USS LSM-60

LSM-60 with modifications for the Baker Test, Bikini Atoll
History
Name:	USS LSM-60
Builder:	Brown Shipbuilding, Houston, Texas
Laid down:	7 July 1944
Launched:	29 July 1944
Commissioned:	25 August 1944
Honors and awards:	1 battle star (World War II)
Fate:	Destroyed during "Operation Crossroads" Test Baker, 25 July 1946
General characteristics
Class & type:	LSM-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
Length:	203 ft 6 in (62.03 m) o/a
Beam:	34 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
Propulsion:	2 × Fairbanks-Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) diesels. Direct drive with 1,440 bhp (1,074 kW) each @ 720 rpm, twin screws
Speed:	13.2 knots (15.2 mph; 24.4 km/h)
Range:	4,900 nmi (9,100 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h)
Capacity:	5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVT's, or 9 DUKW's
Troops:	2 officers, 46 enlisted
Complement:	5 officers, 54 enlisted
Armament:	6 × 20 mm AA gun mounts
Armour:	10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station

USS LSM-60 was a World War II era landing ship, medium (LSM) amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy. It was notable for being used as the float to suspend a fission bomb underwater during the Operation Crossroads BAKER test, becoming the first naval vessel to deploy a nuclear weapon.^[1]

World War II Service

LSM-60's keel was laid on 7 July 1944 and she was launched on 29 July.^[2] She was commissioned on 25 August, LT. William W. Doar, USNR, commanding.^[3]

LSM-60 participated in the assault landings at Iwo Jima, where she earned one battle star.^[3]

Operation Crossroads "ground" zero

LSM-60 is destroyed as part of the Operation Crossroads BAKER test

In 1946, the United States conducted the first nuclear weapon tests designed to measure nuclear explosion effects on ships, Operation Crossroads. The second shot of this test, BAKER, was designed to test the effects of an underwater nuclear blast on surface ships and submarines.

LSM-60 was modified with a well through the cargo deck and hull, a derrick to lower the bomb through the well, and a large antenna to receive the detonation signal. On 25 July, a standard Mk. 3A "Fat Man" type atomic bomb, nicknamed Helen of Bikini, placed in a watertight casing, was suspended 90 feet below LSM-60 in the lagoon of Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands.^[4] At 0835 local time the bomb was detonated, destroying LSM-60 and eight target ships, including USS Saratoga (CV-3).^[5] A seaman present claimed that "there was not one identifiable piece of the LSM-60 ever located",^[4] however a British naval constructor present reports he saw a 3-inch (7.6 cm) square piece of LSM-60 on the deck of a target ship afterward.^[6]

