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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(L)-319


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - November - Romeo
 NJNR
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom. left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (11SEP43 and 6JUN44) - Coast Guard Unit Commendation - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (4) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

Bronze Star (CO, LTjg Riley - for securing an ammo-laden, unmanned barge from the troop landing zones, 6JUN44, at Normandy)
Purple Hearts (5 wounded, 1 KIA, 11 September 1943)

USS LCI(L)-319 was manned by the US Coast Guard
LCI-1 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 21 December 1942, at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, TX.
  • Launched, 17 January 1943
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-319, 3 February 1943, LTjg. Francis X. Riley, USCG in command
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-319 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater:
    LCI Flotilla Four;
    LCI Flotilla Thirty-Five;
    LCI Flotilla Ten (at Normandy), CAPT. M. E. Imlay, USCG;
    LCI Group One Hundred Four;
    LCI Division Two Hundred Seven and participated in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    North African occupation
    Tunisian operations, 1 June to 9 July 1943     		Salerno landings, 9 to 21 September 1943
    Proceeded to England in October 1943 for training in preparation for the Invasion of Normandy
    Sicilian occupation, 9 to 15 July 1943 Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944
    After landing served as salvage vessel and navigation guide

  • USS LCI(L)-319 departed Falmouth England, 5 October 1944 for overhaul and refresher training prior to assignment to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • USS LCI(L)-319 was reassigned to the Asiatic Pacific Theater
    LCI Flotilla Thirty-Five (flagship) CDR. H. J. Huensch USCG;
    LCI Group One Hundred Four, LCDR. W. B Harbeson USCG;
    LCI Division Two Hundred Seven
  • Departed San Diego, 20 April 1945, for Eniwetok Atoll, arriving, 6 May 1945 to provide various transportation services
  • Decommissioned, 26 March 1946, at Long Beach, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 17 April 1946
  • USS LCI(L)-319 earned four battle stars for World War II service
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 3 May 1948, for disposal
    Specifications:
    Displacement 236 t.(light), 264 t.(landing), 419 t.(loaded)
    Length 158' 5½"
    Beam 23' 3"
    Draft
    Light, 3'1½" mean
    Landing, 2' 8" forward, 4' 10" aft
    Loaded, 5' 4" forward, 5' 11" aft
    Speed
    16 kts (max.)
    14 kts maximum continuous
    Complement
    4 officers
    24 enlisted
    Troop Capacity
    6 officers
    182 enlisted
    Cargo Capacity 75 tons
    Armor 2" plastic splinter protection on gun turrets, conning tower and pilot house
    Endurance 4,000 miles at 12 kts, loaded, 500 miles at 15 knots; and 110 tons of fuel
    Armament
    five single 20mm guns, one bow mounted, one each port and starboard forward of wheelhouse, one each port and starboard aft of wheelhouse
    on some LCIs two .50 cal machine guns were added
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 860 Bbls
    lube oil 200 gal
    Propulsion
    two sets of 4 General Motors 6051 series 71 Diesel engines, 4 per shaft
    single General Motors Main reduction gears
    two Diesel-drive 30Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    twin variable pitch propellers, 2,320shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    LCI(L)-87 75k From right to left:USS LCI(L)-87, USS LCI(L)-85 and USS LCI(L)-319 nested at anchor, prior to the Normandy Invasion, date and location unknown.
    US Coast Guard    		 Robert Morrissey
    LCI(L)-319 15k USS LCI(L)-319 underway, date and location unknown. Bill Brinkley
    LCI(L)-319 140k USS LCI(L)-319 underway in th English Channel, spring 1944. Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-319 19k USS LCI(L)-319 underway enroute to the invasion beaches at Normandy, towing a barrage balloon.
    Photo from the collection of the US Coast Guard Historian's Office.    		 US Coast Guard Historian's Office
    LCI(L)-319 13k USS LCI(L)-319 crew with boxing champion Jack Dempsey, date and location unknown. Bill Brinkley
    LCI(L)-319 11k USS LCI(L)-319 crew members, date and location unknown. Bill Brinkley
    LCI(L)-319 81k USS LCI(L)-319 underway in heavy weather off the coast of Normandy, 6 June 1944.
    US Army Signal Corps newsreel photos    		 Paulo Soukup
    LCI(L)-319 84k
    LCI(L)-319 91k
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Riley, Francis X. USCG3 February 1943 - 1 December 1944
    02LT. Blum, J. A. USCG1 December 1944 - 22 September 1945
    03LTjg. Connor, Whitfield USCG22 September 1945 - 26 March 1946
    03LTjg. Eckenbeck, E. E. USCG26 March 1946
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 17 October 2014