USS LSM-110 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium in the United States Navy during World War II. The ship was transferred to France as L9012, South Vietnam as RVNS Hàn Giang (HQ-401) and Philippines to be cannibalized for spare parts.

USS LSM-110
History
United States
NameLSM-110
BuilderBrown Shipbuilding Co., Houston
Laid down7 October 1944
Launched28 October 1944
Commissioned25 November 1944
Decommissioned2 January 1947
Recommissioned19 September 1950
Identification
Honors and
awards
See Awards
FateTransferred to France, 22 January 1954
History
FranceFrance
NameL9012
Acquired22 January 1954
Commissioned28 June 1954
DecommissionedOctober 1955
FateTransferred to South Vietnam, October 1955
History
South VietnamSouth Vietnam
NameHàn Giang
AcquiredOctober 1955
CommissionedDecember 1955
DecommissionedMay 1975
IdentificationPennant number: HQ-401
FateTransferred to Philippines, May 1975
History
PhilippinesPhilippines
Acquired17 November 1975
FateScrapped, 9 June 1976
General characteristics
Class and typeLSM-1-class landing ship medium
Displacement
  • 520 long tons (528 t) light
  • 743 long tons (755 t) landing
  • 1,095 long tons (1,113 t) full load
Length203 ft 6 in (62.03 m) o/a
Beam34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
Draft
  • 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) forward
  • 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) aft
  • Fully loaded :
    • 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) forward
    • 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) aft
Propulsion2 × Fairbanks-Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) diesels. Direct drive with 1,440 bhp (1,074 kW) each @ 720 rpm, twin screws
Speed13.2 knots (15.2 mph; 24.4 km/h)
Range4,900 nmi (9,100 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h)
Capacity5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVTs, or 9 DUKWs
Troops2 officers, 46 enlisted
Complement5 officers, 54 enlisted
Armament6 × 20 mm AA gun mounts
Armour10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station

Construction and career

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LSM-110 was laid down on 7 October 1944 at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, Texas. Launched on 28 October 1944 and commissioned on 25 November 1944.

During World War II, LSM-110 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater.[1]

LSM-110 was decommissioned on 2 January 1947 and was in service for Naval Reserve training. She was recommissioned on 19 September 1950 amid the Korean War.[2] The ship took part in the U.N. Summer-Fall Offensive from 1 to 31 October 1952, Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952 from 26 September to 20 December 1952 and the Third Korean Winter from 10 December 1952 to 9 February 1953.

She was loaned to the French on 22 January 1954.[3]

She was struck from the Navy Register.

The ship was commissioned into the French Navy on 28 June 1954 and renamed L9012.[3][1]

L9012 was then transferred to South Vietnam in October 1955 and commissioned in December, later that year as RVNS Hàn Giang (HQ-401).[4] The ship was used as a hospital ship during the Vietnam War. She was very nearly swamped by hundreds of civilians who swarmed aboard her at Stone Pier during the April 1975 fall of Nha Trang. Several people were trampled to death or drowned after being pushed into the water. The Hàn Giang's captain, feeling the ship begin to list, had to back it away from the pier. The local naval commander refused to allow any more of his ships to dock and risk being lost so ordered his vessels to sail for Cam Ranh.[5]

During the fall of Vietnam, she escaped and interned into the Philippines in May 1975 and later acquired by the Philippine Navy on 17 November 1975 to be used as spare parts.

She was scrapped on 9 June 1976 by Santiago A. Gerrero, Olongapo City.[1]

Awards

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LST-110 have earned the following awards:

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c "Landing Ship Medium LSM-110". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  2. ^ "USS LSM 110 (LSM 110) of the US Navy - American Medium landing ship of the LSM class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Further Information & Corrections: Warship Information Service". Warship International. 10 (3). International Naval Research Organization: 320–335. 1973. JSTOR 44890242.
  4. ^ Gutzman, Philip (28 February 2010). Vietnam: Naval and Riverine Weapons. Lulu.com. p. 244. ISBN 978-0-557-17743-1.
  5. ^ Veith, George (17 September 2013). Black April: The Fall of South Vietnam, 1973-75. Encounter Books. pp. 351–352. ISBN 978-1-59403-704-7.

Sources

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