HTMS Phai
History
United States
Name	LSM-338
Builder	Pullman Co., Chicago
Laid down	14 August 1944
Launched	5 December 1944
Commissioned	10 January 1945
Decommissioned	28 July 1946
Honors and awards	See Awards
Fate	Transferred to Thailand, 14 October 1946
History
Thailand
Name	Phai
Namesake	Phai Island
Acquired	14 October 1946
Commissioned	10 November 1947
Decommissioned	2004
Identification	Pennant number: LSM-2
Fate	Scrapped
General characteristics
Class and 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 LVTs, or 9 DUKWs
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-338 was a LSM-1-class landing ship medium in the United States Navy during World War II. The ship was transferred to Thailand and renamed HTMS Phai (LSM-2) (Thai: เรือหลวงไผ่).

Construction and career

LSM-338 was laid down on 14 August 1944 at Pullman Co., Chicago, Illinois. Launched on 5 December 1944 and commissioned on 10 January 1945.

During World War II, LSM-338 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She took part in the occupation service in the Far East from 20 September 1945 to 20 July 1946.^[1]

LSM-338 was decommissioned on 28 July 1946 and later transferred to Thailand on 14 October, later that year.^[2]

She was struck from the Navy Register.

The ship was commissioned into the Royal Thai Navy on 10 November 1947 and renamed HTMS Phai (LSM-2). She was used as spare parts for her sister ship, HTMS Kut.^[3][4]

The ship was then sold for scrap and her conning tower is on display at the Royal Thai Naval Training Base.^[1]

Awards

LST-338 have earned the following awards:

• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
• Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
• World War II Victory Medal

Citations

Sources

• United States. Dept. of the Treasury (1962). Treasury Decisions Under the Customs, Internal Revenue, Industrial Alcohol, Narcotic and Other Laws, Volume 97. U.S. Government Printing Office.
• Moore, Capt. John (1984). Jane's Fighting Ships 1984-85. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710607959.
• Saunders, Stephen (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710628886.
• Fairplay International Shipping Journal Volume 222. United Kingdom: Fairplay Publishing Limited. 1967.