NavSource Photo Archives:

Landing Ship Medium (LSM)
Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) LSM(R)
Index

A total of five hundred fifty-eight Landing Ship Medium (LSM) and Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) (LSM(R)s were built during World War II. Most served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, and some in the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Original plans for the LSM called for six twenty millimeter anti-aircraft guns as their main defense. Two (all mounted in gun tubs) were near the bow (one port; one starboard); two others were amidships; and the final two were mounted near the stern, and the earliest LSMs were actually built to these plans. Early in the ships' history, a decision was made to remove the two twenties near the bow and replace them with a single 40 mm. gun Many early ships were ordered to be refitted thus, although some never made the change and retained only their six 20s throughout the War. Ships built after the change was announced were fitted with single-barrel 40s before commissioning, while most of those built late in the War were given twin 40 mm. guns on their bows. Ironically, most of those with the best armament never got to use it before the War ended, while many of those on the fighting front had to make the best of what little they had.

The LSM(R), Landing Ship Medium Rocket, was designed to support amphibious landings by providing close-in fire support using their primary battery of rocket launchers. There were two classes of LSM(R)s, the earlier class consisted of modified LSMs, equipped with eight to ten twin 5 inch automatic, continuously fed rocket launchers. Each launcher was capable of firing thirty spin stabilized rockets per minute. The later class looked quite distinctive, with their superstructure at the stern, and no open well deck. They also had greatly increased fire power (a single 5"/38 gun mount, two twin 40mm gun mounts, four twin 20mm gun mounts, twenty continuous loading 5" SS rocket launchers, and four 4.2" mortars)
Jim Tusing LSM 372 Editor Emeritus Alligator Alley has recently had a new book published
"We Land at the Break of Day", a collection of LSM/LSMR that were previously published in the "Alligator Alley".
The book has 25 Sea Stories and 30 pictures chosen by Jim that hopefully tells a little about what it was like in World War II to in these great little ships. The book can be Previewed and purchased on the Internet from the Blurb web site
Ron MacKay, Jr. the Secretary-Storekeeper/Historian of the USS LSM-LSMR Association has recently completed a new book released in April 2016 "The US Navy's 'Interim' LSM(R)s in World War II: Rocket Ships of the Pacific Amphibious Forces" The “Interim” LSM(R) or Landing Ship, Medium (Rocket) was a revolutionary development in rocket warfare in World War II and the U.S. Navy’s first true rocket ship. An entirely new class of commissioned warship and the forerunners of today’s missile-firing naval combatants, these ships began as improvised conversions of conventional amphibious landing craft in South Carolina’s Charleston Navy Yard during late 1944. They were rushed to the Pacific Theatre to support the U.S. Army and Marines with heavy rocket bombardments that devastated Japanese forces on Okinawa in 1945. Their primary mission was to deliver maximum firepower to enemy targets ashore. Yet LSM(R)s also repulsed explosive Japanese speed boats, rescued crippled warships, recovered hundreds of survivors at sea and were deployed as antisubmarine hunter-killers. Casualties were staggering: enemy gunfire destroyed one, while kamikaze attacks sank three, crippled a fourth and grazed two more. This book provides a comprehensive operational history of the Navy’s 12 original “Interim” LSM(R)s. McFarland web site
"Mystery ships of the Musquash Estuary, New Brunswick, Canada (WWII Ships Found!) 75th anniversary
Camouflage Measure 31, Design 10L
Bureau of Ships blueprint drawing and camouflage scheme intended for the Landing Ship Medium LSM-1 Class
LSMBlueprint LSM-1
80-G-176519
Ship's port side, and the interior of the starboard side of the tank well deck		 LSM-1
80-G-176520
Starboard side, stern, exposed decks, superstructure ends, interior of the port side and stern bulkhead of the tank well deck, and gives details on how the pattern edges should be applied		 LSM-1
80-G-176521
Port side		 LSM-1
80-G-176522
Starboard side, stern, exposed decks, and superstructure ends


LSM Class Manual
March 1 1944, Serial No. 1766 Issued to USS LSM-294
Click on ship name to view image(s) and DANFS history.
