LST-857 and LCS(L)(3)-24

[mpguy80/08]

Here are pictures of the LCS(L)(3)-24 [Landing Craft Support Ship, Type 3, number 24] which my fater served on from 1943 till 1945, and the LST 857, which my father served on during the Incheon Landings on Weolmi-do Island.

 

During WWII, my father said his ship was in position to pick up some of the survivors of the DMS Bush when she was struck by a Kamikaze and sunk. During the Incheon landings, he said his LST was stranded on the mud for 16 hours when the tide went out, and was under constand mortar fire until she could refloat at the next high tide.

[mpguy80/08]

Here are pictures of the LCS(L)(3)-24 [Landing Craft Support Ship, Type 3, number 24] which my fater served on from 1943 till 1945, and the LST 857, which my father served on during the Incheon Landings on Weolmi-do Island.

 

During WWII, my father said his ship was in position to pick up some of the survivors of the DMS Bush when she was struck by a Kamikaze and sunk. During the Incheon landings, he said his LST was stranded on the mud for 16 hours when the tide went out, and was under constand mortar fire until she could refloat at the next high tide.

 

An update on the LCS(L)(3)24:

 

I have read the Book LCS(L) by Turner and it is amazing what these ships went through during the war, especially at Okinawa. Most of the type were armed with two 40mm tubs forward (one single, one dual), or one 3" 58 cal gun and one 40mm tub forward, another 40mm tub aft, and numerous 20mm guns. Also, the type was armed with rocket racks immediately behind the forward most gun tub for runs in on the beach. The LSC(L) was intended to escort the landing boats close in shore, firing rockets and engaging shore batteries with their 3" and 40mm weapons. Based on the Landing Craft, Infantry (LCI), it maintained similar draft, maneuverability and speed (15 knots tops). At Okinawa, the LCS(L)s were partnered with destroyers and destroyer mine sweepers on Radar picket duties around the island.

 

It was while on Radar Picket Duty that the -24 faced the most danger. The destroyers were faster, and thus kept the LCS's at a distance to ensure clear maneuverability, however the tactic was to isolate the destroyers from the added firepower or the tiny gunboats. In my reading about the LCS 24 at Okinawa, she downed several kamikazes, some of which were close aboard, and sank many suicide boats. In one such engagement, the -24 ran onto a reef and damaged her skegs and had to put into Kerama Rhetto for repairs. On the night of April 6 1945, she was called to assist in the search for survivors of the DMS Bush which had been sunk by a kamikaze, and the rescue of the USS Calhoun, which had been severly damaged by kamikazes when it came to the assistance of the Bush. The USS Bennett, the -24's attending destroyer, lit off from RP#4 (Radar Picket Station #4) at high speed, leaving the -24 to catch up. The -24 arrived in the area of RP#1 late that night and began sweeping the area for survivors. After midnight the -24 was ordered back to the Kerama Rhetto anchorage, but the captain disobeyed the orders temporarily, setting out on a new search pattern, taking the current into account, and with searchlights blazing, located more survivors from the Bush. A total of 40 odd crewmen from the Bush were picked up that night, and the USS Calhoun was abandoned and sunk by the Bennett on order of the area commander to avoid the ship from falling into enemy hands.

 

Here is where the story takes an ironic twist. The afternoon before the Bush was sunk, the -24 had shot down a kamikaze, and upon a search of the wreckage, found that the japanese pilot had survived, and was fished out of the water. When the circumstances of the Bush's sinking were heard, the Japanese pilot was locked in an empty 20mm ammo locker and the crew were admonished not to say anything to any survivors that may be picked up that a Japanese pilot was aboard. No mention was made of that pilot to the survivors of the Bush.

 

Over the next few weeks, several of the Destroyers the -24 accompanied were hit and severly damaged. The LCS(L)(3) 24 was also involved in another highly publicized Kamikaze attack, when the USS Sterrett was hit by a kamikaze below the waterline, and her attending LCS, the -36 had one crash her from astern, landing on her forecastle. The -24 escorted the -36 to Kerama Rhetto anchorage.

 

After the War, the -24 served on both Occupation duty as well as Mine sweeping duties, the latter for which she earned a final battle star.

[MWalsh]

I am in the process of reading the book "KAMIKAZES, CORSAIRS, & PICKET SHIPS" by Robin Rielly, it is an excellent, and well detailed, history of the Okinawa invasion from the standpoint of the kamikaze involvementm, it heavily details the role the LCS's played as RADAR picket ships there.

 

Prior to the book I had literally no idea what a pounding they had taken there from suicide planes!

 

It's worth reading for more info on LCS's!

 

MW

[m1ashooter]

Thanks for sharing the story and the pictures.

[mpguy80/08]

I am in the process of reading the book "KAMIKAZES, CORSAIRS, & PICKET SHIPS" by Robin Rielly, it is an excellent, and well detailed, history of the Okinawa invasion from the standpoint of the kamikaze involvementm, it heavily details the role the LCS's played as RADAR picket ships there.

 

Prior to the book I had literally no idea what a pounding they had taken there from suicide planes!

 

It's worth reading for more info on LCS's!

 

MW

 

I have it sitting her next to me... When I saw it at the book store, I picked it up immediately. The Kamikazes went after the destroyers because they were a larger target, but went after the LCS's when they found out what a benefit they were to the AA defense of the radar ships

 

Wayne