USS LSM-478
{{short description|LSM-1-class landing ship medium}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
}} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = File:ROCS Mei Kun.jpg | Ship caption = ROCS Mei Kun }} {{Infobox ship career | Ship country = United States | Ship flag = {{USN flag|1946}} | Ship name = LSM-478 | Ship builder = Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston | Ship laid down = 10 February 1945 | Ship launched = 3 March 1945 | Ship sponsor = | Ship commissioned = 7 April 1945 | Ship reclassified = | Ship decommissioned = 28 May 1946 }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = yes | Ship recommissioned = | Ship decommissioned = | Ship renamed = | Ship struck = | Ship identification = | Ship honors = See Awards | Ship fate = Transferred to France, 1 April 1954 }} {{Infobox ship career | Ship country = France | Ship flag = {{flagicon|France|naval}} | Ship name = L9016 | Ship acquired = 1 April 1954 | Ship commissioned = 28 June 1954 | Ship reclassified = | Ship decommissioned = April 1956 | Ship renamed = | Ship struck = | Ship identification = | Ship fate = Returned to US, April 1956 }} {{Infobox ship career | Ship country = Taiwan | Ship flag = {{flagicon|Taiwan|naval}} | Ship name = *Mei Kun
| Ship namesake = | Ship acquired = November 1956 | Ship commissioned = November 1956 | Ship reclassified = LSM-352 | Ship decommissioned = 1973 | Ship identification = Pennant number: LSM-252 | Ship renamed = | Ship struck = 1973 | Ship fate = Unknown }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Ship class={{sclass|LSM-1|landing ship medium}} |Ship displacement=*{{convert|520|LT|t|0}} light
|Ship length={{convert|203|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} o/a |Ship beam= {{convert|34|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship height= |Ship draft=*{{convert|3|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} forward
|Ship depth= |Ship propulsion=2 × Fairbanks-Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) diesels. Direct drive with {{convert|1440|bhp|0|abbr=on}} each @ 720 rpm, twin screws |Ship speed= {{convert|13.2|kn|mph km/h|lk=in}} |Ship range= {{convert|4900|nmi|km|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|12|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} |Ship endurance= |Ship boats= |Ship capacity=5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVTs, or 9 DUKWs |Ship troops=2 officers, 46 enlisted |Ship complement=5 officers, 54 enlisted |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=6 × 20 mm AA gun mounts |Ship armour=10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station |Ship notes= }} |
USS LSM-478 was a {{sclass|LSM-1|landing ship medium}} in the United States Navy during World War II. The ship was transferred to France as L9016 and Taiwan as ROCS Mei Kun (LSM-252).
Construction and career
LSM-478 was laid down on 10 February 1945 at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, Texas. Launched on 3 March 1945 and commissioned on 7 April 1945.
During World War II, LSM-478 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She was assigned to occupation service in the Far East from 4 September to 9 November 1945.{{Cite web|title=Landing Ship Medium (LSM)|url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/14/14478.htm|access-date=2022-01-05|website=www.navsource.org}}
LSM-478 was decommissioned on 28 May 1946.{{Cite web|title=USS LSM 478 (LSM 478) of the US Navy - American Medium landing ship of the LSM class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net|url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/13065.html|access-date=2022-01-05|website=uboat.net}}
She was loaned to the French on 1 April 1954.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44890242|publisher=International Naval Research Organization|year=1973|volume=10|pages=320–335|jstor=44890242 |title=Further Information & Corrections: Warship Information Service |journal=Warship International |issue=3 }}
She was struck from the Navy Register.
The ship was commissioned into the French Navy on 28 June 1954 and renamed L9016. She served in the First Indochina War later that year.{{Cite web|title=* LSM 9016 (1954/1956) *|url=https://www.postenavalemilitaire.com/t9305-lsm-9016-1954-1956|access-date=2022-01-06|website=www.postenavalemilitaire.com|language=fr}}
L9016 was returned to the US in April 1956 and then transferred to Taiwan in November 1956, in which she was commissioned in November 1956, as ROCS Mei Kun (LSM-252). She was later redesignated LSM-352.
Underneath the cover of the night in January 1957, the ship escaped China through Kinmen and small waterways of Jinmen to avoid Communist Army's radar. At 8 in the evening, she lifted her anchor and left Liuluo Bay for Taiwan.{{Cite book|last=Zhenzheng|first=Wu|title=群英憶往: 陸軍官校第四軍官訓練班入伍生總隊口述歷史|publisher=Government Affairs Office of the Ministry of Defense|year=2011|isbn=978-9860273151|pages=273–274}}
The ship was put out of service in 1973 with her fate unknown.
Awards
LST-478 have earned the following awards:
Citations
{{Reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite book|author=United States. Dept. of the Treasury|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BnfPAAAAMAAJ|title=Treasury Decisions Under the Customs, Internal Revenue, Industrial Alcohol, Narcotic and Other Laws, Volume 97|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|year=1962}}
- {{cite book|last=Moore|first=Capt. John|title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1984-85|publisher=Jane's Information Group|year=1984|isbn=978-0710607959}}
- {{cite book|last=Saunders|first=Stephen|title=Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010|publisher=Jane's Information Group|year=2009|isbn=978-0710628886}}
- {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4b8eAQAAMAAJ|title=Fairplay International Shipping Journal Volume 222|publisher=Fairplay Publishing Limited|year=1967|location=United Kingdom}}
{{LSM-1-class landing ship medium|413}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:LSM-478}}
Category:World War II amphibious warfare vessels of the United States
Category:Ships built in Houston
Category:LSM-1-class landing ships medium
Category:Ships transferred from the United States Navy to the French Navy
Category:Ships transferred from the United States Navy to the Republic of China Navy