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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(L)-491


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Tango - Yankee
 NQTY
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is top to bottom, from left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

USS LCI(L)-491 was transferred to the United Kingdom following the Invasion of Normandy
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down in October 1943 at New Jersey Shipbuilding, Barber, N.J.
  • Launched October 1943
  • Commissioned as USS LCI(L)-491, 3 November 1943
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-491 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign;

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Invasion of Normandy 6 to 25 June 1944

  • Decommissioned and leased to the United Kingdom, at Oman, Muscat, 18 November 1944
  • Commissioned into the Royal Navy as HM LCI(L)-491, 18 November 1944
  • Returned to US Naval custody, 14 March 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 26 February 1946
  • USS LCI(L)-491 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Transferred to the State Department for disposal
  • Final Disposition, sold, 9 June 1947, fate unknown
    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 Contributed
    By
    USS LCI(L)-491
    LCI(L)-496 146k USS LCI(L)-496, USS LCI(L)-85, USS LCI(L)-88, USS LCI(L)-90, USS LCI(L)-92, and USS LCI(L)-491, prepare for the Invasion of Normandy while in an English port, circa 5 June 1944.
    Images are from the DVD "D-Day Code Name: Overlord" with the permission of Denver Collins, Editor, Timeless Media Group, Eugene OR.     		Robert Morrissey
    LCI(L)-496 117k
    LCI(L)-491 85k USS LCI(L)-491 departing a southern British port, 5 June 1944, bound for the invasion beaches at Normandy. Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    LCI(L)-491 60k USS LCI(L)-491 in port, southern England, date unknown.
    US National Archives image    		 Bill Brinkley
    LCI(L)-491 69k USS LCI(L)-491 moored pierside, date and location unknown,
    Photo from the USS LCI National Association's newsletter "The Elsie Item", June 1999 issue. Photo courtesy Bill Hughes, EM3/c USS LCI(L)-491.    		 Ardie Hunt
    HM LCI(L)-491
    LCI(L)-491 39k HM LCI(L)-491 and HM LCI(L)-33 moored pierside, after being turned over to the Royal Navy at Oman, Muscat, 18 November 1944. These LCIs were en-route to the Pacific war after after serving in the European theater. Bruce Rowling
    The history for USS LCI(L)-491 is from USS LCI "Landing Craft Infantry", Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1995. (ISBN 1-56311-262-0)
    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 28 February 2014