USS LSM(R)-198
Encyclopedia
USS LSM(R) 198 was a Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) of the US Navy during World War II.
It was laid down at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina
. The ship was commissioned on 12 December 1944 with LtJG. George B. Timmerman Jr., USNR in command.
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 March 29 three of these boats attacked the 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, 193, 196, 197, 198, 199 and LC(FF) 535 were assigned to night harassment and destructive bombardnent 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.
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
.
It was laid down at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. The ship was commissioned on 12 December 1944 with LtJG. George B. Timmerman Jr., USNR in command.
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 March 29 three of these boats attacked the 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)-194
USS LSM-194 was a LSM-188 class Landing Ship Medium of the United States Navy during World War II, which took part in the Battle of Okinawa. LSM-194 was laid down at the Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina on 21 November 1944. The ship was under the command of Lt.jg Allen M....
, USS LSM(R)-195
USS LSM(R)-195
LSM-195 was laid down at Charleston Navy Yard. The ship was commissioned on 21 November 1944, Lt. William E. Woodson, USNR, in command- Service history :...
, USS LSM(R)-196, USS LSM(R)-197
USS LSM(R)-197
LSM-197 was a United States Navy vessel laid down at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina. The ship was commissioned on 8 December 1944, Lt.John N. Cooper, USNR, in command.-Design:...
, and USS LSM(R)-199
USS LSM(R)-199
LSM-199 was a LSM-188 class Landing Ship Medium 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, Lt. Charles D. Cobb, USNR, in command....
. On 13 April 1945, LSM(R) 192, 193, 196, 197, 198, 199 and LC(FF) 535 were assigned to night harassment and destructive bombardnent 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)-195
LSM-195 was laid down at Charleston Navy Yard. The ship was commissioned on 21 November 1944, Lt. William E. Woodson, USNR, in command- Service history :...
, USS LSM(R)-190
USS LSM(R)-190
USS LSM-190 was a United States Navy LSM-188-class Landing Ship Medium . She was built at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina and was commissioned on 21 November 1944. LSM-190 took part in the Battle of Okinawa from 7 April–May 4, 1945. She was hit and sunk by a Japanese suicide plane...
and USS LSM(R)-194
USS LSM(R)-194
USS LSM-194 was a LSM-188 class Landing Ship Medium of the United States Navy during World War II, which took part in the Battle of Okinawa. LSM-194 was laid down at the Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina on 21 November 1944. The ship was under the command of Lt.jg Allen M....
.