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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-557

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

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

USS LSM-557 was transferred to Greece and renamed HNS Merlin (L-166)
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 23 March 1945, at US Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C.
  • Launched, 10 April 1945
  • Commissioned USS LSM-557, 22 October 1945, LTjg. James K. McMahon USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LSM-557 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LSM Flotilla Fourteen, LCDR. W. R. McCaleb;
     LSM Group Forty-Two;
     LSM Division Eighty-Four
  • Decommissioned, 21 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, 30 October 1958, to Greece and renamed Merlin (L-166)
  • Final Disposition, rammed and sunk, 15 November 1972, by M/V World Hero off the Western Greek coast, with 44 crew members lost
    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-557
    LSM-558 127k Charleston Navy Yard fitting out pier "C" looking north to river end. Shop field offices and Building Ways 1 and 2 in background on left. Ships present USS LSM-556, USS LSM-557, USS LSM-558 front row. Second row USS LSM-553, USS LSM-554 and USS LSM-555. Beyond the LSMs is USS Tidewater (AD-31).
    Charleston Navy Yard photo # 1997-45    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-557 78k LSM-557 moored pierside, NAB Little Creek, VA., date unknown. John Kenney Jr. for his father John David Kenney GM3/c LSM-557
    LSM-557 69k USS LSM-557 crew photo along with an unidentified LSM crew in the background. Photo was probably taken at NAB Little Creek, VA., date unknown. John Kenney Jr. for his father John David Kenney GM3/c LSM-557
    LSM-557 185k USS LSM-557 preparing to come alongside another LSM with the assistance of a small tug, date and location unknown. Raymond G Gillis USS LSM-539
    LSM-557 89k USS LSM-557 preparing to make fast alongside another LSM, date and location unknown. Raymond G Gillis USS LSM-539
    HNS Merlin (L-166)
    LSM-557 49k Ex-USS LSM-557 in Greek service as HNS Merlin (L-166) underway, date and location unknown.
    Official Hellenic Navy photo    		 Tony Vrailas
    LSM-557 53k HNS Merlin (L-166) beached during amphibious exercises, date and location unknown.
    Official Hellenic Navy photo    		 Tony Vrailas
    LSM-557 59k HNS Merlin (L-166) beached during amphibious exercises, date and location unknown.
    Official Hellenic Navy photo    		 Tony Vrailas
    The history extract for USS LSM-557 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. McMahon, James K., USNR22 October 1945 - ?
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    USS LSM-LSMR Association
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Ship Medium (LSM) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 6 October 2017