USS LSM-216

{{Short description|1944 LSM-1-class landing ship medium}}

{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}

{{Infobox ship begin}} {{Infobox ship image |Ship image= |Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship career |Ship country=United States |Ship flag={{USN flag|1946}} |Ship name=USS LSM-216 |Ship builder=*Dravo Corporation Wilmington, Delaware |Ship laid down= |Ship launched= |Ship sponsor= |Ship commissioned=29 July 1944 |Ship decommissioned=2 May 1946 |Ship honors=1 battle star, World War II |Ship fate=Sold to the Dominican Republic, November 1946 }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=Dominican Republic |Ship flag=File:Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg |Ship name=San Rafael (BA-103) |Ship acquired=November 1946 |Ship out of service=1960 |Ship fate= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Ship class={{sclass|LSM-1|landing ship medium}} |Ship displacement=*520 t.(light) 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded) |Ship length={{convert|203|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|34|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship draft=*{{convert|3|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} fwd, {{convert|7|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}} aft fully loaded, {{convert|6|ft|4|in|m}} fwd, {{convert|8|ft|3|in|m}} aft |Ship propulsion=Two Fairbanks Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) diesels. Direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm, twin screws |Ship speed={{convert|13.2|kn|km/h}} (max.), (928 tons displ.) |Ship endurance={{convert|4900|mi|km|abbr=on}} @ {{convert|12|kn|km/h}} (928 tons displacement) |Ship capacity=5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVT's, or 9 DUKW's |Ship complement=5 officers, 54 enlisted |Ship troops=2 officers, 46 enlisted |Ship armament=6 × 20 mm AA guns |Ship armor=10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station |Ship aircraft facilities= }}

USS LSM-216 was a {{sclass|LSM-1|landing ship medium}} built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

LSM-216 was laid down by the Dravo Corporation of Wilmington, Delaware; launched on an unknown date; and commissioned on 29 July 1944.

During World War II LSM-216 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima in February 1945. In the film To the Shores of Iwo Jima, LSM-216 can be seen in action just off Yellow Beach{{cite web | url = http://www.american-divisions.com/doc.asp?documentid=2&pagenumber=25 | title = Annex Fox to Fourth Marine Divisions Operations Report - part 1, Iwo Jima RCT 23 Report, Page 25 | date = 1945-04-09 | access-date = 2007-09-13 | publisher = American-Divisions.com |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203328/http://www.american-divisions.com/doc.asp?documentid=2&pagenumber=25 |archive-date= 3 March 2016 |url-status= dead}} on 19 February 1945.{{cite video |date = 1945 | title = To the Shores of Iwo Jima | url = https://archive.org/details/iwojima | access-date = 2007-09-13 | time = 8:34 | people = United States Marine Corps }}

Following the war, LSM-216 was decommissioned on 2 May 1946 at Calcasieu River, Lake Charles, Louisiana. She was struck from the Naval Register and sold in November 1946 to the navy of the Dominican Republic. She was renamed {{ship|Dominican landing ship|San Rafael|BA-103|3}} and served in the Dominican Republic Navy until she was disposed of in 1960.

LSM-216 earned one battle star for World War II service.