''LSM(R)-197'' was a

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 ...

vessel laid down at

Charleston Navy Yard Charleston Naval Shipyard (formerly known as the Charleston Navy Yard) was a U.S. Navy ship building and repair facility located along the west bank of the Cooper River, in North Charleston, South Carolina and part of Naval Base Charleston. H ...

, Charleston, South Carolina. The ship was commissioned on 8 December 1944.

Design

''LSM(R)-197'' was one of twelve amphibious ships that evolved during World War II as battle experience identified new weapon requirements for the invasion of the Japanese home islands. These came out of modifications and conversions of LTC's, LCM's and LSM's. In 1944 with the US Navy's mounting of a 5-inch/38 gun and rocket launchers on the LSM its mission to landing troop fire support out to 4,000 yards beyond the beach, they were to be used during the planned Invasion of Japan to be used for illumination, harassment and high trajectory fire to destroy reverse slope targets.Friedman

Service history

During World War II the ship was assigned to the Fifth Fleet under Admiral Raymond A. Spruance. After reaching the front lines after being commissioned in San Diego, she came into action during the invasion of the Kerma Retto islands and served on the Okinawa Radar Picket Line. The class was mentioned in a ''Life'' magazine on 14 April 1945.

References

* *LSM-LSMR WW II Amphiious 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.,Commander LSM Flotilla NINE, USS LC(FF) 525, Flagship April 1945 {{DEFAULTSORT:Lsm-197 World War II amphibious warfare vessels of the United States 1944 ships LSM(R)-188-class landing ships medium