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.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

HM LCH-185
(Headquarters Ship)


LCI(L)-185 was transferred to the Royal Navy in 1943 for the duration of WWII
LCI-1 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, December 1942, at Federal Shipbuilding Corp., Port Newark, N.J.
  • Launched, December 1942)
  • Transferred, 13 January 1943, under terms of the Lend-Lease Act to the United Kingdom
  • Converted to LCH United Kingdom version of the US Flotilla Flag Ship LC(FF)
  • Final Disposition, lost to enemy action, 6 June 1944, at Sword Beach during the Invasion of Normandy
  • Struck from the US Naval Register, date 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)-185
    1015018501
    IWM A19167    		 226k Allied invasion troops embark aboard HM LCH-185, 4 September 1943, and an unidentifed LCI at Tripoli, Algeria bound for Italy.
    Imperial War Museum Identifier A19167, A19166 and A19167, Admiralty Official Collection    		 David Upton
    LCI(L)-185
    1015018502
    IWM A19166    		 232k
    LCI(L)-185
    1015018503
    IWM A19165    		 273k
    The history for LCI(L)-185 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 7 May 2021