Australian landing ship medium Clive Steele (AV 1356)

History

United States
Name:	LSM-547
Builder:	Brown Shipbuilding Company, Houston, Texas
Commissioned:	25 January 1946
Decommissioned:	5 July 1955
Fate:	Sold to Australia
Australia
Name:	Clive Steele (AV 1356)
Namesake:	Major General Sir Clive Steele
Acquired:	26 January 1960
Decommissioned:	30 September 1971
Fate:	Sold to commercial interests, abandoned in Mekong Delta after rocket attack on 6 July 1973
General characteristics
Class and type:	LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium
Displacement:	638 tons
Length:	203 ft (62 m)
Beam:	34 ft (10 m)
Draft:	6 ft (1.8 m) light, 5 ft (1.5 m) loaded
Propulsion:	two Fairbanks Morse 18 cylinder opposed piston diesels, each 1,900 hp (1,400 kW), twin screws
Speed:	14.5 knots (26.9 km/h)
Range:	5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi)
Capacity:	Up to 306 tons, including four Centurion tanks
Complement:	2 officers, 25 enlisted personnel 4 officers and 47 other ranks (in Vietnam)
Sensors and processing systems:	Radar
Armament:	1 × 40mm gun, 4 × 20mm gun mounts
Armour:	10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station

The Australian landing ship medium Clive Steele (AV 1356) was a United States Navy landing ship medium which was later sold to Australia and operated by the Australian Army.

The ship was built by the Brown Shipbuilding Company in Houston, Texas and was commissioned into the United States Navy (USN) as USS LSM-547 on 25 January 1946. She was decommissioned on 11 March 1947 and laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. Recommissioned on 22 September 1950 and served during the Korean War between 1951 and 1953. She was decommissioned on 5 July 1955 and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

The ship was purchased by the Australian Army on 26 January 1960 and was named Clive Steele (AV 1356) in honour of the Australian World War II general Clive Steele. The ship was one of four LSMs operated by the newly formed 32nd Small Ship Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers. From 1960 to 1970 she performed routine duties in support of the Australian Army, and carried equipment between ports in Australia, New Guinea, Malaysia and New Zealand.

The ship was deployed to Vung Tau in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War where she operated in South Vietnamese waters. Clive Steele was decommissioned on 30 September 1971 when the 32nd Small Ship Squadron was disbanded. She was sold to Pacific Logistics.

Service

US Navy

Clive Steele was laid down at Brown Shipbuilding Company, in Houston, Texas, and commissioned into the United States Navy (USN) as USS LSM-547 on 25 January 1946. She was decommissioned on 11 March 1947 and laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She was then re-commissioned on 22 September 1950 and served during the Korean War between 1951 and 1953. She was decommissioned again on 5 July 1955 and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet.^[1]

Australian Army

In 1959, the Australian Army purchased four Landing Ship Medium (LSM) from the US Navy in Japan. These vessels were veterans of the Pacific Campaigns in World War II and the Korean War. They served extensively with 32 Small Ship Squadron in New Guinea and the South West Pacific and two of them served in Borneo during the confrontation with Indonesia in 1964. 32 Small Ship Squadron was disbanded in early 1972, after which the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) became responsible for all seagoing activities of the Defence Force.^[2]

She was one of the four Australian Army LSMs to serve in Vietnam.The Australian Army held one LSM vessel on station in Vietnam during the Australian involvement in support of both Australian and US forces operating mainly between Saigon, Vung Tau and Cam Ranh Bay. They also visited the coastal ports of Nha Trang, Phan Rang, Qui Nhon and Da Nang plus the Mekong Delta ports of My Tho, Can Tho and Bin Thuy.^[2] They were mainly on station to support Australian ground troops around Bien Hoa, Nui Dat and Vung Tau, but when not required they were used to support US Army units between the Mekong Delta and Danang. All LSM ships served in Vietnam with the John Monash undertaking the "shuttle run" between Australia and Vietnam.^[1]

