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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

MMC-13
ex
USS LSM-492 (1945 - 1960)

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)

USS LSM-492 / MMC-13 was transferred to Norway and named HNoMS Vale (N-45) later transferred to Turkey and renamed TCG Mersin (N-104)

LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:

Laid down, 3 March 1945, at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, TX.

Launched, 24 March 1945

Commissioned USS LSM-492, 1 May 1945, LT. William D. Hickerson USNR in command

During World War II USS LSM-492 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
LSM Flotilla Fifteen;
LSM Group Forty-Four;
LSM Division Eighty-Seven;

Following World War II USS LSM-492 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 19 October 1945 to 22 January 1946

Decommissioned, 19 August 1946, at Green Cove Springs FL.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs

Struck from the Naval Register, 8 September 1952

Authorized for conversion in FY 1951 to a Coastal Mine Layer

Converted in Norway, conversion completed, October 1952

Transferred, 6 October 1952, to Norway as HNoMS Vale (N-45)

Designation changed by US Navy, 1 October 1960 to MMC-13

Transferred by Norway, 1 November 1960, to Turkey and renamed TCG Mersin (N-104)

Decommissioned by the Turkish Navy, 23 November 1996

Transferred, 8 August 1996 Kocaeli University for use as a training ship

Decommissioned by the Turkish Navy, 23 November 1996

Final Disposition, fate unknown

LSM 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

MMC Specifications / Modifications:
Displacement 1,110 t.(fl)
Draft 8' 3" (max.)
Speed 12 kts. (design)
Complement 70
Armament two twin 40mm gun mounts, two single 20mm gun mounts

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS LSM-492
	50k	USS LSM-492 on the beach at Guam, in September 1945. USS LSM-492 loaded squad tents for delivery at Okinawa. Typhoon damage there had blown down most of the tents and Quonset Huts.	Richard Burnitt for his father Sam Burnitt USS LSM-492
HNoMS Vale (N-45)
	66k	Ex-USS LSM-492 in Norwegian service as *HNoMS Vale* (N-45)** under way at Norfolk, VA., 7 November 1952. Note: she still carries her LSM side number in this photo. US Navy Atlantic Fleet Camera Party photo # FCP-11-5664-11-52	USS LSM / LSMR Association
	61k	*HNoMS Vale* (N-45)** under way at Norfolk, VA., 7 November 1952. Note: she still carries her LSM side number in this photo. US Navy Atlantic Fleet Camera Party photo # FCP-11-5663-11-52	USS LSM / LSMR Association
	34k	*HNoMS Vale* (N-45)** under way, circa 1955, location unknown Official R.Nor.N. photo from "Jane's Fighting Ships 1956-57".	Robert Hurst
	73k	*HNoMS Vale* (N-45)** under way, circa 1958, location unknown Official R.Nor.N. photo.	Robert Hurst