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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-234

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Delta - Hotel
NVDH

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
Bottom Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippine Liberation Medal (1)

LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:

Laid down, 15 March 1944, at Western Pipe and Steel Company, San Pedro, CA.

Launched, 4 July 1944

Commissioned USS LSM-234, 17 August 1944, LTjg. Royal W. Rhoton USNR in command

During World War II USS LSM-234 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Luzon operation Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 January 1945	Okinawa Gunto operation; (a) Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 April to 22 June 1945

For the Okinawa Gunto campaign USS LSM-234 came under the command of:
LSM Flotilla Three, CDR. W. F. Morrison USN (35);
LSM Group Nine, LCDR. J. A. Moss USN (26);
LSM Division Eighteen

Following World War II USS LSM-234 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal
4 to 24 September 1945
7 October to 25 November 1945

Decommissioned, 17 April 1946, at Terminal Island Navy Yard, San Pedro, CA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 5 June 1946

USS LSM-234 earned two battle stars for World War II service

Final Disposition, sold, 11 March 1948, to W.A. Magnus, Sr., New Orleans, LA., 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 General Motors (model GM 16-278A, 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

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
105k	*LSM-234* and *LSM-236* ready for launching at Western Pipe and Steel Company, San Pedro, CA.	USS LSM / LSMR Association
21k	USS LSM-234 commissioning ceremony, 17 August 1944 at Western Pipe and Steel Company, San Pedro, CA. Photo by Austin Roper	S. Roper for his father, Austin Roper, Chief Engineer LSM-234
18k	USS LSM-234 commissioning ceremony, 17 August 1944 at Western Pipe and Steel Company, San Pedro, CA. Photo by Austin Roper	S. Roper for his father, Austin Roper, Chief Engineer LSM-234

Commanding Officers
01	LT. Rhoton, Royal W., USNR	17 August 1944 - 4 January 1946
02	LTjg. Potter, Spencer Romeyn, USNR	4 January 1946 - 27 March 1946
03	LTjg. Barber, Robert F., USNR	27 March 1946 - 17 April 1946


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler

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

Last Updated 15 April 2022