Design

Crew

Each LSM carried a crew of 4 Officers and 47 other ranks, when on operations in Vietnam. While most of the manning was RAE, members of other Corps were also part of each crew, including medical, signals and ordnance. In Vietnam, the ships were fitted with a 40mm gun and several machine guns for protection. Signallers who served with the 32 Small Ship Squadron all became experienced ship Radio Operators who adapted to ships life, working both with the RAN and Army units in Vietnamese waters, without much support from RASigs. 32 Small Ship Squadron Headquarters (HQ) never left Australia and was located in Sydney. Once the ships sailed from their Sydney Base, operational control was RAN via the Commander Australian Fleet (COMAUSTFLT). In Vietnam waters the tasking was HQ Australian Vietnam Force (AFV) via HQ 1st Australian Logistics Support Group (1ALSG).^[3]

Ship conditions

The LSMs were built for short-term use landing supplies in the Pacific during World War II. As such the facilities for the crew were extremely basic. All accommodation spaces were below deck with poor ventilation with several sections of three tiered bunks in cramped and crowded conditions giving no room to roll over. Above the bunks were pipes lagged with asbestos, which would rain down on the sleeper during heavy seas, covering him in white dust. Toilet facilities were an open tray with a row of seats and no privacy. The Forrard Mess was the eating, meeting and relaxing place in each LSM. The flat-bottomed ships did not travel well in rough seas. When committed to the Vietnam War, the LSMs were already old ships in need of constant maintenance. On the Clive Steele's final voyage to Vietnam in 1970 one of the bow doors fell off whilst in transit. The LSM ships had to return to Sydney for repairs before taking up station in Vietnam.^[3]

Fate

Clive Steele was decommissioned by the Australian Army in 1972 and sold to the Pacific Logistics S.A., Philippines. On 6 July 1973, she was struck by Communist rockets in the Mekong Delta where she was beached and abandoned. Her final resting place is unknown. USS LSM-547 Clive Steele earned four battle stars for her service in the Korean War alone. Clive Steele was also the only Australian LSM to sustain battle damage during the Vietnam War. Attacked in the Mekong Delta while sailing between Can Tho to Vung Tau on the 5 January 1969, the ship was hit by three B40 RPG rockets. The water distilling plant and the refrigeration system were damaged, but there were no casualties amongst the crew.

References

1 2 Priolo, Gary P. "Landing Ship Medium LSM-547". NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
1 2 "Army small ships DPR/TV/431". Australian War Memorial. n.d. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
1 2 "32 Small Ship Squadron RAE Association". 29 July 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.

External links

LSM-1-class landing ships medium

LSM-1 – LSM-99

LSM-1
LSM-2
LSM-3
LSM-4
LSM-5
LSM-6
LSM-7
LSM-8
LSM-9
LSM-10
LSM-11
LSM-12
LSM-13
LSM-14
LSM-15
LSM-16
LSM-17
LSM-18
LSM-19
LSM-20
LSM-21
LSM-22
LSM-23
LSM-24
LSM-25
LSM-26
LSM-27
LSM-28
LSM-29
LSM-30
LSM-31
LSM-32
LSM-33
LSM-34
LSM-35
LSM-36
LSM-37
LSM-38
LSM-39
LSM-40
LSM-41
LSM-42
LSM-43
LSM-44
LSM-45
LSM-46
LSM-47
LSM-48
LSM-49
LSM-50
LSM-51
LSM-52
LSM-53
LSM-54
LSM-55
LSM-56
LSM-57
LSM-58
LSM-59
LSM-60
LSM-61
LSM-62
LSM-63
LSM-64
LSM-65
LSM-66
LSM-67
LSM-68
LSM-69
LSM-70
LSM-71
LSM-72
LSM-73
LSM-74
LSM-75
LSM-76
LSM-77
LSM-78
LSM-79
LSM-80
LSM-81
LSM-82
LSM-83
LSM-84
LSM-85
LSM-86
LSM-87
LSM-88
LSM-89
LSM-90
LSM-91
LSM-92
LSM-93
LSM-94
LSM-95
LSM-96
LSM-97
LSM-98
LSM-99

