USS LSM-149

USS LSM-149 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium built for the U.S. Navy in World War II. Like most ships of her class, she was not named and known only by her designation.

History
United States
Name	USS LSM-149
Builder	Charleston Navy Yard
Laid down	4 May 1944
Launched	27 May 1944
Commissioned	8 July 1944
Fate	Damaged, 5 December or 14 December 1944; Declared total loss
Decommissioned	15 April 1945
General characteristics
Class and type	LSM-1-class landing ship medium
Displacement	520 t.(light) 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
Length	203 ft 6 in (62.0 m)
Beam	34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
Draft	3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) fwd, 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) aft Fully loaded: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) fwd, 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) aft
Propulsion	2 General Motors (non-reversible with airflex clutch) diesels Direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm twin screws
Speed	13.2 knots (24.4 km/h) (max.), (928 tons displacement)
Endurance	4,900 miles @ 12 knots, (928 tons displacement) (7,900 km @ 22 km/h)
Capacity	5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVT's, or 9 DUKW's
Troops	2 officers, 46 enlisted
Complement	5 officers, 54 enlisted
Armament	5 × 20 mm AA guns
Armor	10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station

LSM-149 was laid down at the Charleston Navy Yard on 4 May 1944, and was launched 27 May 1944. She was commissioned along with sister ship USS LSM-148 on 8 July 1944 by Rear Admiral Jules James.[1]

Assigned to the Pacific Theatre, LSM-149 was damaged and breached while attempting to recover a barge in heavy surf off Sansapor, New Guinea on 30–31 July 1944. LSM-149 was grounded off the Philippines on 5 December 1944. (According to the United States Navy this happened on 14 December 1944, but her fate has also been reported as on 5 December 1944.) She was declared a total loss, and decommissioned on 15 April 1945.