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The Rocket Launcher Ship
USS LSM(R)-197
It is really impressive what can come out of combining two simple assets in order to create one of the most devastating weapons that the world has seen in the 1940s. As the US army campaign continued in the pacific front, they needed something to make landings on islands more effective, in other words, lose fewer troops whilst trying to get the beaches.
The LSM(R)-197 was built-in 1944 with a specific scope in mind, to provide fire support to landing troops from a distance of over 4,000 yards from the beach. The ship was originally a simple destroyer that was part of the Fifth Fleet under the command of Admiral Raymond A.Spruance.
The 280mm cannons from the battleship were effective without a doubt but they needed something more devastating that would not only cause more damage and death per shot but also put fear into the enemy (plus lowering their morale). Therefore, with the ingenuity of US navy engineers, they have taken off the main guns from the Destroyer and replaced them with as many MK. 51 automatic rocket launchers as they could fit (to be more precise 85 automatic rocket launchers).
As this could potentially become a vital target for enemy air support the ship was also armed with two 40mm anti-aircraft cannons and three 20mm anti-aircraft guns. The Ship was also armed with a 5inch/38 gun…
