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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(G)-79
ex
 USS LCI(L)-79 (1943 - 1944)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Delta - Echo - Mike
 NDEM
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - Navy Unit Commendation
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (6) - World War II Victory Medal
LCI-1 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 5 October 1942, at Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, TX.
  • Launched, 6 December 1942
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-79, 15 January 1943, LTjg. J. E. Lewis USNR in command (May 1945)
  • Reclassified Landing Craft Infantry (Gunboat) LCI(G)-79, 15 June 1944
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-79 / USS LCI(G)-79 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LCI(G) Flotilla Three, CDR. Micheal J. Malanaphy (14 May 1945 - CDR. R. Eikel USNR);
    LCI Group One, LCDR. J. F. McFadden USN (35);
    LCI Division Fourteen and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Aleutian operations
    Invasion of Kiska, 15 August 1943    		 Tinian capture and occupation, 24 to 28 July 1944
    Marshall Islands operation;
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to 8 February 1944    		 Western Caroline Islands operation;
    Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, 6 September to 14 October 1944
    Marianas operation;
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 15 June to 28 July 1944    		 Okinawa Gunto operation;
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 April to 17 June 1945

  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 8 January 1946
  • USS LCI(L)-79 / USS LCI(G)-79 earned six battle stars for World War II service in addition to the Navy Unit Commendation as a member of LCI(G) Flotilla 3 (31 January to 28 July 1944) for Occupation of Kwajalein and Eniwetok Atolls in the Marshall Islands and Capture and occupation of Saipan, Guam and Tinian in the Marianas
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 3 May 1948;
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 216 t.(light), 234 t.(landing); 389 t.(loaded)
    Length 158' 5 1/2"
    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
    LCI(L) Complement
    3 Officers
    21 Enlisted
    LCI(G) Complement
    5 Officers
    65 Enlisted
    LCI(L) Troop Capacity
    6 Officers
    182 Enlisted
    LCI(L) 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 kts; and 110 tons of fuel
    LCI(L) Armament
    four single 20mm guns one forward, one amidship, two aft
    two .50cal machine guns
    LCI(G) Armament
    two 40mm guns
    four 20mm guns
    six .50cal machine guns
    ten MK7 rocket launchers
    Fuel Capacity 130 tons, lube oil 200 gal.
    Propulsion
    two sets of 4 General Motors Diesel engines, 4 per shaft, BHP 1,600
    twin variable pitch propellers
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    LCI-79 125k USS LCI(G)-79 underway while enroute from the Pacific Theater to San Diego, CA. (Note Homeward Bound pennant.) Photo from the bow looking aft toward the conning tower, date unknown. James E. Mertz for his father Edward H. Mertz MoMM3/c USS LCI(G)-79
    LCI-77/78/81/582/79/547 95k USS LCI(G)-77,
    USS LCI(G)-78,
    USS LCI(G)-81,
    USS LCI(M)-582,
    USS LCI(G)-79, and
    USS LCI(G)-547 moored to a buoy at San Diego, CA., mid-October 1945 after returning home from the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.    		 James E. Mertz for his father Edward H. Mertz MoMM3/c LCI(G)-79
    LCI-78/81/582/79 85k USS LCI(G)-78,
    USS LCI(G)-81,
    USS LCI(M)-582, and
    USS LCI(G)-79 moored to a buoy at San Diego, CA., mid-October 1945.    		 James E. Mertz for his father Edward H. Mertz MoMM3/c LCI(G)-79
    LCI-79 136k USS LCI(G)-79 conning tower with crew. The ship was moored to a buoy in San Diego Harbor after returning from the Pacific, mid-October 1945. James E. Mertz for his father Edward H. Mertz MoMM3/c USS LCI(G)-79
    The history for LCI(L)-79 / LCI(G)-79 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
    Western Caroline Islands Attack Landing Order
    Beach White Peleliu - CTF 32 Operation Plan A501-44 Appendix 4 to Annex "D"
    LCI(G)-79 Crew Photos and Newspaper Article
    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 26 October 2012