User:Firejack007/USS LSM-362

LSM-362 somewhere in the Pacific , 1944-45
History
USA
Name	USS LSM-362
Builder	Brown_Shipbuilding, Houston, Texas
Laid down	18 November 1944
Launched	9 December 1944
Commissioned	11 January 1945
Recommissioned	14 October 1950 (after being decommissioned 18 December 1946)
Decommissioned	18 December 1953
Motto	"Sandscraper"
Fate	Transferred to Republic of China, 3 May 1962
History
Republic of China
Name	ROCS "Mei-Lo" (LSM-356)
Acquired	3 May 1962
Decommissioned	1 June 2005
Renamed	(c1969-1973) LSM-637
Fate	Unknown
General characteristics
Class and type	LSM-1 class Landing Ship Medium
Displacement	520 long tons (528 t) empty 1,095 long tons (1,113 t) full load
Length	203 ft 6 in (62.03 m)
Beam	34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
Draft	Landing : 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) forward 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) aft Full load : 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) forward 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) aft
Propulsion	2 Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines, 2,800 shp (2,088 kW), direct drive, 2 screws
Speed	13.2 knots (24.4 km/h; 15.2 mph)
Range	4,900 nmi (9,100 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Capacity	5 × medium tanks or 3 × heavy tanks or 6 × LVTs or 9 × DUKWs
Troops	2 officers, 46 enlisted
Complement	5 officers, 54 enlisted
Armament	• 1 × single 40 mm AA gun • 4 × single 20 mm AA guns

LSM-362 was the name of a amphibious assault ship built in World War II for the U.S. Navy. LSM being the acronym for Landing Ship Medium. The majority of these ships were given only numbers instead of names with a few exceptions. Many, including LSM-362 were used in the Korean War and well beyond by the United States and other governments.

Wold War II Service

Construction

USS LSM-362 was built by the Brown Shipbuilding Company of Houston, Texas. Her keel was laid 18 November 1944 and she was launched on 9 December 1944. The medium landing ship was placed in commission at Houston, Texas on 11 January 1945, Lieutenant James C. Duer, USNR, in Command

USS LSM-362 in dry dock

workers under the ship

LSM Flotilla THIRTEEN

USS LSM-362 was a part of a number of LSM's built at the same time. She was in LSM Flotilla THIRTEEN,LSM Group 37,comprised of LSM's 360 (Group flag),361,362,363,364,365,366,367,368,369,370, and 371. The Flotilla was Commanded by Lt. Commander C.L. Weigle, USN initially having his flag on LSM-369 and later transferred to LSM-372. Headquarters was established in a hut on Pier 42, Amphibious Training Base, Galveston, Texas.

Shakedown and Training

Shakedown was done in the Gulf of Mexico out of Galveston, Texas. Flotilla Commander and his staff assisted shakedown staff in connection with the shakedown and inspections of the ships. USS LSM-362 and USS LSM-363 separated as part of Flotilla THIRTEEN and arrived at New Orleans on 11 February 1945 to prepare for duty in the Pacific. She departed on 17 February 1945 and transited the Panama Canal on the way to San Diego where she arrived on 18 March 1945. She would move to the small specialized Wood Shipyard near Stockton, California for some repairs and then to San Francisco. She departed on 30 March 1945 and made the long journey to Pearl Harbor where she arrived on 7 April 1945. Along with the expected shore leave, the crew did amphibious training during this time at Hilo Bay.

Supplying Captured Islands

On 12 June 1945, USS LSM-362 departed Hawaii for the Pacific Theater of Operations. Many Landing Ship Medium ships were used in initial landings as a part of Amphibious Warfare. However, a Landing Ship Medium such as the USS LSM-362 was not only used to land troops and equipment during battle, but also moved supplies to personnel at the different Pacific Islands. This would be anything from mail, food, and water to ammo, replacement parts and vehicles.

USS LSM-362 on it's maiden voyage carried supplies for Apra Harbor (13°27′12″N 144°39′12.56″E) in Guam located within the Mariana Islands. This would also include a short stop off at Eniwetok Atoll (11°30′N 162°20′E) in the Marshall Islands. The ship and crew arrived in Guam on 29 June 1945. Then on 5 July 1945, sailed with a landing ship convoy to Tulagi Harbor (9°06′S 160°09′E) Florida, in the Solomon Islands, arriving on the 15th of July.

They made a brief stop off at Guadalcanal to pick up some 1,030 drums of diesel fuel at West Kokum Beach. She then made the trip back Westward to Saipan Mariana Islands arriving on 2 August 1945.

LSM Group THIRTY-EIGHT

On 10 August 1945, USS LSM-362 joined LSM Group THIRTY-EIGHT under the command of LCDR. T. F. Lane USNR which was comprised of LSM's 450 (flag),449,416,451,419,340,452,448,488,473,98,364,286,and 484. The group shifted from Saipan to Apra Harbor, Guam on 13 August 1945. USS LSM-362 loaded gargo and men of rhe 136th Construction Battalion.

Surrender of Japan

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  USS LSM-362 moored next to USS Missouri, 2 September 1945