Misc.pics

Ship Specifications

LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:

Laid down at Brown Ship Building Co., Houston TX. (date unknown); Launched (date unknown);
Commissioned USS LSM-87, 15 October 1944, LTjg. George E. B. McDevitt, USNR in command. During World War II LSM-87 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the Assault and Occupation of Okinawa, 26 March to 17 June 1945;
Decommissioned: 29 March 1946, at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, SC; Struck from the Naval Register, (date unknown); Final Disposition, sold, 27 February 1948, to Southeastern Pipeline Co., Atlanta, GA, fate unknown, LSM-87 earned one battle star for World War II service.
Nicknamed (affectionately) "Crash" by the crew because of the ship's tendency to find things to run into.

Specifications:

Displacement: 520 t.(light), 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
Length: 203' 6" o a; Beam 34' 6"; Draft, light, 3' 6" forward, 7' 8" aft, fully loaded, 6' 4" forward, 8' 3" aft
Speed: 13.2kts, (max.), (928 tons displacement)
Complement: 4 officers, 54 enlisted
Armament: one twin 40mm gun mount, four single 20mm gun mounts
Vehicle/Boat Capacity: 5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVT's, or 9 DUKW's
Troop Capacity: 2 officers, 46 enlisted
Armor: 10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station
Propulsion: two Fairbanks Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) diesels. Direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm, twin screws
Range: 4,900 miles @ 12kts.(928 tons displacement)

LSM-87 beached, Ie Shima, Ryukyu Is. April 1945.

Photo by Purl Allan Ferrier, Seaman 1st class, SV-6 USNR, LSM-87

LSM-87 beached, Ie Shima, Ryukyu Is. April 1945. To the port side of LSM-87 is a partially identifiable LCT, with hull number ending in 44.

Photo by Purl Allan Ferrier, Seaman 1st class, SV-6 USNR, LSM-87

LSM-87 beached while unloading trucks, Ie Shima, Ryukyu Is. April 1945. Photo by Purl Allan Ferrier, Seaman 1st class, SV-6 USNR, LSM-87

LSM-87 beached after unloading trucks, Ie Shima, Ryukyu Is. April 1945.

Photo by Purl Allan Ferrier, Seaman 1st class, SV-6 USNR, LSM-87

"Starboard side of Crash beached on Ie Shima. Note hole in conning tower where hit. Above porthole are Jap flags painted on for two invasions. One Jap plane shot down" Lt.(jg) Edward F. Kurzinski, April 1945. Photo by Purl Allan Ferrier, Seaman 1st class, SV-6 USNR, LSM-87
"View of LSM-87 before repairs. Nice looking tear. On conn is Jap flag for plane we shot down & palm tree with two flag signifies two invasions. Leyte PI." Lt.(jg) Edward F. Kurzinski, Leyte, Philippine Is., April 1945. Photo by Edward F. Kurzinski, Lt.(jg) USNR, LSM-87
"Memory of Ernie Pyle killed on Ie Shima. They are now erecting a large monument to him. This sign was put up even during fighting." Lt.(jg) Edward F. Kurzinski, Ie Shima, April 1945. Photo by Edward F. Kurzinski, Lt.(jg) USNR, LSM-87	The sign says: "At this spot the 77th Infantry Division lost a buddy Ernie Pyle 18 April 1945"
"'87' at Yokohama" Lt.(jg) Edward F. Kurzinski, Yokohama, Tokyo Bay, Japan, October 1945. Unknown photo credit	From L to R: Unknown (with back turned), Lt.(jg) Edward F. Kurzinski, F1c Purl A. Ferrier, StM2c James Nixon

Revised 06/21/2003 by Mark R. Kurzinski