USS LSM(R)-189

During World War II, LSM(R)-189 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, from 26 March to 3 June 1945.The interim group of 12 LSM(R)s transited the Panama Canal and via San Diego, Honolulu, and the Philippines, headed for battle against Japan in March 1945.In a preliminary assault on 26 March 1945, they laid down a rocket barrage at dawn on Kerama Retta, a small cluster of islands off the southwestern shore of Okinawa.Sixteen radar picket stations were established around the island, in some cases almost 100 miles out, to give early warning of the Japanese planes which might be coming from any direction.Their job was to sound the alarm and vector fighters on to the Japanese before they could attack the fleet anchored off Okinawa and the Allied forces and supply dumps ashore.
Charleston Navy YardCharleston, South CarolinaLanding Ship Medium5-inch/38-caliber gunBattle of Okinawabattle starNavy Unit CommendationLanding Ship Medium (rocket)United States NavyAsiatic-Pacific TheaterOkinawaUSS LSM(R)-188USS LSM(R)-190USS Mannert L. AbeleNational Metal and SteelTerminal IslandIowa class battleshipsUSS LSM(R)-195USS LSMR-190USS LSM(R)-194LSM(R)-188-class landing ships mediumLSM(R)-188LSM(R)-190LSM(R)-191LSM(R)-192LSM(R)-193LSM(R)-194LSM(R)-195LSM(R)-196LSM(R)-197LSM(R)-198LSM(R)-199LSM-1 classList of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships