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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-309


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Juliet - Echo
 NVJE
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 - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 19 November 1944, at U.S. Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C.
  • Launched, 9 December 1944
  • Commissioned USS LSM-309, 22 January 1945, at Amphibious Training Base, Little Creek, VA. LTjg. James W. Gilmore USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LSM-309 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LSM Flotilla Eleven;
     LSM Group Thirty0Two;
     LSM Division Sixty-Three
  • Following World War II USS LSM-309 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 23 September to 24 November 1945
  • Decommissioned, 8 August 1946, at Mobile, AL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Mobile
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Final Disposition, sold, 12 September 1958, to Norfolk, Baltimore and Caroline Line Inc., Norfolk, VA, 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
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LSM-396 88k LSM-308, and LSM-396 at the fitting out piers at US Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C. Other ships in this photo include LSM-309, LSM 389, LSM-390, LSM-391, LSM-392, LSM-393, LSM-394, LSM-395, LSM-397, LSM-398, Ray K. Edwards (APD-96), Arthur L. Bristol (APD-97), Truxtun (APD-98) and Upham (APD-99).
    US Navy Yard Charleston photo # 132-46, dated 10 January 1945.     		USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-309 31k During USS LSM-309's commissioning ceremony at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C., 22 January 1945, Rear Admiral Jules James, USN, Commandant of the Charleston Navy Yard and the Sixth Naval District looks on as Miss Bertha M. Lunsford, of Charleston presents a bouquet of flowers to Mrs. Wilmer A. Ankerson, sponsor of the LSM 309, in behalf of yard workers. At the right is Mrs. Ankerson’s matron of honor Mrs. Edwin S. Kain of North Charleston.
    US Navy Yard Charleston photo # 1998-5    		 Robert Hall
    LSM-309 157k USS LSM-309 commissioning crew photo, 22 January 1945, at Amphibious Training Base, Little Creek, VA. LSM-309 web site
    LSM-309 102k USS LSM-309 commissioning crew photo, 22 January 1945, at Amphibious Training Base, Little Creek, VA. LSM-309 web site
    LSM-309 71k USS LSM-309 officers, 22 January 1945, at Amphibious Training Base, Little Creek, VA. LSM-309 web site
    LSM-309 70k USS LSM-309 moored pierside in the Norfolk, VA. area. The ship has undergone preservation for inclusion in the Reserve Fleet. Note: there appears to be a hole in the port bow door.
    A Ted Stone photo.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    The history extract for USS LSM-309 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Gilmore, James Ward, USNR22 January 1945 - 30 December 1945
    02ENS/LTjg. Reagan, James Earl, USNR30 December 1945 - 16 May 1946
    03ENS. Dawson, Donald C., USNR16 May 1946 - July 1946
    04ENS. Allen, Oliver A., USNRJuly 1946 - 8 August 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Action Report - Landing of Occupation Forces, Nagasaki Japan, September 1945
    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 24 May 2024