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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Sandpiper (MHC 38)
ex-Sandpiper (AMCU 38)
ex-LSIL-1008
ex-LCI(L)-1008



Call sign:
November - Zulu - Echo - Tango
LCI(L)-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large)/AMCU-7 Class Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator):

  • The second Sandpiper was laid down as LCI(L)-1008, 29 April 1944 by the Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd., Orange, TX
  • Launched 27 May 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-1008, 19 June 1944
  • Decommissioned 5 August 1946 at New Orleans, LA
  • Reclassified as a Landing Ship Infantry (Large), LSIL-1008, 28 February 1949
  • Named Sandpiper and reclassified as a Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator), AMCU-38, 7 March 1952
  • Conversion began 15 April 1953 at Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, SC
  • Conversion completed 5 November 1953
  • Commissioned Sandpiper (AMCU 38), 7 October 1953
  • Transferred to the Charleston Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet in 1954
  • Reclassified a Coastal Mine Hunter, MHC-38, 7 February 1955
  • Removed from service 1 January 1960
  • Struck from the Naval Register 1 January 1960
  • Acquired in October 1960 by the Miami Power Squadron, Inc. of Miami Beach, FL
  • Out of documentation in 1974
  • 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 two officer, 21 enlisted; Troop Capacity, six 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: Four 20mm guns one forward, one amidship, two aft, later added two .50 cal. machine guns
  • Fuel Capacity, 130 tons, lube oil 200 gal.
  • Propulsion: Two sets of four 200bhp General Motors 6-71 diesel engines, four per shaft, two variable pitch propellers.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS LCI(L)-1008
    LSI(L)-1008 235k From left to right; USS LCI(L)-634, USS LCI(L)-626, USS LCI(L)-625 and USS LCI(L)-1008 beached while discharging personnel probably during a training exercise, (note personnel not in combat gear) Al Patterson for his father Harold Lee Patterson, RDM3/c, USS LCI(L)-624
    USS Sandpiper (AMCU 38)
    Sandpiper 39k Namesake: Sandpiper - A shore bird related to the plovers and snipes Tommy Trampp
    Photo added 10 April 2020
    View the Sandpiper (MHC 38)
    DANFS History entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command website
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