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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:

    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    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
    LCU-1500 56k LCU-1500 underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    ACU-1 web site
    LCU-1500
    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
    LCU-1500
    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
    LCU-1500
    1018150023
    LCU-1500 beached at Camp Pendleton, CA, circa 1957.
    Warner Bros. lobby card for the movie "Darby's Rangers"
    Orlando Gallardo
    LCU-1500 43k LCU-1500 hauled out of the water for hull maintenance, circa March 1967, location unknown. Marlin P. Eagle LCU-1500
    LCU-1500 48k
    LCU-1500 45k
    LCU-1500 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
    LCU-1500 44k LCU-1500 moored pierside at Naval Support Activity Da Nang, South Vietnam, circa 1967-68. Marlin P. Eagle LCU-1500
    LCU-1500 61k
    LCU-1500 58k
    LCU-1500 31k LCU-1500 beached in South Vietnam along with and unidentified LST and LCU, date and location unknown. Marlin P. Eagle LCU-1500
    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
    LCU-1500
    1018150008
    51k
    LCU-1500
    1018150009
    38k
    LCU-1500
    1018150010
    37k
    LCU-1500
    1018150011
    38k
    YFU-78 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
    YFU-78 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
    LCU-1500 97k Wreckage of LCU-1500 and YFU-78 at the Da Nang Bridge Ramp, circa February 1969. Marlin P. Eagle LCU-1500
    LCU-1500 106k
    LCU-1500 2924k Model of LCU-1500 Kelley Boyd
    LCU-1500 454k LCU-1500 first Memorial Service Jerry Patterson ENCS USN Ret.LCU-1624
    LCU-1500 373k

    There is no DANFS history record for LCU-1500 available at NavSource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Brownwater Navy in Vietnam Web Book
    Mobile Riverine Force Association
    Model of LCU-1500
    The Virtual Wall© Vietnam Veterans Memorial
    Bridge Ramp Rocket Attack Images
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To the Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Craft Tank (LCT) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 31 May 2024