LSM / LSM(R) Photo Index
LSM-1
LSM-2
LSM-3
LSM-4
LSM-5
LSM-6
LSM-7
LSM-8
LSM-9
LSM-10
LSM-11
LSM-12
LSM-13
LSM-14
LSM-15
LSM-16
LSM-17
LSM-18
LSM-19
LSM-20
LSM-21
LSM-22
LSM-23
LSM-24
LSM-25
LSM-26
LSM-27
LSM-28
LSM-29
LSM-30
LSM-31
LSM-32
LSM-33
LSM-34
LSM-35
LSM-36
LSM-37
LSM-38
LSM-39
LSM-40
LSM-41
LSM-42
LSM-43
LSM-44
LSM-45
LSM-46
LSM-47
LSM-48
LSM-49
LSM-50
LSM-51
LSM-52
LSM-53
LSM-54
LSM-55
LSM-56
LSM-57
LSM-58
LSM-59
LSM-60
LSM-61
LSM-62
LSM-63
LSM-64
LSM-65
LSM-66
LSM-67
LSM-68
LSM-69
LSM-70
LSM-71
LSM-72
LSM-73
LSM-74
LSM-75
LSM-76
LSM-77
LSM-78
LSM-79
LSM-80
LSM-81
LSM-82
LSM-83
LSM-84
LSM-85
LSM-86
LSM-87
LSM-88
LSM-89
LSM-90
LSM-91
LSM-92
LSM-93
LSM-94
LSM-95
LSM-96
LSM-97
LSM-98
LSM-99
LSM-100
LSM-101
LSM-102
LSM-103
LSM-104
LSM-105
LSM-106
LSM-107
LSM-108
LSM-109
LSM-110
LSM-111
LSM-112
LSM-113
LSM-114
LSM-115
LSM-116
LSM-117
LSM-118
LSM-119
LSM-120
LSM-121
LSM-122
LSM-123
LSM-124
LSM-125
LSM-126
LSM-127
LSM-128
LSM-129
LSM-130
LSM-131
LSM-132
LSM-133
LSM-134
LSM-135
LSM-136
LSM-137
LSM-138
LSM-139
LSM-140
LSM-141
LSM-142
LSM-143
LSM-144
LSM-145
LSM-146
LSM-147
LSM-148
LSM-149
LSM-150
LSM-151
LSM-152
LSM-153
LSM-154
LSM-155
LSM-156
LSM-157
LSM-158
LSM-159
LSM-160
LSM-161 Kodiak
LSM-162
LSM-163
LSM-164
LSM-165
LSM-166
LSM-167
LSM-168
LSM-169
LSM-170
LSM-171
LSM-172
LSM-173
LSM-174
LSM-175 Oceanside
LSM-176
LSM-177
LSM-178
LSM-179
LSM-180
LSM-181
LSM-182
LSM-183
LSM-184
LSM-185
LSM-186
LSM-187
LSM(R)-188
LSM(R)-189
LSM(R)-190
LSM(R)-191
LSM(R)-192
LSM(R)-193
LSM(R)-194
LSM(R)-195
LSM(R)-196
LSM(R)-197
LSM(R)-198
LSM(R)-199
LSM-200
LSM-201
LSM-202
LSM-203
LSM-204
LSM-205
LSM-206
LSM-207
LSM-208
LSM-209
LSM-210
LSM-211
LSM-212
LSM-213
LSM-214
LSM-215
LSM-216
LSM-217
LSM-218
LSM-219
LSM-220
LSM-221
LSM-222
LSM-223
LSM-224
LSM-225
LSM-226
LSM-227
LSM-228
LSM-229
LSM-230
LSM-231
LSM-232
LSM-233
LSM-234
LSM-235
LSM-236
LSM-237
LSM-238
LSM-239
LSM-240
LSM-241
LSM-242
LSM-243
LSM-244
LSM-245
LSM-246
LSM-247
LSM-248
LSM-249
LSM-250
LSM-251
LSM-252
LSM-253
LSM-254
LSM-255
LSM-256
LSM-257
LSM-258
LSM-259
LSM-260
LSM-261
LSM-262
LSM-263
LSM-264
LSM-265
LSM-266
LSM-267
LSM-268
LSM-269
LSM-270
LSM-271
LSM-272
LSM-273
LSM-274
LSM-275 Reclassified Portunus (ARC-1)
LSM-276
LSM-277
LSM-278
LSM-279
LSM-280
LSM-281
LSM-282
LSM-283
LSM-284
LSM-285
LSM-286
LSM-287
LSM-288
LSM-289
LSM-290
LSM-291
LSM-292
LSM-293
LSM-294
LSM-295
LSM-296
LSM-297
LSM-298
LSM-299
LSM-300
LSM-301 Reclassified MMC-6
LSM-302
LSM-303 Reclassified MMC-7
LSM-304
LSM-305
LSM-306
LSM-307
LSM-308
LSM-309
LSM-310
LSM-311
LSM-312
LSM-313
LSM-314
LSM-315
LSM-316
LSM-317
LSM-318
LSM-319
LSM-320
LSM-321
LSM-322
LSM-323
LSM-324
LSM-325
LSM-326
LSM-327
LSM-328
LSM-329
LSM-330
LSM-331
LSM-332
LSM-333
LSM-334
LSM-335 Redesignated T-LSM-335
LSM-336
LSM-337
LSM-338
LSM-339
LSM-340
LSM-341
LSM-342
LSM-343
LSM-344
LSM-345
LSM-346
LSM-347
LSM-348
LSM-349
LSM-350
LSM-351
LSM-352
LSM-353
LSM-354
LSM-355
LSM-356
LSM-357
LSM-358
LSM-359
LSM-360
LSM-361
LSM-362
LSM-363
LSM-364
LSM-365
LSM-366
LSM-367
LSM-368
LSM-369
LSM-370
LSM-371
LSM-372
LSM-373 Lakeland
