USS ''LSM(R)-189'' was a LSM(R)-188 class Landing Ship Medium (rocket) of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

during World War II. She was commanded by Lieutenant James Malcolm Stewart, USNR during the Battle of Okinawa.

Service history

During World War II, ''LSM(R)-189'' was assigned to the

Asiatic-Pacific Theater The Asiatic-Pacific Theater was the theater of operations of U.S. forces during World War II in the Pacific War during 1941–1945. From mid-1942 until the end of the war in 1945, two U.S. operational commands were in the Pacific. The Pacific ...

and participated in the assault and occupation of

Okinawa is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city ...

Gunto, from 26 March to 3 June 1945. On 29 March 1945 the ship was attacked by several Japanese suicide boats and witnessed the kamikaze attack on . The ship was damaged when struck by a Japanese kamikaze aircraft on 12 April 1945 while on radar picket duty off Okinawa. She, with , rescued survivors from , after witnessing the sinking by

Ohka The Yokosuka MXY-7 was a purpose-built, rocket-powered human-guided ''kamikaze'' attack aircraft employed by Japan against Allied ships towards the end of the Pacific War during World War II. Although extremely fast, the very short range of t ...

rocket aircraft. Decommissioned on 31 January 1946, she was sold for scrap on 17 February 1948 to the

National Metal and Steel National Metal and Steel Corporation was engaged in ship breaking, ship dismantling operations at Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor Region of the city of Los Angeles, California. Terminal Island Terminal Island, historically known as Isla Raza de Buena Gente, is a largely artificial island located in Los Angeles County, California, between the neighborhoods of Wilmington and San Pedro in the city of Los Angeles, and the city of Long B ...

, California. ''LSM(R)-189'' was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for her actions off Okinawa and one

battle star A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star inch (4.8 mm) in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or ser ...

for World War II service.

Life Magazine Centerfold

The LSM(R) was heralded in Life Magazine in 1945 with a centerfold picture. "Each of these tiny ships had amazing firepower, greater at short range than the combined firepower of two mammoth Iowa class battleships", ran the caption. The interim group of 12 LSM(R)s transited the Panama Canal and via San Diego, Honolulu, and the Philippines, headed for battle against Japan in March 1945. Unaware of their destination, the crews were nonetheless well equipped and trained. In a preliminary assault on 26 March 1945, they laid down a rocket barrage at dawn on Kerama Retta, a small cluster of islands off the southwestern shore of Okinawa. Their objective: to allow the Marines to swiftly land and secure the islands and harbor for the protection of hospital, supply and communication ships, and floating drydocks. The early dawn assault surprised the Japanese. The Marines took control with a minimum of casualties and established this haven for damaged ships.

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 to minesweepers. Their job was to sound the alarm and vector fighters on to the Japanese before they 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 12–26 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 aircraft 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, was sunk on 3 May 1945 with 9 killed and 16 wounded, was sunk on 4 May 1945 with 13 killed and 18 wounded, and was sunk on 4 May 1945 with 13 killed and 23 wounded.

References

* * Sheftall, M.G. (2005) ''Blossoms in the Wind: Human Legacies of the Kamikaze'' New York: NAL Caliber * Stewart, James M. (2003) ''90 Day Naval Wonder'' * LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces Volume II, Turner Publishing Co. 1997 * John Lorelli ''To Foreign Shores: U.S. Amphibious Operations in World War II''1994 * Friedman, Norman (2002) "US Amphibious Ships and Crafts" Nacal Institute Press, Annapolis, MD {{DEFAULTSORT:LSM-189 LSM(R)-188-class landing ships medium 1944 ships World War II amphibious warfare vessels of the United States