The USS LCS(L)(3)-102 is a historic Landing Craft Support vessel built for the United States Navy during World War II. Measuring 158 feet long, these ships were affectionately dubbed "Mighty Midgets" because they packed an immense amount of firepower onto a relatively small, shallow-draft hull. Designed to provide close-in fire support for amphibious landings, the 102 was commissioned in February 1945 and quickly rushed to the Pacific Theater. It arrived in time to serve on the perilous radar picket stations during the Battle of Okinawa, where it helped defend the main fleet against Japanese kamikaze attacks, and later participated in vital mine-clearing operations around the Philippines and Chinese rivers.
Following World War II, the vessel had an extraordinary international journey that spanned over six decades. Decommissioned by the U.S. Navy in 1946, it was transferred to Japan in 1953 to serve as the JDS Himawari in the newly formed Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. In 1966, the ship was re-gifted to the Royal Thai Navy, where it spent 41 years as the HTMS Nakha. Recognizing its historical significance as the very last surviving afloat member of its 130-ship class, a dedicated group of American veterans successfully arranged for its return to the United States in 2007. Today, the heavily restored vessel serves as a floating museum at Mare Island in Vallejo, California, standing as a living memorial to the sailors who served on these unique support craft.