Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

b>

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

HM LCI(L)-179


LCI(L)-179 transferred to the United Kingdom for the duration of World War II
LCI-1 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down in 1942, Federal Shipbuilding, Newark, N.J.
  • Launched in 1942
  • LCI(L)-179 never saw active service in the US Navy
  • Delivered, 16 December 1942
  • Transferred to the United Kingdom under terms of the Lend-Lease Act, Commissioned HM LCI(L)-179
  • During World War II HM LCI(L)-179 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and carried the British 1st Special Air Service Regiment under the designation of the Special Raiding Squadron, commanded by a Lt. Col. Blair "Paddy" Mayne DSO (3bars) Legion D'Honneur Croix De Guerre
  • HM (LCI(L)-179 carried British special/commandos during Operation Baytown and Operation Avalanche
  • HM (LCI(L)-179 also carried out landings in Italy, at Bagnara on 3 September 1943 and at Termoli 5 October 1943
  • Returned to US Naval custody, 27 March 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 8 May 1946
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal
  • Final Disposition, sold, 11 December 1947, rebuilt as a harbor cruise boat, for Circle Lines, New York, City, named Circle Line VIII
    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)-193,4,175 49k From left to right USS LCI(L)-193, USS LCI(L)-4 and HM LCI(L)-179 during landing exercises west of New Haven - in the southeast of England - in preparation for their Normandy landing in the British sector at Sword Beach on D-Day Tom Hunter for his father Bruce Hunter RM3/c USS LCI(L)-193
    LCI(L)-193,4,175 57k
    The history for LCI(L)-179 is from USS LCI "Landing Craft Infantry", Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1995. (ISBN 1-56311-262-0)
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 16 June 2017