USS LSM-216

USS LSM-216 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Like many of her class, she was not named and is properly referred to by her hull designation.

History
United States
Name	USS LSM-216
Builder	Dravo Corporation Wilmington, Delaware
Commissioned	29 July 1944
Decommissioned	2 May 1946
Honors & awards	1 battle star, World War II
Fate	Sold to the Dominican Republic, November 1946
History
Dominican Republic
Name	San Rafael (BA-103)
Acquired	November 1946
Out of service	1960
General characteristics
Class & type	LSM-1-class landing ship medium
Displacement	520 t.(light) 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
Length	203 ft 6 in (62.03 m)
Beam	34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
Draft	3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) fwd, 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) aft fully loaded, 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) fwd, 8 feet 3 inches (2.51 m) aft
Propulsion	Two Fairbanks Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) diesels. Direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm, twin screws
Speed	13.2 knots (24.4 km/h) (max.), (928 tons displ.)
Endurance	4,900 mi (7,900 km) @ 12 knots (22 km/h) (928 tons displacement)
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 guns
Armor	10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station

LSM-216 was laid down by the Dravo Corporation of Wilmington, Delaware; launched on an unknown date; and commissioned on 29 July 1944.

During World War II LSM-216 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima in February 1945. In the film To the Shores of Iwo Jima, LSM-216 can be seen in action just off Yellow Beach^[1] on 19 February 1945.^[2]

Following the war, LSM-216 was decommissioned on 2 May 1946 at Calcasieu River, Lake Charles, Louisiana. She was struck from the Naval Register and sold in November 1946 to the navy of the Dominican Republic. She was renamed San Rafael (BA-103) and served in the Dominican Republic Navy until she was disposed of in 1960.

LSM-216 earned one battle star for World War II service.