External links

• Photo gallery of USS LSM-60 at NavSource Naval History

References

LSM-1-class landing ships medium   LSM-1 – LSM-99 LSM-1 LSM-2 LSM-3 LSM-4 LSM-5 LSM-6 LSM-7 LSM-8 LSM-9 LSM-10 LSM-11 LSM-12 LSM-13 LSM-14 LSM-15 LSM-16 LSM-17 LSM-18 LSM-19 LSM-20 LSM-21 LSM-22 LSM-23 LSM-24 LSM-25 LSM-26 LSM-27 LSM-28 LSM-29 LSM-30 LSM-31 LSM-32 LSM-33 LSM-34 LSM-35 LSM-36 LSM-37 LSM-38 LSM-39 LSM-40 LSM-41 LSM-42 LSM-43 LSM-44 LSM-45 LSM-46 LSM-47 LSM-48 LSM-49 LSM-50 LSM-51 LSM-52 LSM-53 LSM-54 LSM-55 LSM-56 LSM-57 LSM-58 LSM-59 LSM-60 LSM-61 LSM-62 LSM-63 LSM-64 LSM-65 LSM-66 LSM-67 LSM-68 LSM-69 LSM-70 LSM-71 LSM-72 LSM-73 LSM-74 LSM-75 LSM-76 LSM-77 LSM-78 LSM-79 LSM-80 LSM-81 LSM-82 LSM-83 LSM-84 LSM-85 LSM-86 LSM-87 LSM-88 LSM-89 LSM-90 LSM-91 LSM-92 LSM-93 LSM-94 LSM-95 LSM-96 LSM-97 LSM-98 LSM-99   LSM-100 – LSM-187 LSM-100 LSM-101 LSM-102 LSM-103 LSM-104 LSM-105 LSM-106 LSM-107 LSM-108 LSM-109 LSM-110 LSM-111 LSM-112 LSM-113 LSM-114 LSM-115 LSM-116 LSM-117 LSM-118 LSM-119 LSM-120 LSM-121 LSM-122 LSM-123 LSM-124 LSM-125 LSM-126 LSM-127 LSM-128 LSM-129 LSM-130 LSM-131 LSM-132 LSM-133 LSM-134 LSM-135 LSM-136 LSM-137 LSM-138 LSM-139 LSM-140 LSM-141 LSM-142 LSM-143 LSM-144 LSM-145 LSM-146 LSM-147 LSM-148 LSM-149 LSM-150 LSM-151 LSM-152 LSM-153 LSM-154 LSM-155 LSM-156 LSM-157 LSM-158 LSM-159 LSM-160 LSM-161 / Kodiak LSM-162 LSM-163 LSM-164 LSM-165 LSM-166 LSM-167 LSM-168 LSM-169 LSM-170 LSM-171 LSM-172 LSM-173 LSM-174 LSM-175 / Oceanside LSM-176 LSM-177 LSM-178 LSM-179 LSM-180 LSM-181 LSM-182 LSM-183 LSM-184 LSM-185 LSM-186 LSM-187   LSM-200 – LSM-299 LSM-200 LSM-201 LSM-202 LSM-203 LSM-204 LSM-205 LSM-206 LSM-207 LSM-208 LSM-209 LSM-210 LSM-211 LSM-212 LSM-213 LSM-214 LSM-215 LSM-216 LSM-217 LSM-218 LSM-219 LSM-220 LSM-221 LSM-222 LSM-223 LSM-224 LSM-225 LSM-226 LSM-227 LSM-228 LSM-229 LSM-230 LSM-231 LSM-232 LSM-233 LSM-234 LSM-235 LSM-236 LSM-237 LSM-238 LSM-239 LSM-240 LSM-241 LSM-242 LSM-243 LSM-244 LSM-245 LSM-246 LSM-247 LSM-248 LSM-249 LSM-250 LSM-251 LSM-252 LSM-253 LSM-254 LSM-255 LSM-256 LSM-257 LSM-258 LSM-259 LSM-260 LSM-261 LSM-262 LSM-263 LSM-264 LSM-265 LSM-266 LSM-267 LSM-268 LSM-269 LSM-270 LSM-271 LSM-272 LSM-273 LSM-274 LSM-275 / Portunus LSM-276 LSM-277 LSM-278 LSM-279 LSM-280 LSM-281 LSM-282 LSM-283 LSM-284 LSM-285 LSM-286 LSM-287 LSM-288 LSM-289 LSM-290 LSM-291 LSM-292 LSM-293 LSM-294 LSM-295 LSM-296 LSM-297 LSM-298 LSM-299   LSM-300 – LSM-400 LSM-300 LSM-301 / MMC-6 LSM-302 LSM-303 / MMC-7 LSM-304 LSM-305 LSM-306 LSM-307 LSM-308 LSM-309 LSM-310 LSM-311 LSM-312 LSM-313 LSM-314 LSM-315 LSM-316 LSM-317 LSM-318 LSM-319 LSM-320 LSM-321 LSM-322 LSM-323 LSM-324 LSM-325 LSM-326 LSM-327 LSM-328 LSM-329 LSM-330 LSM-331 LSM-332 LSM-333 LSM-334 LSM-335 / T-LSM-335 LSM-336 LSM-337 LSM-338 LSM-339 LSM-340 LSM-341 LSM-342 LSM-343 LSM-344 