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-342


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Lima - Sierra
NVLS
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - 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, 22 September 1944, at Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing Company, Chicago, IL.
  • Launched, 12 January 1945
  • Commissioned USS LSM-342, 12 February 1945, LTjg. Vernon Patz USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LSM-342 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LSM Flotilla Thirteen, LCDR C. L. Weigle USN (27);
    LSM Group Thirty-Nine, LCDR. J. M. Rose;
    LSM Division Seventy-Seven;
  • Following World War II USS LSM-342 was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal

    China Service Medal (extended)
    8 to 23 September 1945 
    27 July 1946 to 18 May 194727 July 1946 to 18 May 1947

  • Decommissioned, 8 July 1947, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Donated, 17 February 1948, to Port of Newport Authority, Newport, OR., for commercial use, renamed Amazon
  • Current Disposition, Amazon is still in use along the Columbia River.
    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-342
    LSM-342 42k USS LSM-342 underway, date and location unknown. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-342 95k USS LSM-342 and moored in an anchorage with other amphibious ships, including USS LCI(L)-989, at either Shanghai or Tsingtao, China, circa October 1946 Paul Webb for his father ENS. Ronald H. Webb, USNR USS LST-1102
    Commercial Service
    LSM-342 62k Ex-USS LSM-342 in commercial service as the work barge Amazon along the Columbia River, April 2003. Her side number is still visible. Photo by Ron Gray, Capt.
    LSM-342 64k Work barge Amazon on the Columbia River, April 2003. Photo by Ron Gray, Capt.
    LSM-342 56k Work barge Amazon on the Columbia River, April 2003. Photo by Ron Gray, Capt.
    LSM-342 56k Work barge Amazon on the Columbia River, April 2003. Photo by Ron Gray, Capt.

    The history extract for USS LSM-342 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Patz, Vernon, USNR12 February 1945 - November 1945
    02LTjg. Hatcher Jr., James F., USNRNovember 1945 - 1 March 1946
    03LTjg. Storm, James P., USNR1 March 1946 - 15 April 1946
    04LT. Doran, Daniel O'Connell, USN15 April 1946 - 8 July 1947
    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
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 31 May 2024