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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-537

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

USS LSM-537 was transferred to the Federal Republic of Germany and named FGS Krokodil (L750)
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 10 May 1945, at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, TX.
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Commissioned USS LSM-537, 3 November 1945, LTjg. Raymond E. Paul USNR in command
  • Decommissioned, 24 May 1947, at Green Cove Springs FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Transferred, 5 September 1958, to the Federal Republic of Germany and named FGS Krokodil (L750)
  • Decommissioned in 1974 by the Federal Republic of Germany
  • Final Disposition, sold to Sezai Turkes Feyzi Akkaya Construction Co., Istanbul, Turkey, last listed in "Lloyd's Register of Ships 1993/94", 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
    USS LSM-537
    Thames River 62k Page one of the Schedule of Events pamphlet for the Transfer and Commissioning Ceremonies of six US Navy ships that will comprise the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron, 5 September 1958 at US Naval Shipyard Charleston, S.C.
    USS Thames River LSM(R)-534 to Germany renamed FGS Natter (L-755)
    USS Smyrna River LSM(R)-532 to Germany renamed FGS Otter (L-754)
    USS LSM-537 to Germany named FGS Krokodil (L-750)
    USS LSM-491 to Germany named FGS Eidechse (L-751)
    USS LSM-553 to Germany named FGSSalamander (L-752)
    USS LSM-558 to Germany named FGSViper (L-753)    		 Ingo Zeitz
    Thames River 45k Page two of the Transfer and Commissioning Ceremonies pamphlet for the six US Navy ships that will comprise the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron, 5 September 1958 at US Naval Shipyard Charleston, S.C. Ingo Zeitz
    FGS Krokodil (L-750)
    LSM-537 63k Ex-USS LSM 537 in service as the German FGS Krokodil (L750) underway, shortly after being turned over by the US Navy in 1958. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-537 42k FGS Krokodil (L-750) seen here after her 1968 rebuild. The rebuild consisted of adding a helicopter landing platform at the stern and a new bow ramp. Jörg Bihlmayr
    LSM-553 69k The four LSMs of the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron moored pierside at the German Naval Base at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. From outboard to inboard;
    FGS Viper (L-753)
    FGS Salamander (L-752)
    FGS Krokodil (L-750)
    Eidechse (L-751), date unknown.    		 Ingo Zeitz
    LSM-553 49k The four LSMs of the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron beached during amphibious exercises, date and place unknown.From left to right;
    FGS Eidechse (L-751)
    FGS Krokodil (L-750)
    FGS Salamander (L-752)
    FGS Viper (L-753), date unknown.    		 Ingo Zeitz
    LSM-553 47k The three LSMs of the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron beached during amphibious exercises, date and place unknown.From left to right;
    Salamander (L-752)
    FGS Krokodil (L-750)
    FGS Eidechse (L-751), date unknown.    		 Ingo Zeitz
    LSM-553 43k The three LSMs of the Federal Republic of Germany Second Landing Squadron beached during amphibious exercises, date and place unknown.From left to right;
    FGS Salamander (L-752)
    FGS Krokodil (L-750)
    FGS Eidechse (L-751), date unknown.    		 Ingo Zeitz
    LSM-537 34k FGS Krokodil (L-750) underway, date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    LSM-537 88k FGS Krokodil (L-750) underway, date and location unknown.
    Photos source "Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995 " L & L van Ginderen).    		 Robert Hurst
    The history extract for USS LSM-537 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Paul, Raymond E., USNR3 November 1945 - ?
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    USS LSM-LSMR Association
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 6 October 2017