LSM-374
LSM-375
LSM-376
LSM-377
LSM-378
LSM-379
LSM-380
LSM-381
LSM-382
LSM-383
LSM-384
LSM-385
LSM-386
LSM-387
LSM-388
LSM-389
LSM-390 Reclassified MMC-8
LSM-391
LSM-392 Reclassified MMC-9
LSM-393
LSM-394
LSM-395
LSM-396
LSM-397
LSM-398 Reclassified Hunting (E-AG-398)
LSM-399
LSM-400
LSM(R)-401 Big Black River
Reclassified LFR-401
LSM(R)-402 Big Horn River
LSM(R)-403 Blackstone River
LSM(R)-404 Black Warrior River
Reclassified LFR-404
LSM(R)-405 Broadkill River
Reclassified LFR-405
LSM(R)-406 Canadian River
LSM(R)-407 Chariton River
LSM(R)-408 Charles River
LSM(R)-409 Clarion River
Reclassified LFR-409
LSM(R)-410 Clark Fork River
LSM(R)-411 Cumberland River
LSM(R)-412 Desplaines River
Reclassified LFR-412
LSM-413
LSM-414
LSM-415
LSM-416
LSM-417
LSM-418
LSM-419
LSM-420
LSM-421
LSM-422
LSM-423
LSM-424
LSM-425
LSM-426
LSM-427
LSM-428
LSM-429
LSM-430
LSM-431
LSM-432
LSM-433
LSM-434
LSM-435
LSM-436
LSM-437
LSM-438
LSM-439
LSM-440
LSM-441
LSM-442
LSM-443
LSM-444
LSM-445 Reclassified Catapult (YV-1)
LSM-446 Reclassified Launcher (YV-2)
LSM-447
LSM-448
LSM-449
LSM-450
LSM-451
LSM-452
LSM-453
LSM-454
LSM-455
LSM-456
LSM-457
LSM-458
LSM-459
LSM-460
LSM-461
LSM-462
LSM-463
LSM-464
LSM-465
LSM-466
LSM-467
LSM-468
LSM-469
LSM-470
LSM-471
LSM-472
LSM-473
LSM-474
LSM-475
LSM-476
LSM-477
LSM-478
LSM-479
LSM-480
LSM-481 Reclassified MMC-10
LSM-482
LSM-483
LSM-484 Reclassified MMC-11
LSM-485
LSM-486
LSM-487
LSM-488
LSM-489
LSM-490 Reclassified MMC-12
LSM-491
LSM-492 Reclassified MMC-13
LSM-493 Reclassified MMC-14
LSM-494
LSM-495
LSM-496
LSM-497
LSM-498
LSM-499
LSM-500
LSM(R)-501 Elk River
Reclassified IX-501
LSM(R)-502 Escalante River
LSM(R)-503 Flambeau River
LSM(R)-504 Gila River
LSM(R)-505 Grand River
LSM(R)-506 Green River
LSM(R)-507 Greenbrier River
LSM(R)-508 Gunnison River
Reclassified YV-3 Targeteer
LSM(R)-509 Holston River
LSM(R)-510 James River
LSM(R)-511 John Day River
LSM(R)-512 Lamiolle River
Reclassified LFR-512
LSM(R)-513 Laramie River
Reclassified LFR-513
LSM(R)-514 Maurice River
LSM(R)-515 Owyhee River
Reclassified LFR-515
LSM(R)-516 Pearl River
LSM(R)-517 Pee Dee River
LSM(R)-518 Pit River
LSM(R)-519 Powder River
LSM(R)-520 Raccoon River
LSM(R)-521 Rainy River
LSM(R)-522 Red River
Reclassified LFR-522
LSM(R)-523 Republican River
LSM(R)-524 St. Croix River
LSM(R)-525 St. Francis River
Reclassified LFR-525
LSM(R)-526 St. Johns River
LSM(R)-527 St. Joseph River
LSM(R)-528 St. Marys River
LSM(R)-529 St. Regis River
LSM(R)-530 Salmon Falls River
LSM(R)-531 Smoky Hill River
Reclassified LFR-531
LSM(R)-532 Smyrna River
LSM(R)-533 Snake River
LSM(R)-534 Thames River
LSM(R)-535 Trinity River
LSMR-536 White River
Reclassified LFR-536
LSM-537
LSM-538
LSM-539
LSM-540 Raritan
LSM-541
LSM-542
LSM-543
LSM-544
LSM-545
LSM-546
LSM-547
LSM-548
LSM-549 Reclassified Gypsy (ARSD-1)
LSM-550 Reclassified Mender (ARSD-2)
LSM-551 Reclassified Salvager (ARSD-3)
LSM-552 Reclassified Windlass (ARSD-4)
LSM-553
LSM-554
LSM-555
LSM-556
LSM-557
LSM-558
LSM Manual
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