George J. Ritz enlisted on July 3 1943. He was assigned to the LCH (1) Group of Gunfire and Support Craft.His rating at this time was Seaman 2nd Class.
(LCH=Landing Craft Heavy) By November 30,1944, he was onboard the LSM 264.( LSM = Landing Ship Medium.) His rating at this time was now Seaman 1st Class. He was still aboard the LSM 264 as of April 1, 1946 with the rating of Coxswain.
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
Laid down (date unknown) at Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newark, N.J.
Launched (date unknown)
Commissioned USS LSM-264, 10 July 1944, LT. Frederick M. Parrish, Jr., USNR, in command
During WWII LSM-264 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:
Iwo Jima operation;
(a) Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 February to 16 March 1945
Decommissioned, 2 May 1946
Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
Final Disposition, sold, 19 June 1947, to American Barge Co., Cincinnati, OH., fate unknown
LSM-264 earned one battle star for World War II service
Specifications:
Displacement 520 t.(light), 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
Length 203' 6"
Beam 34' 6"
Draft light, 3' 6" forward, 7' 8" aft, fully loaded, 6' 4" forward, 8' 3" aft
Speed 13.2 kts. (max.), (928 tons displacement)
Complement 5 officers, 54 enlisted
Armament one single bow mounted 40mm gun, four single 20mm gun mounts
Vehicle/Boat Capacity 5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVT's, or 9 DUKW's
Troop Accommodations 2 officers, 46 enlisted
Armor 10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station
Propulsion two Fairbanks Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) diesels. Direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm, twin screws
Endurance 4,900 miles @ 12kts.(928 tons displacement)
Here is the source page for most of this information. It includes many excellent photos of LSM 264 actually landing on Iwo Jima.
http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/14/14264.htm
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