USS LSM-338

HTMS Phai
History
United States
NameLSM-338
BuilderPullman Co., Chicago
Laid down14 August 1944
Launched5 December 1944
Commissioned10 January 1945
Decommissioned28 July 1946
Honors and
awards		See Awards
FateTransferred to Thailand, 14 October 1946
History
ThailandThailand
NamePhai
NamesakePhai Island
Acquired14 October 1946
Commissioned10 November 1947
Decommissioned2004
IdentificationPennant number: LSM-2
FateScrapped
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

USS LSM-338 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium in the United States Navy during World War II. The ship was transferred to Thailand and renamed HTMS Phai (LSM-2) (Thai: เรือหลวงไผ่).

Construction and career

LSM-338 was laid down on 14 August 1944 at Pullman Co., Chicago, Illinois. Launched on 5 December 1944 and commissioned on 10 January 1945.

During World War II, LSM-338 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She took part in the occupation service in the Far East from 20 September 1945 to 20 July 1946.[1]

LSM-338 was decommissioned on 28 July 1946 and later transferred to Thailand on 14 October, later that year.[2]

She was struck from the Navy Register.

The ship was commissioned into the Royal Thai Navy on 10 November 1947 and renamed HTMS Phai (LSM-2). She was used as spare parts for her sister ship, HTMS Kut.[3][4]

The ship was then sold for scrap and her conning tower is on display at the Royal Thai Naval Training Base.[1]

Awards

LST-338 have earned the following awards:

Citations

  1. ^ a b "Landing Ship Medium LSM". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  2. ^ "USS LSM 338 (LSM 338) of the US Navy - American Medium landing ship of the LSM class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  3. ^ "PANTIP.COM : E4722851 เรื่องราวของ "เรือหลวงคราม" เรือจมใต้น้ำ ณ เกาะไผ่ [ท่องเที่ยวไทย]". topicstock.pantip.com. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  4. ^ "เรือหลวงไผ่(ลำที่ 2) – Seafarer Library". Retrieved 1 January 2022.

Sources