USS LSM-397

USS LSM-397 was a 520-ton (empty) Landing Ship Medium (LSM) of the United States Navy. Built at Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, and commissioned in July 1945, she served with the U.S. Atlantic Fleet for her entire Navy career, initially with the Amphibious Force. She was reassigned to the Service Force in May 1954. LSM-397 was decommissioned in February 1958, and was sold in May 1958.

LSM-397 alongside the General A. W. Greely (AP-141) at Thule, Greenland, during Operation "Blue Jay", 19 July 1951
History
United States
Name	LSM-397
Ordered	1944
Builder	Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina
Laid down	15 December 1944
Launched	6 January 1945
Commissioned	30 July 1945
Decommissioned	24 February 1958
Fate	Sold, November 1958
General characteristics
Class and type	LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium
Displacement	520 long tons (528 t) light 742 long tons (754 t) landing 1,095 long tons (1,113 t) full load
Length	203 ft 6 in (62.03 m) o/a
Beam	34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
Draft	Light : 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) fwd, 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) aft Full load : 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) fwd, 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) aft
Propulsion	2 × General Motors 1,440 bhp (1,074 kW) diesel engines, direct drive, twin screws
Speed	13.2 knots (24.4 km/h; 15.2 mph)
Range	4,900 nmi (9,100 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Capacity	5 medium or 3 heavy tanks (150 tons max. payload, beaching); or 6 LVTs or 9 DUKWs; 54 troops
Complement	5 officers, 54 enlisted
Armament	1 × single 40 mm AA gun 4 × single 20 mm AA guns

Bibliography

• Silverstone, Paul H. (2008). The Navy of World War II, 1922-1947. The U.S. Navy Warship Series. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-97898-9.

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

• Photo gallery of LSM-397 at NavSource Naval History