USS LSM-297

LSM-297 USS LSM-297 underway in San Diego Bay, May 1956
History
United States
Name:	USS LST-297
Builder:	Brown Shipyard Co., Houston, Texas
Laid down:	6 June 1944
Launched:	30 June 1944
Commissioned:	31 July 1944
Decommissioned:	27 March 1947
Fate:	Transferred to Greece, 3 November 1958
Greece
Name:	Ypoploiarchos Grigoropoulos
Acquired:	3 November 1958
Identification:	L161
Fate:	Returned to United States as museum ship, 1998 Sold to be converted into a barge, then scrapped
General characteristics
Class and type:	LSM-1-class Landing Ship Medium
Displacement:	520 long tons (528 t) empty 1,095 long tons (1,113 t) full load
Length:	203 ft 6 in (62.03 m)
Beam:	34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
Draft:	Landing : 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) forward 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) aft Full load : 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) forward 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) aft
Propulsion:	2 Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines, 2,800 shp (2,088 kW), direct drive, 2 screws
Speed:	13.2 knots (24.4 km/h; 15.2 mph)
Range:	4,900 nmi (9,100 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Capacity:	5 × medium tanks or 3 × heavy tanks or 6 × LVTs or 9 × DUKWs
Troops:	2 officers, 46 enlisted
Complement:	5 officers, 54 enlisted
Armament:	1 × single 40 mm AA gun 4 × single 20 mm AA guns

USS LSM-297 is a LSM-1-class medium landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. The ship also served as Ypoploiarchos Grigoropoulos (L161) in the Hellenic Navy from 1958 to 1993. She was the last known surviving LSM in its original configuration. Currently located at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, LSM-297 was donated to the Museum of the Marine by the now defunct Amphibious Ship Museum^[1] under the understanding that it would be put on display at the museum, and was towed to North Carolina in 2004 from Omaha, Nebraska. The museum decided in 2007 that the ship will not be a part of the museum^[2] and is looking for another home for the ship. In 2009, there were reports that the Museum was considering scrapping or sinking the ship as an artificial reef.^[3] The ship was scrapped sometime between 2010 and 2014.

Career

USS LSM-45 was laid down on 6 June 1944 at Brown Shipyard Co. in Houston, Texas, and was launched on 30 October 1944. She was commissioned on 18 December 1944, LTjg. Gilbert A. Barre, USNR, in command.

During World War II LSM-297 was assigned to the Pacific Theater and saw service in the Philippines. She was decommissioned on 27 March 1947 at Green Cove Springs, Florida, and laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs.

On 3 November 1958, the ship was transferred to Greece, and served in the Hellenic Navy under the name Ypoploiarchos Grigoropoulos (L-161).^[4]

AMA ownership

In early 1998, the Amphibious Museum of the Americas (AMA) found the former LSM-297 in Greece, half sunk. The AMA raised and restored the ship and had it towed back to the United States. A press release stated, "We have found USS LSM-297 in the Grecian Isles and she is being returned to the United States to be placed in the National Naval Museum at Freedom Park, Omaha, Nebraska, right on the Missouri River." Getting LSM-297 ready for towing to New Orleans took a month in the Greek naval base's repair yard.

In August 1998, the ship came under full control of the USS LSM-LSMR Association, made up of former shipmates who served on LSMs and similar ships from 1944 to 1970.

Intermarine of New Orleans, Louisiana, volunteered its services to the Landing Ship, Medium (LSM) Association of America and committed to deliver the ship over the 7,000-nautical-mile (13,000 km) distance from Greece to Omaha, Nebraska.

The LSM departed Hellenic Naval Base, Skaramagas, Greece, on 9 September 1998 under tow of the chartered Russian tug, Ost. After a stop at Tenerife, in the Canary Islands for fuel, the tug made way across the Atlantic Ocean heading directly west on course 270° at a speed of 7.2 knots (13.3 km/h; 8.3 mph). Rounding the Florida Keys, the Ost and her tow then headed up through the Gulf and arrived at the Port of New Orleans on 20 October.

Intermarine assumed the responsibility as agents for the LSM Association and Freedom Park, managing all registration and berthing efforts upon the LSM's port of entry arrival. Additional port services were arranged with gracious vendors and many volunteers who donated their services. The timing of the tow from New Orleans to the nation's heartland at Omaha, Nebraska, was the next big hurdle primarily because the Missouri River was closing to navigation traffic around mid-November. Barge and tow operators are usually busy getting their equipment out of the rivers before the winter freeze.

