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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Chimango (MHC 20)
ex-Chimango (AMCU 20)
ex-LSI(L)-703
ex-LCI(L)-703



Call sign:
November - Quebec - Bravo - India
AMCU-7 Class Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator):

  • The second Chimango was laid down 2 June 1944 by George Lawley and Son, Neponset, MA
  • Launched 8 July 1944 and commissioned USS LCI(L)-703 the same day, under the command of ENS Henry C. Smith, Jr., USNR
  • Decommissioned 16 July 1946
  • Reclassified as a Landing Ship Infantry (Large), LSI(L)-703, 28 February 1949
  • Named Chimango and reclassified as a Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator), AMCU-20, 7 March 1952
  • Conversion to AMCU-20 began 1 December 1953 at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA
  • Conversion completed 18 May 1954
  • Removed from service 1 January 1960
  • Chimango was never commissioned
  • Acquired in 1961 by the Cook Inlet Tug and Barge Co. of Anchorage, AK and renamed Whirlwind
  • Acquired in 1976 by H. Albert Ansell of Seattle, WA
  • Acquired in 1981 by Arthur B. Church of Bellevue, WA
  • Acquired in 1988 by Richard A. and Dawn E. Dennis of Cordova, AK
  • Out of documentation in 1991
  • Fate unknown.

    LCI Specifications:

  • Displacement 216 t.(light), 234 t.(landing), 389 t.(loaded)
  • Length 158' 5½"
  • Beam 23' 3"
  • Draft, Light 3'1½" mean, Landing, 2' 8" forward, 41'10" aft, Landing, 5'4"forward, 5'11" aft
  • Speed 16 kts. (max.), 14 kts. maximum continuous
  • Complement 23
  • Troop Capacity 188
  • Cargo Capacity 75 t.
  • 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
  • Armament: Four 20mm guns one forward, one amidship, two aft, later added two .50 cal. machine guns
  • Propulsion: Eight 800bhp General Motors 6-71 diesel engines, four per shaft, two shafts, variable pitch propellers.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS LCI(L)-703
    Blue Jay 94k LCI(L)-654, LCI(L)-1003 and LCI(L)-703
    Contributed by Don Scott in memory of his Father John K. Scott, Sr. who served during WWII aboard the LCI(L)-654    		 Robert G. Morrissey
    USS Chimango (AMCU 20)
    Chimango 21k
    Namesake:

    A bird of southern South America

    		 Tommy Trampp
    Photo added 11 November 2020
    View the Chimango (AMCU 20)
    DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command website
    Back to the Main Photo Index Back to the Mine Warfare Ship Photo Index Back to the Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator) - (AMCU) Photo Index Back to the Amphibious Ship Index Back to the Landing Ship Infantry (LSI) Photo Index
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