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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-315


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Juliet - Quebec
 NVJQ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) [S.W. Pacific, 25 October 1944] Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)
Individual Awards

Purple Heart (1-KIA, S.W. Pacific 25 October 1944)

USS LSM-315 was transferred to Australia and renamed Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355)
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down (date unknown) at Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing Company, Chicago, IL.
  • Launched (date unknown)
  • Commissioned USS LSM-315, 13 July 1944, LT. Alfred W. Holmes USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LSM-315 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landing, 4 to 12 January 1945    		 Consolidation and occupation of Southern Philippines
    Mindanao Island landings, 10 to 16 May 1945

  • Following World War II USS LSM-315 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 28 September to 2 October 1945
  • Decommissioned, 14 June 1946, at Astoria, OR.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group, Astoria
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LSM-315 earned two battle stars for World War II service
  • Sold, 26 January 1960, to the Royal Australian Army, assigned to the Australian Army Royal Engineers, 32 Small Ship Squadron, renamed Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355)
  • Sold for commercial service in 1972, possibly modified as a timber carrier
  • Final Disposition, believed to have sunk in the Solomon Islands, circa 1984
    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-315
    LCM-34 64k USS LSM-169, USS LSM-34, USS LSM-319 and USS LSM-315 as well as two unidentified LSMs alongside and unidentified tender or repair ship at Subic Bay, P.I., date unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-315 62k USS LSM-315 beached at Hollandia, New Guinea, 1945. Dave Perham and the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-315, LST 933/592 40k USS LSM-315, USS LST-933 and USS LST-592 beached at Ormoc, Leyte, P.I., date unknown. LST933 Homepage web site
    Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355)
    LSM-319 89k Ex-USS LSM-315, in Australian service as Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355), Gulf of Carpentaria, circa 1963. Darryl Graney
    LSM-319 44k Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355), South Vietnam, date unknown. Darryl Graney
    LSM-319 240k Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355) traveling at full speed in June 1966 up the Saigon River. The ship is transporting heavy equipment and vehicles to the Australians based at Vung Tau. The crew is at general quarters, watching for the enemy.
    Australian War Memorial, Photo No. P02679.002    		 Mike Green
    LSM-319 42k Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355) reverses off the landing at Saigon in June 1966 after transporting heavy equipment to the Australians based at Vung Tau. Note that the bow doors are open, as the ramp is still being raised.
    Australian War Memorial, Photo No. P02679.001    		 Mike Green
    LSM-315 26k Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355), South Vietnam, 1967. Dave Perham
    LSM-315 78k Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355), beached, in South Vietnam, 1967. Dave Perham
    LSM-315 58k Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355) beached in South Vietnam, circa 1967. Dave Perham
    LSM-315 151k Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355) beached in South Vietnam, circa 1967. Dave Perham
    Merchant Service
    LSM-315 68k Ex USS LSM-315, ex-Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355), laid up at Ballina, Australia, circa 1982. Dave Perham
    LSM-315 79k Ex-LSM-315, ex-Vernon Sturdee (AV-1355), laid up at Ballina, Australia, circa 1982. Dave Perham
    The history extract for USS LSM-315 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Holmes, Alfred W., USNR13 July 1944 - 16 November 1945
    02LTjg. Loney, Robert A., USNR16 November 1945 - 14 June 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    32 Small Ship Squadron
    32 Small Ship Squadron Association
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 31 May 2024