Calling all USN Landing Ship Medium (LSM/LSMR) & Inshore Fire Support Ship (IFS) fans

[docmackay]

The Mike Gallant LSM Diorama is a fictional, non-historical depiction, and the three LSM models are factually inaccurate:

1. LSMs -201, -210 and -211 never landed together on the same Pacific beachheads, nor deployed or operated together during WWII:

LSM -201 landed on Iwo Jima 22 February 1945 on Red Beach 1 at 1010;
LSM -210 landed on Luzon, Lingayen Gulf 9 January 1945 on Orange Beach at 1120 and Green Beach at 1226; and landed on Okinawa 4 April 1945 on Orange Beach 2 at 1114;
LSM -211 landed on Iwo Jima 19 February 1945 on Yellow Beach 1 at 0942.

2. LSM model inaccuracies:

LSM-201: Both bow and stern 201 hull numbers appear identical sizes, and correct representations should be large 201 numbers on the bow and small 201 numbers on the stern. The forecastle�s original shipyard twin small 20mm gun tubs were replaced with a single large 40mm gun tub/splinter shield. The stern anchor on the fantail is still cradled but would have been deployed astern for retraction from beach. The national ensign (American flag) is on a staff on the stern but should be flown aloft the mainmast.

LSM-210: The forecastle�s original shipyard twin small 20mm gun tubs were replaced with a single large 40mm gun tub/splinter shield. The stern anchor on the fantail is still cradled but would have been deployed astern for retraction from beach. The national ensign (American flag) is on a staff on the stern but should be flown aloft the mainmast.

LSM-211: The starboard hull numbers appear as small 211 numbers on the bow and large 211 numbers on the stern, which should be the reverse, while the port side bow and stern hull numbers appear correct. The forecastle�s original shipyard twin small 20mm gun tubs were replaced with a single large 40mm gun tub/splinter shield. The stern anchor on the fantail is still cradled but would have been deployed astern for retraction from beach. The national ensign (American flag) is on a staff on the stern but should be flown aloft the mainmast.

For those interested in this diorama, I recommend disassembling and cannibalizing for re-purposing.

[LoB]

Hello! I am up to do a Revell 1:144 LSM and bashing it to represent LSM(R)-190, sunk by Kamikazes on 4 May, 1945 at Radar Picket Station 12, 60 (give or take) miles NW of Okinawa.

I am also building the Revell 1:144 Fletcher to represent the USS Luce DD-522 which was also sunk at that location by Kamikazes. My Uncle served on the Luce and was one of the survivors.

Does anyone have any pics of USS LSM(R)-190 or her sister ship LSM(R)s??

[dhenning]

Navsource.org has photos of the 190 and her sisters. Here is a link to the page for the 190:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/06/06190.htm


In addition, John McKay has a build on this website for the LSMR-198 from the Revell kit. Might be useful for you.

Good luck!

[dhenning]

Here is the link to John's build:

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=161301&hilit=LSM

[jcmackay]

Hello 'LoB' and David,

I look forward to seeing the LSM(R)-190 project. As David says, you can use my thread on the 198 as a starting point for your 190 model, but be aware that the deck on the first 6 ships, of which the 190 was one, was not raised. With the installation of the Mk 51 launchers on the 196 and subsequent ships, the deck was raised.

The 190 and her five sisterships had seventy-five Mk 36 launchers, grouped in banks, on the main deck, and thirty Mk 30 launchers on the gunwales. I believe by the time she was sunk, the Mk 30 launchers had been removed. Here is a drawing of the Mk 36 launcher:

Drawing courtesy of Historic Naval Ships Association.

Here are some photos of the 190 and sisterships that are available from various public sources:

Still from video courtesy of CriticalPast

Here is a link to a 1/48th scale model of the 192 that I built several years ago. It is a different scale but may give you ideas on how to build your 190: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

There are printed parts available at Shapeways that will help, including the 5 inch 38 gun house and base ring, and single 40mm Bofors. I've seen an example of a Mk 36 launcher there, but it is pretty primitive. There may be other examples by other vendors there, though, so you'll need to look.

The Revell 'Early' LSM is just that; it is a model of the initial production LSMs, with twin bow gun tubs. The early LSMs were modified soon after construction because the bow 20mm's didn't provide enough defensive firepower. Maybe someday Revell will release a 'late' LSM, which would require less rework to make into an LSM(R). For now, you'll either have to do a lot of modification of the early LSM or, if you have both the early LSM kit and the Bundesmarine LSM kit, you could use parts from both to make an LSM(R).

I hope this helps and look forward to seeing your progress!

John