USS LSM(R)-198

USS *LSM(R)-198*
History
United States
Laid down	6 September 1944
Launched	14 October 1944
Commissioned	12 December 1944
Decommissioned	17 January 1946
Fate	Sold for scrapping, 18 February 1948
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	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) forward; 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) aft;
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	1 × 5-inch/38-caliber gun ; 2 × 40 mm AA guns ; 3 × 20 mm AA guns; 85 × Mk. 51 automatic rocket launchers;

Last updated November 26, 2023

USS LSM(R)-198 was a Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) of the US Navy during World War II.

Service history

During World War II the ship was assigned to the Asiatic Pacific theater as part of the Fifth fleet.

The Kerama Retto islands were a small chain of islands 15 miles west of the southwest tip of Okinawa. The invasion of the Kerma Retto was an opportunity to break in all twelve of the 188-class LSM(R)s. One of the reasons that Admiral Turner wanted to capture Kerama Retto was his knowledge that the Japanese Sea Raiding Units had suicide boats hidden there. On the morning of 29 March three of these boats attacked USS LSM(R)-189 but were promptly destroyed. The northern half of the six-mile-wide invasion beach was assigned to Task Force 53, under the command of Rear Admiral Lawrence F. Reifsnider. Embarked were the 1st and 6th Marine Divisions under Major General Roy S. Geiger.

LSM(R)-198 was part of the northern support craft along with USS LSM(R)-194, USS LSM(R)-195, USS LSM(R)-196, USS LSM(R)-197, and USS LSM(R)-199. On 13 April 1945, LSM(R)-192, LSM(R)-193, LSM(R)-196, LSM(R)-197, LSM(R)-198, LSM(R)-199 and LC(FF)-535 were assigned to night harassment and destructive bombardment of Ie Shima. They used irregular rocket fire for destructive harassment together with star shells fired from their 5-inch guns for illumination and harassment. Their 40 mm guns prevented reinforcement of the beach defenses. The night patrols of the surrounding waters prevented any movement or mine laying. On the morning of 16 April, these LSM(R)s were used for rocket attack in support of assault troops. Approximately 2,600 rockets were fired into a large area composed principally of the South Eastern sector of the town of le Shima and the Eastern and South Eastern vicinities of Ie-gushuyama.

Battle of Okinawa

During the long battle of Okinawa, the LSM(R)s were used to form pickets around the Allied Fleet. These pickets were to give advance warning of Japanese air attack, particularly by kamikaze aircraft. The LSM(R)s were used although their flotilla commander noted their unsuitability for the task.

On 3 May and 4 May, among the losses to kamikaze attacks were USS LSM(R)-195, USS LSM(R)-190 and USS LSM(R)-194.

Notes

Related Research Articles

The third ship named USS Aaron Ward (DD-773/DM-34) in honor of Rear Admiral Aaron Ward was a Robert H. Smith-class destroyer minelayer in the service of the United States Navy.

USS Bache (DD/DDE-470), a Fletcher-class destroyer, was the second ship of the United States Navy of that name. The destroyer was named for Commander George M. Bache.

USS Isherwood (DD-520), a Fletcher-class destroyer, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Rear Admiral Benjamin F. Isherwood (1822–1915).

USS Mannert L. Abele (DD-733), was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer of the United States Navy. The destroyer was sunk on April 12, 1945, near Okinawa with 84 casualties. It was the first US warship to be damaged or sunk by the rocket powered Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka suicide flying bomb.

USS LSM(R)-189 was a LSM(R)-188 class Landing Ship Medium (rocket) of the United States Navy during World War II. She was commanded by Lieutenant James Malcolm Stewart, USNR during the Battle of Okinawa.

USS Thomas E. Fraser (DD-736/DM-24) was a Robert H. Smith-class destroyer minelayer in the United States Navy.

USS J. William Ditter (DD-751/DM-31) was a Robert H. Smith-class destroyer minelayer in the United States Navy. She was named for Congressman J. William Ditter. J. William Ditter was launched as DD-751 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Staten Island, New York, 4 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. J. William Ditter, widow of Congressman Ditter. The ship was reclassified DM-31 19 July 1944; and commissioned at New York Navy Yard 28 October 1944.

USS Halloran (DE-305) was a Evarts-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy.

USS Robin was a YMS-1-class minesweeper of the YMS-135 subclass built for the United States Navy during World War II.

USS LSM(R)-190 was a United States Navy LSM(R)-188-class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket). She was built at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina and was commissioned on 21 November 1944. LSM(R)-190 took part in the Battle of Okinawa from 7 April–4 May 1945. She was hit and sunk by a Japanese suicide plane on 4 May 1945 while on the radar picket line. She later received a Navy Unit Commendation for her service off Okinawa.

LSM(R)-191 was a World War II LSM(R)-188-class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) fitted for firing a rocket barrage.

LSM(R)-193 was an American Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) built in 1944, which provided naval gunfire and rocket support for US and Allied amphibious landings in World War II. It was laid down at Charleston Navy Yard and commissioned on 21 November 1944. It participated in the Battle of Okinawa as well as the run-up to the battle

LSM(R)-192 was a LSM(R)-188 class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) of the US Navy during World War II. Laid down at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina, the ship was commissioned on 21 November 1944.

USS LSM(R)-194 was a LSM(R)-188-class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) of the United States Navy during World War II, which took part in the Battle of Okinawa. LSM(R)-194 was laid down at the Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina on 21 November 1944. It sank on 4 May 1945 when it was hit by a Japanese suicide plane while on radar picket duty.

LSM(R)-196 was a US amphibious assault ship, laid down at Charleston Navy Yard. It was commissioned on 12 December 1944.

LSM(R)-197 was a United States Navy vessel laid down at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina. The ship was commissioned on 8 December 1944.

LSM(R)-195 was laid down at Charleston Navy Yard. The ship was commissioned on 21 November 1944.

LSM(R)-199 was a LSM(R)-188 class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) of the US Navy during World War II. laid down at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina, The ship was commissioned on 12 December 1944.

USS LSM(R)-188 was the lead ship of her class of twelve Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) of the United States Navy during World War II. The ship took part in the Battle of Okinawa.

The LSM(R)-188 class was a class of twelve Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) of the United States Navy during World War II. They were used in the Pacific War for bombardment of shore positions.

References

Photo gallery of USS LSM(R)-198 at NavSource Naval History
LSM-LSM(R) WW II Amphibious Forces Vol. II, Turner Publishing Co., 1996.
Stewart, James M. (2003) "90 Day Naval Wonder"
Friedman, Norman (2002) "US Amphibious Ships and Crafts" Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD
Francis, Dennis L. C.T.G. 52.21.Commander LSM Flotilla NINE USS LC(FF) 525, Flagship April 1945

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

v t e LSM(R)-188-class landing ships medium
LSM(R)-188 LSM(R)-189 LSM(R)-190 LSM(R)-191 LSM(R)-192 LSM(R)-193 LSM(R)-194 LSM(R)-195 LSM(R)-196 LSM(R)-197 LSM(R)-198 LSM(R)-199
Preceded by: LSM-1 class Followed by: LSM(R)-401 class
List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships