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LCS (L) - Landing Craft, Support (Large)
 
National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130 web site

Landing Craft Support (Large) ships were used solely in the Pacific to support amphibious landings and intercept inter-island barge traffic.  LCS(L)s  were a further development of gunboats converted from LCIs.  During assault landings, LCS(L)s usually fired a series of rocket barrages before turning broadside to fire on targets of opportunity.

On February 16, 1945, near Corregidor in the Philippines, LCS(L)s 7, 8, 26, 27, 48, and 49 were attacked by about 20 Japanese suicide boats and suicide swimmers. During the attack, LCS(L)s 7, 26, and 49 were sunk and LCS(L) 27 was damaged. 

At Okinawa, while serving on radar picket duty, LCS(L)s 15 (on  April 28) and 33 (April 12) were sunk by suicide aircraft;  LCS(L)s 25, 31, 51, 52, 57 (April 12),  88 (May 11), 116 (April 16), 119 (May 27), 121, and 122 (June 11) were damaged.   LCS(L)-37 was disabled when attacked by a suicide boat.

The craft saw plenty of Radar Picket Station action. As examples:

  • For its actions on 16 April 1945 in support of Laffey (DD-724) LCS(L)-51 and its crew received the Presidential Unit Citation

  • On 11 May 1945, a group of LCS(L)s including LCS(L)-109 on station with Douglas H. Fox (DD-779) and Harry F. Bauer (DM-26) fought off and splashed numerous early morning aerial suicide attackers

Many Okinawa-based LCS(L)s assigned to picket duty also fought fires, treated wounded and rescued survivors of ships damaged or sunk by suicide attacks.. As examples, LCS(L) 64 rescued survivors from the  April 6 sinking of the USS Bush (DD-529) and USS Colhoun (DD-801); LCS(L)-82, assisted the damaged USS Evans (DD-552) on May 11  and USS Braine (DD-630) on May 27.
 

LCS(L) Image Gallery (Click on image to see enlarged version.)
(Galleries for the following individual LCS(L)s follow this gallery:
LCS(L)-51 LCS(L)-109)
 

Neill Phillips, CO, LCS Flotilla 4

Photo courtesy of son Samuel R. Phillips

F.P. Stone, CO LCS(L) Group 7, Flotilla 3

Photo courtesy of Louis V. Plant

David Demeter, LCS(L)-7

Photo courtesy of David Demeter

William Hurney, LCS(L) -12

Photo courtesy of granddaughter Jessica Edgar

Robert A. Wells, LCS(L)-31

Photo courtesy of Bob Wells

Connell C. Medley, LCS(L)-32

Photo courtesy of daughter Priscilla Kaufmann

G.T. Molstein, LCS(L)-37

Photo courtesy of Ted Mayhugh

Clayton J. Burden, LCS(L)-44

Photo courtesy of Clay Burden

Nisi Ligor Dionis, LCS(L)-44

James D. Phillips, LCS(L)-44

Photo courtesy of widow Arline Phillips

Landings on Corregidor involved the LCS-48 (above) and LCS-8

Photo courtesy of Harry G. Meister

Landing operations Mariveles, Bataan February 15. LCS-48 coming to the aid of an LSM that hit a mine.

Photo courtesy of Harry G. Meister

Corregidor, "The Rock" in the background prior to the landings February 16, 1945.

Photo courtesy of Harry G. Meister

Edward G. Steenbergen, LCS(L)-49

Photo courtesy of son Dennis A. Steenbergen

William Earl Travers, LCS(L)-49 w (KIA)

Photo courtesy of daughter Linda Nell Travers Wetherhold

LCS(L)-50

Builder's completion photo taken at Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon, September 19, 1944. Photo courtesy of National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130 web site.

Nick Stoia, LCS(L)-52

Photo courtesy of Nick Stoia

Virgil Thill, LCS(L)-52

Photo courtesy of Virgil Thill

Harold Tolmasky LCS(L)-54

Photo courtesy of daughter Falisa Brosh

Louis V. Plant, LCS(L)-55

Photo courtesy of Louis V. Plant

James W. Kelley, CO, LCS (L) - 61

Photo courtesy of James W. Kelley

Mark V. Sellis, XO, LCS(L)-61

Photo courtesy of Mark V. Sellis

John E. Littleton, LCS(L)-64

Photo courtesy of John Littleton

Joseph C. McLendon, LCS(L)-64

Photo courtesy of Reverand Joseph C. McLendon

Lloyd O. Daniels, LCS (L) - 65

Photo courtesy of daughter Suzanne Daniels Peters

Robert P. Grimes, LCS (L) - 66

Photo courtesy of Robert P. Grimes

LCS(L)-82

Photo courtesy of John and Ginny Rooney.

John Rooney, LCS(L)-82

Photo courtesy of John Rooney

Rosse V. Long, LCS (L) - 87

Photo courtesy of Rosse V. Long

Ralph H. Magoon, LCS (L) - 89

Photo courtesy of Ralph H. Magoon

O Landon Miles, CO, LCS(L)-99

O Landon Miles

Dorris M. Phelps, LCS (L) - 99

Photo courtesy of Dorris Phelps

Ray B. Davis, LCS(L)-116

Photo courtesy of Ray Davis

Lewis P. Reed, LCS(L)-116 w (receiving Silver Star and Purple Heart for actions on April 16, 1945)

Photo courtesy of Ray Davis

Earl H. Blanton, LCS(L)-118

Photo courtesy of Earl H. Blanton

Charles D. Towers, CO, LCS(L)-118

Photo courtesy of Charles D. Towers

Daniel R. Friday, LCS(L)-119

Photo courtesy of Daniel R. Friday

Richard M. McCool, CO, LCS(L)-122 w

Photo courtesy of Richard M. McCool

Herman R. (Buzz) Stewart, LCS(L)-125

Photo courtesy of son Jim Stewart

 
LCS(L)-51 Image Gallery (Click on image to see enlarged version.) Top
 
«« Navy Presidential Unit Citation
 

LCS(L)-51 on 1944 training exercise

Photo courtesy of Virgil Branch

LCS(L)-51 Communications Division; Virgil Branch 2nd from right (under signal lamp); J.R, Sears, 3rd from right; Ensign Joseph Gebhardt front row left

Photo courtesy of Virgil Branch

Damage to LCS(L)-51 from 16 April, 1945 suicide attack

Photo courtesy of Virgil Branch

Damage to LCS(L)-51 from 16 April, 1945 suicide attack (below decks view)

Photo courtesy of Virgil Branch

Virgil C. Branch

Photo courtesy of Virgil Branch


 

LCS(L)-109  Image Gallery (Click on image to see enlarged version.) Top
 
«
 

LCS(L)-109

Donated by Frank Pugel, MOMM3/C LCS(L)109 to the National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130

Martin L. Smith, CO

Photo courtesy of daughter Maggie Smith McGrath

Eugene M. Labor

Photo courtesy of Eugene M. Labor

Joseph Steinberg

Photo courtesy of son Mike Steinberg


 

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