LSM-100 – LSM-187

LSM-100
LSM-101
LSM-102
LSM-103
LSM-104
LSM-105
LSM-106
LSM-107
LSM-108
LSM-109
LSM-110
LSM-111
LSM-112
LSM-113
LSM-114
LSM-115
LSM-116
LSM-117
LSM-118
LSM-119
LSM-120
LSM-121
LSM-122
LSM-123
LSM-124
LSM-125
LSM-126
LSM-127
LSM-128
LSM-129
LSM-130
LSM-131
LSM-132
LSM-133
LSM-134
LSM-135
LSM-136
LSM-137
LSM-138
LSM-139
LSM-140
LSM-141
LSM-142
LSM-143
LSM-144
LSM-145
LSM-146
LSM-147
LSM-148
LSM-149
LSM-150
LSM-151
LSM-152
LSM-153
LSM-154
LSM-155
LSM-156
LSM-157
LSM-158
LSM-159
LSM-160
LSM-161 / Kodiak
LSM-162
LSM-163
LSM-164
LSM-165
LSM-166
LSM-167
LSM-168
LSM-169
LSM-170
LSM-171
LSM-172
LSM-173
LSM-174
LSM-175 / Oceanside
LSM-176
LSM-177
LSM-178
LSM-179
LSM-180
LSM-181
LSM-182
LSM-183
LSM-184
LSM-185
LSM-186
LSM-187

LSM-200 – LSM-299

LSM-200
LSM-201
LSM-202
LSM-203
LSM-204
LSM-205
LSM-206
LSM-207
LSM-208
LSM-209
LSM-210
LSM-211
LSM-212
LSM-213
LSM-214
LSM-215
LSM-216
LSM-217
LSM-218
LSM-219
LSM-220
LSM-221
LSM-222
LSM-223
LSM-224
LSM-225
LSM-226
LSM-227
LSM-228
LSM-229
LSM-230
LSM-231
LSM-232
LSM-233
LSM-234
LSM-235
LSM-236
LSM-237
LSM-238
LSM-239
LSM-240
LSM-241
LSM-242
LSM-243
LSM-244
LSM-245
LSM-246
LSM-247
LSM-248
LSM-249
LSM-250
LSM-251
LSM-252
LSM-253
LSM-254
LSM-255
LSM-256
LSM-257
LSM-258
LSM-259
LSM-260
LSM-261
LSM-262
LSM-263
LSM-264
LSM-265
LSM-266
LSM-267
LSM-268
LSM-269
LSM-270
LSM-271
LSM-272
LSM-273
LSM-274
LSM-275 / Portunus
LSM-276
LSM-277
LSM-278
LSM-279
LSM-280
LSM-281
LSM-282
LSM-283
LSM-284
LSM-285
LSM-286
LSM-287
LSM-288
LSM-289
LSM-290
LSM-291
LSM-292
LSM-293
LSM-294
LSM-295
LSM-296
LSM-297
LSM-298
LSM-299

