During World War II the ship was assigned to the Asiatic Pacific theater. At that time the fleet was under the command of Admiral Spruance and named the Fifth fleet. Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner was Commander of Amphibious Forces Pacific and was to be in charge of operations until the beachhead was established. The Kerama Retto islands were a small chain of islands 15 miles west of the southwest tip of Okinawa. The invasion of the Kerma Retto was an opportunity to break in all twelve of the 188-class LSM(R)s. One of the reasons that Admiral Turner wanted to capture Kerama Retto was his knowledge that the Japanese Sea Raiding Units had suicide boats hidden there. On the morning of 29 March three of these boats attacked the USS LSM(R)-189 but were promptly destroyed. On 1 April 1945 the southern half of the six-mile-wide Okinawa invasion beach was assigned to Task Force 55, commanded by Rear Admiral John Leslie Hall, Jr. with the assault troops under Major General John R. Hodge. The southern support craft included LSM(R)s 189, USS LSM(R)-190, USS LSM(R)-191, USS LSM(R)-192, and USS LSM(R)-193. The northern half of the six-mile-wide invasion beach was assigned to Task Force 53, under the command of Rear Admiral Lawrence F. Reifsnider. The LSMR's involved in the invasion as part of the Northern Tractor Flotilla included USS LSM(R)-194, USS LSM(R)-195, USS LSM(R)-196, USS LSM(R)-197, USS LSM(R)-198, and USS LSM(R)-199.
The American defense plan against kamikaze attack was for fighters to intercept the Japanese as early as possible. Sixteen radar picket stations were established around the island, in some cases almost 100 miles out, to give early warning in all directions. Each station was manned around the clock by a handful of ships ranging from destroyers down to minesweepers. Their job was to sound the alarm and vector fighters to intercept before the Japanese could attack the fleet off Okinawa or the Allied forces and supply dumps ashore. However some aircraft chose to attack the picket vessels. Dennis L. Francis who was LSM Commander, Flotilla Nine for the period 2 – 20 April, in his Action Report said of the LSMs "these ships are not particularly suited for picket duty...They have no great value in combating enemy air craft due to the absence of air search radar, adequate director control for the 5"/38 main battery, and director control for the 40mm single guns" He added that since their magazines held explosive rockets added to the hazard. He advised against putting them on the picket line when other vessels were available since there was a risk of losing these specialist vessels.
Before these recommendations were implemented LSM(R)-195 was sunk on 3 May 1945 with 9 killed and 16 wounded, LSM(R)-190 was sunk on 4 May 1945 with 13 killed and 18 wounded, and LSM(R)-194 was sunk on 4 May 1945 with 13 killed and 23 wounded.
Notesedit
Referencesedit
Photo gallery of USS LSM(R)-191 at NavSource Naval History
LSM-LSMR WWII Amphibious Forces, Vol. II, Turner Publishing Co.,1996
C.T.G. 52.21 (LSM Flotilla NINE) Action Report 2–20 April 1945
Friedman, Norman (2002) "US Amphibious Ships and Crafts" Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD
Stewart, James M. (2003) "90 Day Naval Wonder"
Francis, Dennis L. CO LSM Flotilla NINE C.T.G. 52.21 April 2–20, 1945.
