Australian landing ship medium Vernon Sturdee (AV 1355)

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History
US flag 48 stars.svg United States
NameLSM-315
Builder Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Illinois
Commissioned13 July 1944
Decommissioned14 June 1946
FateSold to Australia
Flag of Australia.svg Australia
NameVernon Sturdee (AV 1355)
NamesakeLieutenant General Sir Vernon Sturdee
Acquired26 January 1960
Decommissioned1972
FateSold to commercial interests
General characteristics
Class and typeLSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium
Displacement638 tons
Length203 ft (62 m)
Beam34 ft (10 m)
Draft6 ft (1.8 m) light, 5 ft (1.5 m) loaded
Propulsiontwo Fairbanks Morse 18 cylinder opposed piston diesels, each 1,900 hp (1,400 kW), twin screws
Speed14.5 knots (26.9 km/h)
Range5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi)
CapacityUp to 306 tons, including four Centurion tanks
Complement2 officers, 25 men
Sensors and
processing systems		Radar
Armament1 × 40mm gun, 4 × 20mm gun mounts
Armour10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station

The Australian landing ship medium Vernon Sturdee (AV 1355) was a United States Navy landing ship medium which was later sold to Australia and operated by the Australian Army.

The ship was built by the Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company in Chicago, Illinois and was commissioned into the United States Navy (USN) as USS LSM-315 on 13 July 1944. She was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations and saw action during the liberation of the Philippines during 1944 and 1945. Following the war she was decommissioned on 14 June 1946 and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

The ship was purchased by the Australian Army and was named Vernon Sturdee (AV 1355) in honour of the Australian World War II general Vernon Sturdee. The ship was one of four LSMs operated by the newly formed 32nd Small Ship Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers and was refitted in Japan before she arrived in Australia. From 1960 to 1970 she performed routine duties in support of the Australian Army, and carried equipment between ports in Australia, New Guinea, Malaysia and New Zealand.

The ship was deployed to Vung Tau in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, where she operated in South Vietnamese waters. Vernon Sturdee was decommissioned on 30 September 1971 when the 32nd Small Ship Squadron was disbanded.

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