LSM-300 – LSM-400

LSM-300
LSM-301 / MMC-6
LSM-302
LSM-303 / MMC-7
LSM-304
LSM-305
LSM-306
LSM-307
LSM-308
LSM-309
LSM-310
LSM-311
LSM-312
LSM-313
LSM-314
LSM-315
LSM-316
LSM-317
LSM-318
LSM-319
LSM-320
LSM-321
LSM-322
LSM-323
LSM-324
LSM-325
LSM-326
LSM-327
LSM-328
LSM-329
LSM-330
LSM-331
LSM-332
LSM-333
LSM-334
LSM-335 / T-LSM-335
LSM-336
LSM-337
LSM-338
LSM-339
LSM-340
LSM-341
LSM-342
LSM-343
LSM-344
LSM-345
LSM-346
LSM-347
LSM-348
LSM-349
LSM-350
LSM-351
LSM-352
LSM-353
LSM-354
LSM-355
LSM-356
LSM-357
LSM-358
LSM-359
LSM-360
LSM-361
LSM-362
LSM-363
LSM-364
LSM-365
LSM-366
LSM-367
LSM-368
LSM-369
LSM-370
LSM-371
LSM-372
LSM-373 / Lakeland
LSM-374
LSM-375
LSM-376
LSM-377
LSM-378
LSM-379
LSM-380
LSM-381
LSM-382
LSM-383
LSM-384
LSM-385
LSM-386
LSM-387
LSM-388
LSM-389 / MMC-8
LSM-390
LSM-391
LSM-392 / MMC-9
LSM-393
LSM-394
LSM-395
LSM-396
LSM-397
LSM-398 / Hunting
LSM-399
LSM-400

LSM-413 – LSM-500

LSM-413
LSM-414
LSM-415
LSM-416
LSM-417
LSM-418
LSM-419
LSM-420
LSM-421
LSM-422
LSM-423
LSM-424
LSM-425
LSM-426
LSM-427
LSM-428
LSM-429
LSM-430
LSM-431
LSM-432
LSM-433
LSM-434
LSM-435
LSM-436
LSM-437
LSM-438
LSM-439
LSM-440
LSM-441
LSM-442
LSM-443
LSM-444
LSM-445 / E-LSM-445 / Catapult
LSM-446 / E-LSM-446 / Launcher
LSM-447
LSM-448
LSM-449
LSM-450
LSM-451
LSM-452
LSM-453
LSM-454
LSM-455
LSM-456
LSM-457
LSM-458
LSM-459
LSM-460
LSM-461
LSM-462
LSM-463 / T-LSM-463
LSM-464
LSM-465
LSM-466
LSM-467
LSM-468
LSM-469
LSM-470
LSM-471
LSM-472
LSM-473
LSM-474
LSM-475
LSM-476
LSM-477
LSM-478
LSM-479
LSM-480
LSM-481 / MMC-10
LSM-482
LSM-483
LSM-484 / MMC-11
LSM-485
LSM-486
LSM-487
LSM-488
LSM-489
LSM-490 / MMC-12
LSM-491
LSM-492 / MMC-13
LSM-493 / MMC-14
LSM-494
LSM-495
LSM-496
LSM-497
LSM-498
LSM-499
LSM-500

LSM-537 – LSM-558

LSM-537 LSM-538 LSM-539 LSM-540 / Raritan LSM-541 LSM-542 LSM-543 LSM-544 LSM-545 LSM-546 LSM-547 LSM-548 LSM-549 / Gypsy LSM-550 / Mender LSM-551 / Salvager LSM-552 / Windlass LSM-553 LSM-554 LSM-555 LSM-556 LSM-557 LSM-558

Other operators

Argentine Navy	BDM-1 (ex-LSM-267) BDM-2 / Corrientes (ex-LSM-86)

Australian Army	Harry Chauvel (ex-LSM-319) Brudenell White (ex-LSM-477) Vernon Sturdee (ex-LSM-315) Clive Steele (ex-LSM-547)

Brazilian Navy	Gonçalo Coelho (ex-LSM-119)

Chilean Navy	Aspirante Morel (LSM-31) (ex-LSM-417) Aspirante Goycolea (ex-LSM-400) Aspirante Morel (LSM-92) (ex-LSM-444) Aspirante Isaza (ex-LSM-295) Guardiamarina Contreras (ex-LSM-113)

