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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-281


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Golf - Xray
 NVGX
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 Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 15 September 1944, at Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newark, N.J.
  • Launched, 27 October 1944
  • Commissioned USS LSM-281, 13 November 1944, at New York City, LT. William P. Lukem USNR in command
  • During WWII LSM-281 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LSM Flotilla Eight, CDR. H. Doe USN (23);
     LSM Group Twenty-Four, LCDR. B. D. Lindman USNR;
     LSM Division Forty-Seven and participated in the following campaign;

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 3 April 1945

  • Following World War II USS LSM-281 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 11 September to 6 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, 29 December 1946, at NOB Guam, Marianas Islands
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LSM-281 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, scuttled, 6 March 1947, off Guam
    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
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LSM-281 50k USS LSM-281 at anchor, date and location unknown. Shelley Johnston for her grandfather Earl May,
    USS LSM 281
    The history extract for USS LSM-281 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Lukens, William P., USNR13 November 1944 - March 1946
    02LTjg. Gonzales, Nicholas L., USNRMarch 1946 - ?
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Ship Medium (LSM) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 22 March 2024