world, class, landing, ship, medium, rocket, fitted, firing, rocket, barrage, history, united, states, laid, down27, august, 1944, launched21, september, 1944, commissioned21, november, 1944, decommissioned12, february, 1946, fatesold, january, 1948, maccallum. LSM R 191 was a World War II LSM R 188 class Landing Ship Medium Rocket fitted for firing a rocket barrage USS LSM R 191 History United States Laid down27 August 1944 Launched21 September 1944 Commissioned21 November 1944 Decommissioned12 February 1946 FateSold 20 January 1948 to R J MacCallum Compton CA and converted to a barge fate unknown General characteristics Class and typeLSM R 188 class Landing Ship Medium Rocket Length203 ft 6 in 62 03 m Beam34 ft 10 m Draft5 ft 6 in 1 68 m forward 5 ft 9 in 1 75 m aft PropulsionGM Cleveland diesel engines 2 800 shp 2 088 kW direct drive 2 screws Speed13 2 knots 24 4 km h 15 2 mph Range5 000 nmi 9 300 km at 7 kn 13 km h 8 1 mph Complement5 officers 76 enlisted Armament1 5 inch 38 caliber gun 2 40 mm AA guns 3 20 mm AA guns 75 4 rail Mark 36 rocket launchers 30 6 rail Mark 30 Rocket Launchers removed early April 1955 It was laid down at Charleston Navy Yard Charleston South Carolina The ship was commissioned on 21 November 1944 LSM R 191 took part in the assault and occupation of Okinawa on 26 March 3 June 1945 Service history editDuring World War II the ship was assigned to the Asiatic Pacific theater At that time the fleet was under the command of Admiral Spruance and named the Fifth fleet Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner was Commander of Amphibious Forces Pacific and was to be in charge of operations until the beachhead was established The Kerama Retto islands were a small chain of islands 15 miles west of the southwest tip of Okinawa The invasion of the Kerma Retto was an opportunity to break in all twelve of the 188 class LSM R s One of the reasons that Admiral Turner wanted to capture Kerama Retto was his knowledge that the Japanese Sea Raiding Units had suicide boats hidden there On the morning of 29 March three of these boats attacked the USS LSM R 189 but were promptly destroyed On 1 April 1945 the southern half of the six mile wide Okinawa invasion beach was assigned to Task Force 55 commanded by Rear Admiral John Leslie Hall Jr with the assault troops under Major General John R Hodge The southern support craft included LSM R s 189 USS LSM R 190 USS LSM R 191 USS LSM R 192 and USS LSM R 193 The northern half of the six mile wide invasion beach was assigned to Task Force 53 under the command of Rear Admiral Lawrence F Reifsnider The LSMR s involved in the invasion as part of the Northern Tractor Flotilla included USS LSM R 194 USS LSM R 195 USS LSM R 196 USS LSM R 197 USS LSM R 198 and USS LSM R 199 The American defense plan against kamikaze attack was for fighters to intercept the Japanese as early as possible Sixteen radar picket stations were established around the island in some cases almost 100 miles out to give early warning in all directions Each station was manned around the clock by a handful of ships ranging from destroyers down to minesweepers Their job was to sound the alarm and vector fighters to intercept before the Japanese could attack the fleet off Okinawa or the Allied forces and supply dumps ashore However some aircraft chose to attack the picket vessels Dennis L Francis who was LSM Commander Flotilla Nine for the period 2 20 April in his Action Report said of the LSMs these ships are not particularly suited for picket duty They have no great value in combating enemy air craft due to the absence of air search radar adequate director control for the 5 38 main battery and director control for the 40mm single guns He added that since their magazines held explosive rockets added to the hazard He advised against putting them on the picket line when other vessels were available since there was a risk of losing these specialist vessels Before these recommendations were implemented LSM R 195 was sunk on 3 May 1945 with 9 killed and 16 wounded LSM R 190 was sunk on 4 May 1945 with 13 killed and 18 wounded and LSM R 194 was sunk on 4 May 1945 with 13 killed and 23 wounded Notes editReferences editPhoto gallery of USS LSM R 191 at NavSource Naval History LSM LSMR WWII Amphibious Forces Vol II Turner Publishing Co 1996 C T G 52 21 LSM Flotilla NINE Action Report 2 20 April 1945 Friedman Norman 2002 US Amphibious Ships and Crafts Naval Institute Press Annapolis MD Stewart James M 2003 90 Day Naval Wonder Francis Dennis L CO LSM Flotilla NINE C T G 52 21 April 2 20 1945 This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2010 Learn how and when to remove this message Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS LSM R 191 amp oldid 1093042296, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