Republic of China Navy Mei Chin class	Mei Lo (LSM-242) (ex-LSM-157) Mei Kun (ex-LSM-478) Mei Cheng (ex-LSM-155) LSM-341 (ex-LSM-256) LSM-342 (ex-LSM-442) Mei Tseng (ex-LSM-431) LSM-345 (ex-LSM-456) Mei Song (ex-LSM-457) CMC-348 (ex-LSM-13) Mei Jian (ex-LSM-76) LSM-351 (ex-LSM-422) Mei Ping (ex-LSM-471) LSM-355 (ex-LSM-474) Mei Lo (LSM-356) (ex-LSM-362) Mei Yi (ex-LSM-285) ex-LSM-43 ex-LSM-62 ex-LSM-69 ex-LSM-80 ex-LSM-88 ex-LSM-112 ex-LSM-124 ex-LSM-146 ex-LSM-147 ex-LSM-153 ex-LSM-154 ex-LSM-159 ex-LSM-208 ex-LSM-218 ex-LSM-225 ex-LSM-248 ex-LSM-249 ex-LSM-278 ex-LSM-280 ex-LSM-282 ex-LSM-284 ex-LSM-290 ex-LSM-292 ex-LSM-293 ex-LSM-308 ex-LSM-336 ex-LSM-337 ex-LSM-339 ex-LSM-349 ex-LSM-363 ex-LSM-374 ex-LSM-376 ex-LSM-386 ex-LSM-387 ex-LSM-391 ex-LSM-393 ex-LSM-423 ex-LSM-427 ex-LSM-430 ex-LSM-433 ex-LSM-439 ex-LSM-453 ex-LSM-461 ex-LSM-470 ex-LSM-472 ex-LSM-475 ex-LSM-482 ex-LSM-489

People's Liberation Army Navy	HUA-201 (ex-LSM-112) HUA-202 (ex-LSM-248) HUA-204 (ex-LSM-430) HUA-207 (ex-LSM-282) HUA-208 (ex-LSM-42) Huang Ho (ex-LSM-433) ex-LSM-43 ex-LSM-124 ex-LSM-153 ex-LSM-208 ex-LSM-218 ex-LSM-225 ex-LSM-237? ex-LSM-336 ex-LSM-391 ex-LSM-453? ex-LSM-475? ex-LSM-482 ex-LSM-489

Royal Danish Navy	Hjaelperen (ex-LSM-500) Beskytteren (ex-LSM-390) Vindhunden (ex-LSM-392)

Dominican Navy	San Rafael (ex-LSM-216) Sirio (ex-LSM-483) Antares (ex-LSM-538)

Ecuadorian Navy	Jambeli (ex-LSM-539) Tarqui (ex-LSM-555)

French Navy	L9011 (ex-LSM-355) L9012 (ex-LSM-110) L9013 (ex-LSM-125) L9014 (ex-LSM-316) L9015 (ex-LSM-422) L9016 (ex-LSM-478) L9017 (ex-LSM-17) L9018 (ex-LSM-58) L9019 (ex-LSM-226) L9051 (ex-LSM-85) L9052 (ex-LSM-471) ex-LSM-479

German Navy	Krokodil (ex-LSM-537) Eidechse (ex-LSM-491) Salamander (ex-LSM-553) Viper (ex-LSM-558)

Hellenic Navy	Ypoploiarkhos Grigoropoulos (ex-LSM-45) Ypoploiarkhos Toyrnas (ex-LSM-102) Daniolos (ex-LSM-227) Ypoploiarkhos Roussen (ex-LSM-399) Krystalldis (ex-LSM-541) Merlin (ex-LSM-557) Aktion (ex-LSM-301) Amvrakia (ex-LSM-303)

Indonesian Navy	ex-LSM-354

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force	LSM-3001 (ex-LSM-125)

Republic of Korea Navy	Daecho (ex-LSM-546) Yeo Do (ex-LSM-268) Dokdo (ex-LSM-419) Gadeok (ex-LSM-462) Ku Moon (ex-LSM-30) Bian (ex-LSM-96) Pungdo (ex-LSM-54) Wolmi (ex-LSM-57) Ki Rin (ex-LSM-19) Neongna (ex-LSM-84) Sin Mi (ex-LSM-311) Ulleung (ex-LSM-17)

Royal Norwegian Navy	Vale (ex-LSM-492) Vidar (ex-LSM-493)

