Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-216

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Bravo - Xray
NVBX

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, Iwo Jima) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

USS LSM-216 was sold to the Dominican Republic named San Rafael (BA-103)

LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:

Laid down, 12 May 1944, at Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, DE.

Launched, 28 June 1944

Commissioned USS LSM-216, 29 July 1944, LT. Charles P. Haber USNR in command

During World War II USS LSM-216 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
LSM Flotilla Three, CDR. W. F Morrison USN (35);
LSM Group Eight, LCDR. J. G. Blanche USN (25);
LSM Division Sixteen and participated in the following campaign:

Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Iwo Jima operation Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 to 21 February 1945

Following World War II USS LSM-216 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 4 September to 25 November 1945

Decommissioned, 2 May 1946, at Calcasieu River, Lake Charles, LA.

Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown

USS LSM-216 earned one battle star for World War II service

Sold, 3 December 1946, to the Dominican Republic, named San Rafael (BA-103)

Final Disposition, disposed of in 1960 by the Dominican Republic Navy, 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
USS LSM-216
	58k	Launching of *LSM-216* at Dravo Shipbuilding Co, Wilmington DL., 28 June 1944.	USS LSM / LSMR Association
	184k	USS LSM-216 beached, probably in the Philippines, date unknown	Marcus Brandel
	248k	USS LSM-216 and USS LSM-217 crew members on the ramp of USS LSM-216 while beached, probably in the Philippines, date unknown	Marcus Brandel
101421608	247k	USS LSM-216 , 19 February , off Iwo Jima. A marine corps combat cameraman, while passing in an open landing craft, captured the damage inflicted upon LSM-216 during the seventh wave of the invasion of Iwo Jima, Japan. Ordered to land six tanks of third platoon, Co "C", 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Mar Div. LSM-216 was subjected to heavy and concentrated artillery and mortar fire on its approach to the beach. LSM-216 moved through the intense barrage and reached, at about 0940, the right boundary of Yellow Two Beach. The first tank off the ramp bogged down after clearing the ramp of the vessel; men attempted to free the tank to no use. The tank was abandoned and the ship withdrew from the beach, took wounded marines to USS LST-930, and was ordered back to Yellow Two Beach, to finish off loading its cargo of tanks. While on the second attempt LSM-216 took eight direct mortar or artillery hits on the starboard side. (it took a total of four beaching attempts to complete unloading). Damage- mortar or artillery fire received starboard side conning station, radio shack, and hull. Damage sustained included all radio and radar gear damaged beyond repair, gyro knocked out, ventilation system severely hurt, and many electrical conduits completely disarranged requiring almost 100% replacement, ramp cable parted by gun fire. Several of the crew were hit by shrapnel (minor injuries). LSM-216 remained in operation and was dispatched to the rear area on D-Day plus 2. /s/ LT. Charles P. Haber. Commanding Officer Select frames from a short color film called "Marine Gun Crew Background Shots", Department of the Navy, National Archives ID 78491, Local ID 428-NPC-8407.	David Upton
101421609	189k
101421610	156k
101421611	126k
101421612	193k
	88k	USS LSM-216 nested with other LSMs, probably in West Loch, Pearl Harbor circa 1946	Norman Horwitz to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
	70k	USS LSM-216 nested with other LSMs, probably in West Loch, Pearl Harbor circa 1946	Norman Horwitz to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
San Rafael (BA-103)
	356k	Ex-USS LSM-216 in the service of the Dominican Republic Navy as San Rafael (BA-103), drydocked circa late-1946 early-1947 at Gulfport Shipbuilding, Port Arthur TX. Note the US Navy number 216 is still visible on the hull.	James Swank
	46k	San Rafael (BA-103), circa 1953, location unknown. Official Dominican Republic Navy photo from "Jane's Fighting Ships, 1954-55"	Robert Hurst