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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

HM LCI(L)-387

LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):

Laid down in October 1943 at George Lawley & Son Corp., Neponset, MA.

Launched in November 1943

Leased to the United Kingdom, 24 November 1943

Commissioned into the Royal Navy as HM LCI(L)-387

During World War II HM LCI(L)-387 participated in the Invasion of Normandy, 6 June 1944 as a unit of 266 Flotilla, landing elements of the Royal Ulster Rifles, in Queen area of Sword beach. Information supplied by LT. Harry Willis (via Syd Berrett)

Returned to US Naval custody, 20 March 1946

Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown

Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal

Final Disposal, sold 28 February 1947, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 246 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

LCI(L) Complement

4 Officers

24 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

five single 20mm gun mounts, 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		Contributed By
1015038701	113k	HM LCI(L)-387, moored to a buoy with her ram down, date and location unknown. Frank Benson didn't speak much about his service during WWII, but on several occasions he recounted to his son, Ian, some of the thinks that happened to him and LCI(L)-387. He told Ian that they hit an underwater mine on the way in to Sword Beach, but they were close enough to lower the ramps. He was first down one of the landing ramps, with a tethered rope and the soldiers followed. They had to wait for the tide to go out before they could fill the damaged hull with concrete, but when the tide did go out a further mine was discovered inches away from the bottom of the ramp. Amazingly, none of the men had stepped on it, as everyone had leapt off the ramp rather than just stepping off it. Luck was on their side that day.		Ian Benson for his father Frank Geoffrey Benson Able Seaman, RN, HM-LCI(L)-387

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 14 April 2023