Paraguayan Navy	Teniente Pratt Gill / Boqueron (ex-Corrientes)

Peruvian Navy	Lomas (ex-LSM-396) Atico (ex-LSM-554)

Philippine Navy	Batanes (L-65) (ex-LSM-236) Isabela (ex-T-LSM-463) Batanes (LP-65) (ex-Hương Giang) Western Samar (ex-Hát Giang) Oriental Mindoro (ex-LSM-320) ex-Hàn Giang (cannibalized for parts)

Portuguese Navy	Medusa / São Rafael (ex-Portunus)

Spanish Navy	LSM-1 (ex-LSM-329) LSM-2 (ex-LSM-331) LSM-3 (ex-LSM-343)

Royal Thai Navy	Kut (ex-LSM-333) Phai (ex-LSM-338) Kram / Khramto (ex-LSM-469)

Turkish Navy	Mordoğan (ex-LSM-484) Meriç (ex-LSM-490) Marmaris (ex-LSM-481) Mersin (ex-Vale) Mürefte (ex-Vidar)

Bolivarian Armada of Venezuela	Friars (ex-LSM-544) Los Testigos (ex-LSM-545) Monk (ex-LSM-548) Roques (ex-LSM-543) ex-LSM-370 (cannibalized for parts) ex-LSM-542 (cannibalized for parts)

Republic of Vietnam Navy	Hát Giang (ex-L9011) Hàn Giang (ex-L9012) Lam Giang (ex-LSM-226) Ninh Giang (ex-LSM-85) Hương Giang (ex-Oceanside) Tiền Giang (ex-LSM-313) Hậu Giang (ex-LSM-276) ex-LSM-58

Vietnam People's Navy	ex-Ninh Giang ex-Tiền Giang ex-Hậu Giang

Preceded by: None
Followed by: LSM(R)-188 class

List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships

Australian amphibious warfare ships

Canberra-class landing helicopter dock	Canberra Adelaide

Bay-class landing ship	Choules

Round Table-class landing ship logistics	Tobruk

Kanimbla-class landing platform amphibious	Kanimbla Manoora

HSC catamaran	Jervis Bay

Balikpapan-class landing craft heavy	Balikpapan Brunei Labuan Tarakan Wewak Salamaua Buna Betano

LSM-1-class landing ship medium	Harry Chauvel Brudenell White Vernon Sturdee Clive Steele

Landing Ship Tank (Mark 3)	Labuan Lae Tarakan LST 3008 LST 3014 LST 3022

Landing ship, infantry	Kanimbla Manoora Westralia

Ro-Ro ship	Jervis Bay

Australian Army amphibious craft	Crusader ALC 50 Landing Ship Medium Mark II LARC-V LCM-8 LCM2000 class

Royal Australian Navy amphibious craft	LCVP LLC Mexeflote

List of major warship classes of the Royal Australian Navy

Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1973

Shipwrecks	15 Feb: USS Sabalo 21 Feb: USS Tullibee 12 Mar: Igara 22 Mar: Norse Variant, Loch Seaforth 2 Apr: Norderney 24 Apr: USS Force 27 Apr: Globe Star 3 May: USS Boyle 13 May: USS Blackfin 24 May: USS Herndon 3 Jun: USS Gherardi 13 Jun: K-56 6 Jul: Cherry Venture, Clive Steele 28 Jul: USS Gunason 6 Nov: Golar Patricia 15 Nov: USS Fitch November (unknown date): USS Haraden 4 Dec: USS Frankford Unknown date: USNS Sgt. Jack J. Pendleton, Kuroshio

Other incidents	22 Jan: USS Batfish 21 May: USS Sturgeon 25 May: Velos 31 May: Esso Brussels, Sea Witch 17 Jun: Johnson Sea Link July (unknown date): Canberra 14 Aug: Canberra 29 Aug: {Pisces III]] 10 Sep: HMS Jaguar

1972 1974

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, April 22, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.