LSM-345 LSM-346 LSM-347 LSM-348 LSM-349 LSM-350 LSM-351 LSM-352 LSM-353 LSM-354 LSM-355 LSM-356 LSM-357 LSM-358 LSM-359 LSM-360 LSM-361 LSM-362 LSM-363 LSM-364 LSM-365 LSM-366 LSM-367 LSM-368 LSM-369 LSM-370 LSM-371 LSM-372 LSM-373 / Lakeland LSM-374 LSM-375 LSM-376 LSM-377 LSM-378 LSM-379 LSM-380 LSM-381 LSM-382 LSM-383 LSM-384 LSM-385 LSM-386 LSM-387 LSM-388 LSM-389 / MMC-8 LSM-390 LSM-391 LSM-392 / MMC-9 LSM-393 LSM-394 LSM-395 LSM-396 LSM-397 LSM-398 / Hunting LSM-399 LSM-400   LSM-413 – LSM-500 LSM-413 LSM-414 LSM-415 LSM-416 LSM-417 LSM-418 LSM-419 LSM-420 LSM-421 LSM-422 LSM-423 LSM-424 LSM-425 LSM-426 LSM-427 LSM-428 LSM-429 LSM-430 LSM-431 LSM-432 LSM-433 LSM-434 LSM-435 LSM-436 LSM-437 LSM-438 LSM-439 LSM-440 LSM-441 LSM-442 LSM-443 LSM-444 LSM-445 / E-LSM-445 / Catapult LSM-446 / E-LSM-446 / Launcher LSM-447 LSM-448 LSM-449 LSM-450 LSM-451 LSM-452 LSM-453 LSM-454 LSM-455 LSM-456 LSM-457 LSM-458 LSM-459 LSM-460 LSM-461 LSM-462 LSM-463 / T-LSM-463 LSM-464 LSM-465 LSM-466 LSM-467 LSM-468 LSM-469 LSM-470 LSM-471 LSM-472 LSM-473 LSM-474 LSM-475 LSM-476 LSM-477 LSM-478 LSM-479 LSM-480 LSM-481 / MMC-10 LSM-482 LSM-483 LSM-484 / MMC-11 LSM-485 LSM-486 LSM-487 LSM-488 LSM-489 LSM-490 / MMC-12 LSM-491 LSM-492 / MMC-13 LSM-493 / MMC-14 LSM-494 LSM-495 LSM-496 LSM-497 LSM-498 LSM-499 LSM-500   LSM-537 – LSM-558 LSM-537 LSM-538 LSM-539 LSM-540 / Raritan LSM-541 LSM-542 LSM-543 LSM-544 LSM-545 LSM-546 LSM-547 LSM-548 LSM-549 / Gypsy LSM-550 / Mender LSM-551 / Salvager LSM-552 / Windlass LSM-553 LSM-554 LSM-555 LSM-556 LSM-557 LSM-558   Other operators  Argentine Navy BDM-1 (ex-LSM-267) BDM-2 / Corrientes (ex-LSM-86)  Australian Army Harry Chauvel (ex-LSM-319) Brudenell White (ex-LSM-477) Vernon Sturdee (ex-LSM-315) Clive Steele (ex-LSM-547)  Brazilian Navy Gonçalo Coelho (ex-LSM-119)  Chilean Navy Aspirante Morel (LSM-31) (ex-LSM-417) Aspirante Goycolea (ex-LSM-400) Aspirante Morel (LSM-92) (ex-LSM-444) Aspirante Isaza (ex-LSM-295) Guardiamarina Contreras (ex-LSM-113)  Republic of China Navy Mei Chin class Mei Lo (LSM-242) (ex-LSM-157) Mei Kun (ex-LSM-478) Mei Cheng (ex-LSM-155) LSM-341 (ex-LSM-256) LSM-342 (ex-LSM-442) Mei Tseng (ex-LSM-431) LSM-345 (ex-LSM-456) Mei Song (ex-LSM-457) CMC-348 (ex-LSM-13) Mei Jian (ex-LSM-76) LSM-351 (ex-LSM-422) Mei Ping (ex-LSM-471) LSM-355 (ex-LSM-474) Mei Lo (LSM-356) (ex-LSM-362) Mei Yi (ex-LSM-285) ex-LSM-43 ex-LSM-62 ex-LSM-69 ex-LSM-80 ex-LSM-88 ex-LSM-112 ex-LSM-124 ex-LSM-146 ex-LSM-147 ex-LSM-153 ex-LSM-154 ex-LSM-159 ex-LSM-208 ex-LSM-218 ex-LSM-225 ex-LSM-248 ex-LSM-249 ex-LSM-278 ex-LSM-280 ex-LSM-282 ex-LSM-284 ex-LSM-290 ex-LSM-292 ex-LSM-293 ex-LSM-308 ex-LSM-336 ex-LSM-337 ex-LSM-339 ex-LSM-349 ex-LSM-363 ex-LSM-374 ex-LSM-376 ex-LSM-386 ex-LSM-387 ex-LSM-391 ex-LSM-393 ex-LSM-423 ex-LSM-427 ex-LSM-430 