS LSM-79 stranded on the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Bill Karosi USS LSM-79
    LSM-79 95k Stern view of USS LSM-79 stranded on the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Bill Karosi USS LSM-79
    LSM-79 61k USS LSM-79 stranded on the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-79 93k USS LSM-79 stranded on the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Bill Karosi USS LSM-79
    LSM-79 351k Stern view of USS LSM-79 stranded on the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-79 110k Stern view of USS LSM-79 stranded on the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Bill Karosi USS LSM-79
    LSM-79 93k Stern view of USS LSM-79 being towed off the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Bill Karosi USS LSM-79
    LSM-79 87k Stern view of USS LSM-79 being towed off the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Bill Karosi USS LSM-79
    LSM-79 104k USS LSM-79 afloat after being towed off the beach at Baten Ko, Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Bill Karosi USS LSM-79
    The history extract for USS LSM-79 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Wahlstrom, Dale S., USNR30 September 1944 - ?
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 9 September 2022