USS LSM(R)-524
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USS ''Saint Croix River'' (LSM(R)-524) was a rocket-equipped
Landing Ship An amphibious warfare ship (or amphib) is an amphibious vehicle warship employed to land and support ground forces, such as marines, on enemy territory during an amphibious assault. Specialized shipping can be divided into two types, most crud ...
of the
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during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. ''Saint Croix River'' was laid down a few days before the end of the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
on 5 May 1945. Build in
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, Texas, ''Saint Croix River'' was launched on 9 June, and initially commissioned on 14 August as USS ''LSMR-524'' before being awarded the name of the St. Croix River between
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and Canadian
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in 1955. Despite earning the American and World War II campaign decorations, ''Saint Croix River'' never saw action nor traveled further than
Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula (including the parts: the Eastern Shore of Maryland / ...
or the Gulf Coast of the United States, and was sold in 1961, with its subsequent fate unknown to the US Navy.


Career

''Saint Croix River'' was laid down on 5 May 1945 in Houston under the contact of the Brown Shipbuilding Company based there. Construction took a mere four weeks, and she was launched on 9 June along with her 143-man crew recently arrived from the training courses in Little Creek, Norfolk, Virginia. Commissioned ''LSMR-524'' on 14 August 1945 during a ceremony at the Southern Pacific Docks in Houston, she was given to Lieutenant Stephen A. Humsjo of the
United States Navy Reserve The United States Navy Reserve (USNR), known as the United States Naval Reserve from 1915 to 2005, is the Reserve Component (RC) of the United States Navy. Members of the Navy Reserve, called Reservists, are categorized as being in either the Se ...
, had her previously absent 5" SS rocket launchers installed, and underwent her shakedown cruise along the Gulf Coast of the United States and off the coast of
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in September 1945.Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, V. 6, 1976, p. 238. She then sailed to Florida, practicing live fire exercises of her all weapons en route to joining the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She also engaged in similar training during a subsequent journey to Chesapeake Bay before returning to Florida. Two log reports from January and March 1946 survive:
Moored at Berth Oak 31, St. John's River, Green Cove Springs, Fla. in 14 feet of water, mud bottom, with 35 fathoms of chain to bow anchor, 300 feet of cable to the stern anchor and moored port side to the USS LSM(R) 523 moored to the starboard side, the starboard side to the USS LSM (R) 525 moored to the port, port side to, USS LSM (R) 527 moored to the USS LSM (R) 525, USS LSM (R) 526 moored to LSM (R) 527, USS LSM (R) 519 moored to starboard side of USS LSM (R) 526 on the following Bridge bearing 166 (T), North End of bridge 068 (T), tower 219 (T) with the following machinery in operation #1 ship service generator, #1 boiler, #2 refrigerator, #2 fresh water pump, #2 fire and flushing pump, #2 air compressor.
Moored in Birth Oak 31, St. Johns River Green Cove Springs. Fla. Anchorage in 14 feet of water, mud bottom with 65 fathoms of chain to bow anchor and 495 feet of cable to the stern anchor. Nested with LSM (R) type ships: 523, 530, 533, 520, 534, 535, 536, 531, 522, 528, 521, and 529, moored to our starboard numbering from inboard to outboard. LSM(R) type ships: 525, 527, 526, and 519, moored to our port numbering from inboard to outboard , on the following bearing: bridge opening 180 .5 (T), signal tower 235 (T), pt. of land 336 (T). The following machinery in operation: #1 generator, #1 evaporator, #2 fire & flushing pumps, #2 fresh water pumps, #2 refrigeration unit.
She was decommissioned on 21 May 1946, and remained laid-up in Florida until 1 October 1955, where she was recommissioned with her full name, whereupon she continued serve in the US Navy's Reserve Fleet until being struck from the register on 1 October 1958. She remained in dock until 1961, whereupon she was sold to an unknown recipient.


Notes

3. Pictures and ship log entries contribute to NavSource.org by Mark S McDonald. E-mail ffmcdonald260@aol.com. Father John A McDonald S/1c served on the USS LSM (R) 524 from 14 August 1945 to 21 May 1946.


External links


USS ''Saint Croix River'' (LSMR-524)
from Navy Source Online – Amphibious Photo Archive {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Croix River (Lsm(R)-524) LSM(R)-501-class medium landing ships 1945 ships