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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-543

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

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

USS LSM-543 was transferred to Venezuela and named Roques
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 10 May 1945, at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, TX.
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Commissioned USS LSM-543, 28 December 1945, LTjg. David R. McClay USNR in command
  • Decommissioned, 20 May 1946, 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, 15 July 1959, to Venezuela and named Roques
  • Decommissioned by Venezuelan Navy, 6 November 1965
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in 1986
    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-538 63k USS LSM-543 in column, leading USS LSM-538 enroute from Little Creek, VA., to Green Cove Springs, FL., to begin the process of "mothballing" for possible future use. Ships are off Cape Hatteras, NC., 9 February 1946. Photo was taken from USS LSM-538 Raymond A. Biswanger, Jr., Ph.D. LT. USN Ret. Commanding Officer USS LSM-538 January-May 1946
    LSM-543 96k A column of LSMs led by USS LSM-543 approaching a lift bridge across the St. John's River, Jacksonville, FL., 10 February 1946. Ships were enroute from Little Creek, VA., to Green Cove Springs, FL. for "mothballing" for possible future use. Photo was taken from USS LSM-538. Raymond A. Biswanger, Jr., Ph.D. LT. USN Ret. Commanding Officer USS LSM-538 January-May 1946
    LSM-558 90k 19 LSMs at Green Cove Springs, FL., date unknown. Ships present and identifiable are:
    Front Row-USS LSM-558, USS LSM-539, USS LSM-543 and USS LSM-544
    Second Row-?, USS LSM-413, USS LSM-542 and USS LSM-540
    Third Row- ?, ?, USS LSM-555 and ?.    		 Al Edwards LSM-343 to the USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-538
    101453808    		 301k Decommissioned USS LSM-538, USS LSM-543, USS LSM-544 and USS LSM-555 moored in a nest in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Green Cove Springs, FL., 3 March 1946. Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
    The history extract for USS LSM-543 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. McClay, David R., USNR28 December 1945 - ?
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 4 February 2022