ex-LSM-433 ex-LSM-439 ex-LSM-453 ex-LSM-461 ex-LSM-470 ex-LSM-472 ex-LSM-475 ex-LSM-482 ex-LSM-489  People's Liberation Army Navy HUA-201 (ex-LSM-112) HUA-202 (ex-LSM-248) HUA-204 (ex-LSM-430) HUA-207 (ex-LSM-282) HUA-208 (ex-LSM-42) Huang Ho (ex-LSM-433) ex-LSM-43 ex-LSM-124 ex-LSM-153 ex-LSM-208 ex-LSM-218 ex-LSM-225 ex-LSM-237? ex-LSM-336 ex-LSM-391 ex-LSM-453? ex-LSM-475? ex-LSM-482 ex-LSM-489  Royal Danish Navy Hjaelperen (ex-LSM-500) Beskytteren (ex-LSM-390) Vindhunden (ex-LSM-392)  Dominican Navy San Rafael (ex-LSM-216) Sirio (ex-LSM-483) Antares (ex-LSM-538)  Ecuadorian Navy Jambeli (ex-LSM-539) Tarqui (ex-LSM-555)  French Navy L9011 (ex-LSM-355) L9012 (ex-LSM-110) L9013 (ex-LSM-125) L9014 (ex-LSM-316) L9015 (ex-LSM-422) L9016 (ex-LSM-478) L9017 (ex-LSM-17) L9018 (ex-LSM-58) L9019 (ex-LSM-226) L9051 (ex-LSM-85) L9052 (ex-LSM-471) ex-LSM-479  German Navy Krokodil (ex-LSM-537) Eidechse (ex-LSM-491) Salamander (ex-LSM-553) Viper (ex-LSM-558)  Hellenic Navy Ypoploiarkhos Grigoropoulos (ex-LSM-45) Ypoploiarkhos Toyrnas (ex-LSM-102) Daniolos (ex-LSM-227) Ypoploiarkhos Roussen (ex-LSM-399) Krystalldis (ex-LSM-541) Merlin (ex-LSM-557) Aktion (ex-LSM-301) Amvrakia (ex-LSM-303)  Indonesian Navy ex-LSM-354  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force LSM-3001 (ex-LSM-125)  Republic of Korea Navy Daecho (ex-LSM-546) Yeo Do (ex-LSM-268) Dokdo (ex-LSM-419) Gadeok (ex-LSM-462) Ku Moon (ex-LSM-30) Bian (ex-LSM-96) Pungdo (ex-LSM-54) Wolmi (ex-LSM-57) Ki Rin (ex-LSM-19) Neongna (ex-LSM-84) Sin Mi (ex-LSM-311) Ulleung (ex-LSM-17)  Royal Norwegian Navy Vale (ex-LSM-492) Vidar (ex-LSM-493)  Paraguayan Navy Teniente Pratt Gill / Boqueron (ex-Corrientes)  Peruvian Navy Lomas (ex-LSM-396) Atico (ex-LSM-554)  Philippine Navy Batanes (L-65) (ex-LSM-236) Isabela (ex-T-LSM-463) Batanes (LP-65) (ex-Hương Giang) Western Samar (ex-Hát Giang) Oriental Mindoro (ex-LSM-320) ex-Hàn Giang (cannibalized for parts)  Portuguese Navy Medusa / São Rafael (ex-Portunus)  Spanish Navy LSM-1 (ex-LSM-329) LSM-2 (ex-LSM-331) LSM-3 (ex-LSM-343)  Royal Thai Navy Kut (ex-LSM-333) Phai (ex-LSM-338) Kram / Khramto (ex-LSM-469)  Turkish Navy Mordoğan (ex-LSM-484) Meriç (ex-LSM-490) Marmaris (ex-LSM-481) Mersin (ex-Vale) Mürefte (ex-Vidar)  Bolivarian Armada of Venezuela Friars (ex-LSM-544) Los Testigos (ex-LSM-545) Monk (ex-LSM-548) Roques (ex-LSM-543) ex-LSM-370 (cannibalized for parts) ex-LSM-542 (cannibalized for parts)  Republic of Vietnam Navy Hát Giang (ex-L9011) Hàn Giang (ex-L9012) Lam Giang (ex-LSM-226) Ninh Giang (ex-LSM-85) Hương Giang (ex-Oceanside) Tiền Giang (ex-LSM-313) Hậu Giang (ex-LSM-276) ex-LSM-58  Vietnam People's Navy ex-Ninh Giang ex-Tiền Giang ex-Hậu Giang Preceded by: None Followed by: LSM(R)-188 class List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships