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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Lost to enemy action, 27 February 1969

Patches contributed by Jerry Patterson ENCS USN Ret.

LCU-1500
Landing Craft Utility

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Papa - Romeo NPPR

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (28 February 1968, 27 February 1969) - Presidential Unit Citation (2)
Second Row - Navy Unit Commendation National Defense Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal (7)
Third Row - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation - Vietnam Campaign Medal
Individual Awards

Silver Star (Robert L. Simons, BM1, USN) (Citation)
Bronze Star (With Combat "V") Willie Abrams EN1
Purple Hearts (Six, 28 February 1968 - 1 KIA RMSN Kenneth L. Cook, 5 WIA - BM1 Robert L. Simons,
EN2 Marlin P. Eagle, GMG2 Robert R. Hayner, QM2 James R. King, SA Christian J Peetz, RMSN Kenneth L Cook
(One, 29 February 1968, EN3 Lefty J. Turberville, USN
(Twelve 27 February 1969, KIA - BMC Donald J. Fisher, EN1 Bert E. Burten, EM1 Cecil F. Bush, CS2 Marvin D. Avery,
BM2 David W. Hawryshko, BM3 Ronal P. Yuhas, BM3 Donald M. Horton, GMG3 Ronald J. Gebbie,
SN Craig E. Swagler, SN Bruno W. Demata, FN Charles A. Tavaras, FN Joseph F. Burinda)

LCT-1466 Class Landing Craft Tank:

Laid down, circa 1953-55, at Port Houston Iron Works, Houston, TX.

Launched, date unknown

Placed in service, circa 1953-55 (date unknown)

During the Vietnam War LCU-1500 was assigned to the Lighterage Division at US Naval Support Activity Da Nang, Republic of South Vietnam and participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Vietnam War Campaigns
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II 1 July 1966 to 31 May 1967	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V 1 July to 1 November 1968
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III 1 June 1967 to 29 January 1968	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI 2 November 1968 to 22 February 1969
Tet Counteroffensive 30 January to 1 April 1968	Tet/69 Counteroffensive 23 to 27 February 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV 2 April to 30 June 1968	.

Hit by enemy fire, 28 February 1968, while underway from Dong Ha Vietnam. When LCU-1500 came under enemy fire she return fire with her 20mm guns. An incoming enemy rocket hit the gyro compass on the conn killing one and wounding six.

Hit by enemy rocket fire and destroyed, 27 February 1969, at Bridge Ramp, Da Nang, South Vietnam with the loss of twelve crewmen

Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown

LCU-1500 earned seven campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Specifications:
Displacement 180 t.(lt) 360 t.(fl)
Length 119' (ovl.)
Beam 34'
Draft 6'
Speed 10 kts.
Range 700 nautical miles at 7 kts.
Complement 14
Cargo Capacity 150 short tons

Armamenttwo twin 20mm AA gun mounts, one port, one starboard,2 .50 cal. machine guns

Armor 2 1/2" wheelhouse, 2" gun shield

Propulsion 3 Grey Marine Diesels, 3 shafts, Shaft horsepower 675 bhp per shaft

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
	56k	*LCU-1500* underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	ACU-1 web site
1018150022	318k	*LCU-1500* participating in Amphibious Training Exercise, circa 1959 and 1965. U.S Naval History and Heritage Command photo # L44-11.12.01	David Upton
1018150021	18k	*LCU-1500* beaching at Camp Pendleton, CA, circa 1957. Still image of the Warner Bros. movie "Darby's Rangers" released in 1958.	Orlando Gallardo
1018150023		*LCU-1500* beached at Camp Pendleton, CA, circa 1957. Warner Bros. lobby card for the movie "Darby's Rangers"	Orlando Gallardo
	43k	*LCU-1500* hauled out of the water for hull maintenance, circa March 1967, location unknown.	Marlin P. Eagle LCU-1500
	48k
	45k
	419k	Assault Craft Division Eleven orders of 7 October 1967 assigning the crew of *LCU-1500* to Temporary Additional Duty at Naval Support Activity Da Nang, South Vietnam.	Marlin P. Eagle LCU-1500
	44k	*LCU-1500* moored pierside at Naval Support Activity Da Nang, South Vietnam, circa 1967-68.	Marlin P. Eagle LCU-1500
	61k
	58k
	31k	*LCU-1500* beached in South Vietnam along with and unidentified LST and LCU, date and location unknown.	Marlin P. Eagle LCU-1500
1018150007	36k	*LCU-1500's crew photos. 1018150007* - EM2 Paul D. Harrell 1018150008 - RMSN Kenneth L. Cook 1018150009 - FN Lefty J. Turbeville, SA Christen J. Peetz, EN2 Marlin P. Eagle, SA Tobby L Cordero 1018150010 - GMG2 Robert R .Hayner 1018150011 - SA Tobby L. Cordero	Marlin P. Eagle LCU-1500
1018150008	51k
1018150009	38k
1018150010	37k
1018150011	38k
	102k	The wreckage of *LCU-1500* and *YFU-78* after being sunk by a North Vietnamese rocket attack at the Da Nang Bridge Ramp, 27 February 1969. *LCU-1500* suffered one KIA and four wounded. *YFU-78* suffered seven crewmen KIA and three wounded. *YFU-78* had just completed taking on about 180 tons of ammunition for a run up north to the detachments along the DMZ.	Tom Lanagan YFU-79 3rd Boat Group Lighterage Div. NSA DaNang
	97k	Another view of the wreckage of *LCU-1500* and *YFU-78* after being sunk by a North Vietnamese rocket attack at the Da Nang Bridge Ramp, 27 February of 1969.	Tom Lanagan YFU-79 3rd Boat Group Lighterage Div. NSA DaNang
	97k	Wreckage of *LCU-1500* and *YFU-78* at the Da Nang Bridge Ramp, circa February 1969.	Marlin P. Eagle LCU-1500
	106k		Marlin P. Eagle LCU-1500
	2924k	Model of *LCU-1500*	Kelley Boyd
	454k	*LCU-1500* first Memorial Service	Jerry Patterson ENCS USN Ret.LCU-1624
	373k	*LCU-1500* first Memorial Service	Jerry Patterson ENCS USN Ret.LCU-1624