_102.jpg) Ex-LCS(L)-102 (HTMSNakha) | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | George Lawley & Son,Commercial Iron Works andAlbina Engine Works |
| Preceded by | LCI(G) |
| In commission | 1944-2007 |
| Completed | 130 |
| Lost | 5 |
| Retired | 125 |
| Preserved | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 250 long tons (250 t) |
| Length | 158 ft 6 in (48.31 m) |
| Beam | 23 ft 3 in (7.09 m) |
| Draft | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) (aft, loaded) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h) |
| Range | 5,500 nmi (10,200 km) |
| Complement | 3–6 officers, 55–68 men |
| Armament |
|
| Armor | 10-lb. STS splinter shields |
TheLanding Craft, Support (Large) were two distinct classes ofamphibious warfare vessels used by theUnited States Navy (USN) in the Pacific and theRoyal Navy inWorld War II. The USN versions, which were later reclassifiedLanding Ship Support, Large, also performedradar picket duty and fire fighting.
The original designation for the ships was LCS(L)(3), which stood for "Landing Craft Support (Large) Mark 3". In 1949 the class was reclassified to "Landing Ship Support, Large" (LSSL). The United States Navy had to have the designation LCS(L) because there was also a smaller class named LCL that were built mainly for rescue and smoke laying during amphibious operation.[1]
A total of 130 were made. Three different ship building yards did the construction:George Lawley & Son (Neponset, Massachusetts);Commercial Iron Works (Portland, Oregon); andAlbina Engine Works (Portland, Oregon).
Thehull was the same as theLanding Craft Infantry ships. They were 158 ft 6 in (48.31 m) long,displaced 250 long tons (250 t), 23 ft 3 in (7.09 m) wide and drew 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) when fully loaded. The flat bottom andskegs between and on either side of the twin screws allowed the ships to safely beach. The anchor is at the stern of the ship so it can be used to help pull the ship off the beach if necessary. The twin variable pitch screws were each driven by a bank of four Grey Marine (laterGeneral Motors) diesel engines, with a total power for all eight engines of 1,600horsepower (1,200 kW). These engines gave a maximum speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h), but normally the ships sailed at 12 knots (22 km/h). The ships had a range of 5,500nautical miles (10,200 km). Armour for the gun mounts, pilot house and conning tower was provided by 10 lb (4.5 kg) STS splinter shields. The ships had a smoke generator which was used to obscure landing craft approaching the beach.
LCS(L) vessels could be produced in as little as 10 days, and final fitting out would take a further few weeks. The ships also made very goodfire fighting ships. A fire fighting manifold was fitted in front of the bow gun and two monitors with pumps fitted just forward of the aft gun.
The LCS(L)(3) ships provided more firepower per ton than any ship ever built for the USN. Three guns and ten rocket launchers comprised the main armament. The bow gun was a3"/50 caliber gun, a single40 mm gun or a twin 40 mm gun. The forward and aft deck guns were twin 40 mm guns. The ten Mark 7 rocket launchers were situated behind the bow gun and forward deck house. Four20 mm cannons were also mounted.
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TheBattle of Tarawa showed a gap in Navy resources for close in support of landing troops. The time interval between the end of shelling from the large ships and the arrival of the landing craft on the beach allowed the defenders to regroup. The Landing Craft Support was designed to fill this void.
The first Landing Craft Support ships arrived in thePacific Theater in time for the landings atIwo Jima.
After providing close in support during the landings atOkinawa, many Landing Craft Support ships were placed on the radar picket stations as anti-aircraft platforms. When not on a picket station, the ship would create smoke to hide the fleet at anchor and perform "skunk patrol" screening for suicide boats.
In theBorneo Campaign, Landing Craft Support was used in landings inTarakan andBalikpapan.
During World War II, five LCS(L)(3)s were sunk in combat (see below) and 21 were damaged. Three of these small warships received thePresidential Unit Citation, while six were awarded Navy Unit citations. Importantly, LieutenantRichard M. McCool, skipper of USSLCS(L)(3) 122, was awarded theMedal of Honor.
LCS(L)(3)-7,LCS(L)(3)-26 andLCS(L)(3)-49 were sunk by suicide boats offMariveles, Corregidor Channel, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 16 February 1945.LCS(L)(3)-15 was sunk by kamikaze aircraft off Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on 22 April 1945.LCS(L)(3)-33 was sunk by a kamikaze on 12 April 1945 at RP position No1.[2]
At the end of the war, surviving ships returned to the United States. Some were restored to action for theKorean War. Many were transferred to Japan (three were later transferred to Taiwan[3]), France (and on to South Vietnam), Cambodia, Thailand, Greece, and other nations.
Only two ships are known to still exist. One has been highly modified as a fishing boat. The second was in Thailand and was kept in very similar configuration to its original (HTMSNakha, formerly USSLCS(L)-102). The National Association of USS LCS(L) 1–130 was successful in having HTMSNakha transferred to the association for public display in the United States. She was officially released from theRoyal Thai Navy on 10 November 2007 after being returned to the US in September of that year. As of May 2017USS LCS(L)-102 is under restoration and upkeep. It is open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays or by special arrangements, and tours at the formerMare Island Naval Shipyard, inVallejo, California.[4]
The British designed, built and operated tenFairmile Type H LCS vessels. Three of these were sunk in action.[5]