USS LSM(R)-194
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USS LSM(R)-194 port broadside view, passing under the Cooper River Bridge, Charleston, SC, 2 December 1944.
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History | |
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United States | |
Laid down | 29 August 1944 |
Launched | 7 October 1944 |
Commissioned | 21 November 1944 |
Decommissioned | 26 February 1946 |
Honors and awards | One Battle Star; One Navy Unit Commendation |
Fate | Sunk by a Japanese kamikaze plane,[1] 4 May 1945 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | LSM(R)-188-class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) |
Length | 203 ft 6 in (62.03 m) |
Beam | 34 ft (10 m) |
Draft |
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Propulsion | GM Cleveland diesel engines, 2,800 shp (2,088 kW), direct drive, 2 screws |
Speed | 13.2 knots (24.4 km/h; 15.2 mph) |
Range | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 7 kn (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) |
Complement | 5 officers, 76 enlisted |
Armament |
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USS LSM(R)-194 was a LSM(R)-188-class
Service history
During World War II, the ship was assigned to the Asiatic Pacific theater. At that time, the fleet was under the command of
On 3 May 1945, the 188-class LSM(R)s was put to the test. The Japanese launched their fifth kikusui attack on 3 May. Picket station 10 was the hardest hit. LSM(R)-194 was hit by a kamikaze and soon sank. For her overall performance of duty on the radar picket line the ship was awarded a Navy Unit Commendation.
Okinawa Radar Picket Line
The American plan for defense against the kamikazes was to have fighters intercept the Japanese as early as possible. Sixteen radar picket stations were established around the island, in some cases almost 100 miles out, to give early warning of the Japanese planes which might be coming from any direction. Each station was manned around the clock by a handful of ships ranging from destroyers down to minesweepers. Their job was to sound the alarm and vector fighters to intercept before the Japanese could attack the fleet anchored off Okinawa and the Allied forces and supply dumps ashore. Unfortunately, some of the eager-to-die Japanese wanted to attack the first American ships they saw: the pickets. Dennis L. Francis LSM Commander, Flotilla Nine for the period 2 – 20 April, Action Report indicated that these ships are not particularly suited for picket duty. Since their primary function is to deliver rockets during invasion operations, it seems feasible that subjecting them to continual enemy air attack will allow this secondary duty to seriously effect their ability to perform their primary function due to damage. They have no great value in combating enemy air craft due to the absence of air search radar, adequate director control for the 5"/38 main battery, and director control for the 40mm single guns. The fact that they carry a considerable quantity of explosive rockets in their magazines presents another hazard. In general, it is believed that assigning them to picket duty should be avoided since it means risking the operation of a limited number of specialized ships which could be performed by any number of other landing craft whose primary function is more closely coincident with screening operations. Before these recommendations were implemented, the USS LSMR-195 was sunk on 3 May 1945 with 9 killed and 16 wounded, the USS LSMR-190 was sunk on 4 May 1945 with 13 killed and 18 wounded, and the USS LSMR-194 was sunk on 4 May 1945 with 13 killed and 23 wounded.
Casualties
American casualties at Okinawa were the highest of any campaign against the Japanese. Total casualties were 49,151, of which 12,520 were killed or missing and 36,631 were wounded. Of this number the Navy casualties were 4,907 killed or missing and 4,824 wounded. The ship losses were 36 sunk and 368 damaged, with many of the damaged ships never being returned to combat readiness. Approximately 110,000 Japanese were killed.
References
- ^ Brown p. 150
Bibliography
- Photo gallery of USS LSM(R)-194 at NavSource Naval History
- Brown, David. Warship Losses of World War Two. Arms and Armour, London, Great Britain, 1990. .
- LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces Volume II, Turner Publishing Co. 1997.
- Friedman, Norman "US Amphibious Ships and Crafts" Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MS 2002.
- LSM(R)-194 Deck Log at National Archives.
- C.T.G. 52.21, Dennis L. Francis CO(LSM Flotilla NINE) Action ReporT 2–20 April 1945.
This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2010) |
External links