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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(L)-44


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Alpha - Whiskey
 NCAW
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive - Anzio)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal
LCI-1 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 31 October 1942, at New York Shipbuilding Camden, N.J.
  • Launched, 7 December 1942
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-44, 26 December 1942
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-44 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater, LCI Flotilla 1, and participated in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Sicilian occupation, 9 to 15 July 1943 West Coast of Italy operations
    Anzio-Nuttuno advanced landings, 22 January to 1 March 1944
    Elba and Pianosa landings, 17 June 1944
    Salerno landings, 9 to 21 September 1943 Invasion of Southern France, 15 August to 18 September 1944
  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LCI(L)-44 earned four battle stars for World War II service
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 18 March 1947
  • Final Disposition, 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 Source
    LCI(L)-44 233k USS LCI(L)-44, probably moored at Pizzoli, Italy, her homeport during the Salerno landings, 9 to 21 September 1943. Hugh P Savage for his father LTjg. Hugh M. Savage USNR CO USS LCI(L)-44 3 January 1943 to 5 March 1944
    LCI(L)-44 104k USS LCI(L)-44 officers. Commanding Officer LTjg Hugh M. Savage is in the middle, the two other officers are unidentified, Christmas day 1943, Bizerte, Tunisia. Hugh P Savage for his father LTjg. Hugh M. Savage USNR CO USS LCI(L)-44 3 January 1943 to 5 March 1944
    LCI(L)-44 636k USS LCI(L)-44 crew members at Christmas day 1943, Bizerte, Tunisia. Hugh P Savage for his father LTjg. Hugh M. Savage USNR CO USS LCI(L)-44 3 January 1943 to 5 March 1944
    LCI(L)-44 173k USS LCI(L)-44 crew members with shaved heads, date and location unknown. Hugh P Savage for his father LTjg. Hugh M. Savage USNR CO USS LCI(L)-44 3 January 1943 to 5 March 1944
    LCI(L)-44 438k USS LCI(L)-44 and other ships of the Anzio invasion force under enemy bombardment at sea while enroute to the allied landings at Anzio, Italy, south of Rome. 22 Jan. 1944.
    US Army Signal Corps. photo # SC 187112. Released for publication by Bureau of Public Relations War Department.     		Hugh Savage for his father LTjg. Hugh M. Savage USNR CO USS LCI(L)-44 3 January 1943 to 5 March 1944
    LCI(L)-45 77k From right to left USS LCI(L)-45, USS LCI)L)-44 and USS LCI)L)-19 waiting to embark members of the 3rd Ranger Battalion for the landings at Anzio, Italy, 22 January 1944. Robert Hurst
    LCI(L)-39 1793k USS LCI(L)-39,
    USS LCI(L)-48,
    USS LCI(L)-44 and
    USS LCI(L)-188, load French Colonial 9th Infantry Division troops at Porto Vecchio, Corsica, 16 June 1944, for the Invasion of Elba, 17 June 1944. Note the censorship of the radars.
    US Army Signal Corps photo # SC 329865, by Gann, now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Dave Kerr
    LCI(L)-192 87k Flotilla 1 LCI(L)s USS LCI(L)-188, USS LCI(L)-18, USS LCI(L)-192, USS LCI(L)-44, and USS LCI(L)-189, landing French 9th Colonial Infantry Division troops during the invasion of Elba, 17 June 1944
    US Army Signal Corps photo.    		 James E. Lynch former CO USS LCI(L)-192
    LCI(L)-18/188/192/44/189 76k Flotilla 1 LCI(L)s USS LCI(L)-188, USS LCI(L)-18, USS LCI(L)-192, USS LCI(L)-44, and USS LCI(L)-189, landing French 9th Colonial Infantry Division troops during the invasion of Elba, 17 June 1944. USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association
    Courtesy James E. Lynch former CO USS LCI(L)-192
    The history for USS LCI(L)-44 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
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    Last Updated 2 September 2011