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User: Jasonjpresser/sandbox — Preceding unsigned comment added by 01mustang01 (talk • contribs) 19:47, 8 April 2015 (UTC)

“Clive Steele” Landing Ship
Service over Seas The “Clive Steele” was commissioned into the United States Navy (USN) as USS LSM-547 on 25 January 1946. She was decommissioned on 11 March 1947 and laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She was then recommissioned on 22 September 1950 and served during the Korean War between 1951 and 1953. She was decommissioned on 5 July 1955 and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was one of the four Australian Army LSMs in Vietnam. They were on station in support of Australian ground troops around Bien Hoa, Nui Dat and Vung Tau. When not required they were designated to US Army for duty anywhere from the Mekong Delta to Danang. All LSM ships served in Vietnam with the "John Monash" undertaking the "Shuttle run" between Australia and Vietnam.

Korean War
In 1959 the Australian Army purchased four Landing Ship Medium (LSM) from the US Navy in Japan. These vessels were veterans of the Pacific Campaigns in World War Two and the Korea War. They served extensively in New Guinea and the South West Pacific and two of them served in Borneo during the confrontation with Indonesia in 1964. The unit, 32 Small Ship Squadron, was disbanded in early 1972 with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to be responsible for all seagoing activities of the Defense Force since. 32 Small Ship Squadron was a unit of the Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) and had five ships, each named after famous Australian generals, as follows: AV1353 "Harry Chauvel" (Formerly USS LSM-319) AV1354 "Brudenell White" (Formerly USS LSM-477) AV1355 "Vernon Sturdee" (Formerly USS LSM-315) AV1356 "Clive Steele" (Formerly USS LSM-547)

Captain and the Crew
Each LSM carried a crew of 4 Officers and 47 other ranks, when on operations in Vietnam. While most of the manning was RAE, other Corps members were also part of each crew, including medical, signals and ordnance. In Vietnam, the ships were fitted with a 40mm gun and several machine guns for protection. Signal members who served with the 32 Small Ship Squadron all became experienced ship Radio Operators that adapted to ships life, working both with the RAN and Army units in Vietnamese waters, without much support from RASigs. Many would go on to serve in other RASigs roles in the Vietnam War but would always see their service with 32 Small Ship Squadron, as a highlight in their war service.

Ship Conditions
The LSMs were built for short-term use landing supplies in the Pacific during World War II. As such the facilities for the crew were extremely basic. All accommodation spaces were below deck with poor ventilation with several sections of three tiered bunks in cramped and crowded conditions giving no room to roll over. Above the bunks were pipes lagged with asbestos, which would rain down on the sleeper during heavy seas, covering him in white dust. Toilet facilities were an open tray with a row of seats and no privacy. The Forrard Mess was the eating, meeting and relaxing place in each LSM. The flat-bottomed ships did not travel well in rough seas When used during the Vietnam War, the LSMs were already old ships in need of constant maintenance. On the final trip of the Clive Steele in 1970 one of the bow doors fell off whilst on the way to Vietnam. The LSM ships had to return to Sydney for repairs before taking up station in Vietnam.

Where is she now?
The “Clive Steele” was decommissioned by the Australian Army in 1972 and sold to the Pacific Logistics S.A., Philippines. On July 6th, 1973 it was struck by Communist rockets in Mekong Delta where it was beached and abandoned. Sadly, its final resting place is unknown. The USS LSM-547 “Clive Steele” earned four battle stars for its service in the Korean War alone.

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User: Jasonjpresser/sandbox — Preceding unsigned comment added by 01mustang01 (talk • contribs) 19:40, 8 April 2015 (UTC)