Another Military Vet.

Before the D-Day Veteran LST-510 (Landing Ship Tank) Cape Henlopen served as one of the Cross Sound ferries we had a younger ship, a LSM (Landing Ship Medium). LSM 494. "MV Plum Island". (Motor Vessel)

 I loved this ship as a kid, the 1960's were a different time, and you were allowed to walk anywhere and everywhere on the run across the LI Sound. I remember walking up on the side walkways, the grates billowing heat, the decks shaking under me feet as they accelerated, Great Boats. This ship served in the Pacific as part of the Occupation Fleet

State pier new London behind

Parked South end Thames river, Under Water Sound Lab behind.

Central Vermont Railway, New Haven Railroad  Union Station in background, New London Ct.

Along the pier in New London

USS LSM-494

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Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons
 American Campaign Medal
 Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

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LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:

Laid down, 10 March 1945, at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, TX.

Launched, 31 March 1945

Commissioned USS LSM-494, 8 May 1945, LT. Blanchard G. Sanders USNR in command

During World War II USS LSM-494 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
LSM Flotilla Fifteen;LSM Group Forty-Four;LSM Division Eighty-Eight;

Following World War II USS LSM-494 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 19 October 1945 to 22 January 1946

Decommissioned, 2 November 1946, at Green Cove Springs, FL.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs

Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown

Sold in 1958, to New London Freight Lines, New Orleans, LA.

Resold, date unknown, renamed MV Plum Island and placed in service between New London, CT. and Long Island, date unknown

Final Disposition, fate unknown

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Specifications: 
Displacement 520 t.(light), 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
Length 203' 6" (ovl)
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 twin 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

Fuel Capacity

Diesel 1,225 Bbls

Troop Accommodations

2 officers

46 enlisted

Armor 10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station

Endurance 4,900 miles @ 12kts.(928 tons displacement)

Propulsion

two General Motors (model GM 16-278A, reversible with hydraulic clutch) Diesel engines, direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm
Ship's Service Generatorstwo Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.one Diesel-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.

twin propellers, 2,800shp