Towing from New Orleans, up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, was made possible by American Commercial Barge Lines. Blaske Marine then provided the AMA a dedicated towboat, the M/V Omaha, Captained by William Beacom, to push LSM-297 up the Missouri from St. Louis to a permanent riverfront berth at Freedom Park, arriving on Monday, 23 November 1998.^[1]

While in Omaha, restoration work was done by volunteers including a fresh coat of paint, unstepping the mast for storage, and work on all decks. The bulkheads below deck were lined with rows of walnut plaques with the names of those hundreds of individuals that had given of their time and money to restore and save the LSM. There is evidence on every deck, in every compartment, from the galley to the engine room that many hours of restoration had taken place by dedicated workers.^[5]

Donation to Museum of the Marine

The Amphibious Ship Museum, a group of former military members who served on LSMs during World War II and the Korean War, were unhappy with the maintenance and upkeep of the LSM-297 at Freedom Park and began looking for a new home for the ship. Museum representatives contacted Headquarters Marine Corps' historical branch, which put them in touch with the Marine Corps Museum of the Carolinas. The Amphibious Ship Museum agreed to turn over rights to the ship and its artifacts to the Marine Corps Museum of the Carolinas once the ship anchored at Mile Hammock Bay, near Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

On 11 December 2003 the State Department granted approval for the moving of the LSM-297. The ship was towed to the Museum of the Marine in Jacksonville, North Carolina, in April 2004. Once docked behind the museum, it was to be opened to the public and the ship's deck was to be filled with equipment used during World War II.^[1]

After nearly three years, the Museum of the Marine announced it was pulling anchor on the donated World War II ship and looking for someone who could better afford its preservation.^[2]

Initially, the museum planned to incorporate the 500-ton vessel into a site plan that, at the time, focused on waterfront property on the New River next to Jacksonville's proposed civic center. Location prospects fizzled, though, along with the civic center plans.

Now ready to break ground sans water, the Museum of the Marine rethought its ability to keep the ship afloat. The museum's announcement to break ties with the ship came shortly after members of the USS LSM/LSMR Association - an organization closely tied to the ship's donors - began questioning the fate of the ship after learning of the museum's plans to build in the landlocked Lejeune Memorial Gardens.

By May 2003, the Museum of the Marine has identified several organizations as a suitable home for the vessel and hoped to share transportation costs with the benefactor.

In photos taken in February 2009, the ship appears to have significantly deteriorated since being handed over to the Museum of the Marine, and will again need new paint.

Reports of plans to scrap

By late 2008 reports had begun to surface that the Museum of the Marine had not found a suitable home for the ship, and that due to a request by the Coast Guard for the return of the pier where it was moored, were considering scrapping the ship, or sinking it as an artificial reef.^[3] The ship was also closed to visitors, although members of the restored USS LST-325 were able to visit and tour the ship in February 2009 by making contact with the museum. In May, 2009, a working group from the USS Slater (DE-766) removed parts and material for use in the restoration of their ship (in Albany, New York). In February 2010, crewmembers from LST -325 also removed parts. The Museum of the Marine plans to remove the 40mm mount and the conning tower for possible display, with the LSM-297 then being used as a barge by a private owner.^[5]

In October 2010, the last surviving crewmember of LSM-297 from World War II died. At that time it was also reported that LSM-297 had been sold to Justice Marine, Sneads Ferry, North Carolina to be altered into a barge.^[6] However, in February 2014 it was reported that it was not suitable for use as a barge so it was scrapped instead.^[7]

Status as last known survivor

Up to 2010, USS LSM-297 was one of three known survivors, along with LSM-333 and LSM-469, which were owned by the Royal Thai Navy.

On 1 February 2003, LSM-469 was sunk as an artificial reef off the coast of Pattaya, Thailand.^[8]

On 17 September 2006 the Royal Thai Navy sank LSM-333 off the coast of Thailand at Pattaya,^[9] leaving LSM-297 as the last known survivor in original Naval configuration.^[1] Other LSMs have been converted to commercial use.

• 

  LSM-45 in the Philippines, date unknown

• 

  LSM-45 beached at Cebu, c. 1945

• 

  LSM-45, c. 1946

• 

  LSM-45 in San Francisco Bay, 1945 or 1946

• 

  LSM-45 in the Greek Navy, renamed Ypoploiarchos Grigoropoulos (L-161), undergoes pre-voyage outfitting in the Hellenic Naval Base at Skaramangas, Greece

References

External links

• Photo gallery of USS LSM-45 at NavSource Naval History
• Historic World War II ship to leave Omaha
• Restoration updates from Jack and Judy Held
• Video look at LSM-45
• Museum of the Marine

  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