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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(G)-397
ex
 USS LCI(L)-397 (1944)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Charlie - Uniform
 NKCU
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp)
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 10 December 1943, at George Lawley & Sons Shipbuilding Corp., Neponset, MA.
  • Launched, 19 December 1943
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-397, 23 December 1943
  • Reclassified Landing Craft Infantry (Gunboat) LCI(G)-397, 15 June 1944
  • During World War II USS LCI(G)-397 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    (1944) LCI Flotilla Three
    (1945) LCI Flotilla Six, CDR. A.R. Montgomery USN;
     LCI Group Eighteen (flagship), LCDR. E.L. Yates;
     LCI Division Thirty-Five (May 1945) and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, 6 October to 14 November 1944

  • Following World War II USS LCI(G)-397 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 2 September to 2 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register in 1946
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 20 August 1947
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • USS LCI(G)-397 earned one battle star for World War II service
    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(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
    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
    LCI(G) Armament
    two 40mm AA gun mounts
    four 20mm AA gun mounts
    six .50cal machine guns
    ten MK7 rocket launchers
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 800 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(G)-397 74k USS LCI(G)-397 at anchor, date and location unknown. Todd M. Fritchie in honor of his father Ens. Albert Fritchie, Jr. USNR USS LCI(G)-397
    LCI(G)-397 77k USS LCI(G)-397 at anchor off Okinawa, date unknown. Todd M. Fritchie in honor of his father Ens. Albert Fritchie, Jr. USNR USS LCI(G)-397
    LCI(G)-397 90k USS LCI(G)-397 underway, circa 1945. Todd M. Fritchie in honor of his father Ens. Albert Fritchie, Jr. USNR USS LCI(G)-397
    LCI(G)-397 89k USS LCI(G)-397 crew photo, date and location unknown. ENS. Fritchie is at the top of the ladder. Todd M. Fritchie in honor of his father Ens. Albert Fritchie, Jr. USNR USS LCI(G)-397
    The history for LCI(L)-397 / LCI(G)-397 is from USS LCI "Landing Craft Infantry", Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1995. (ISBN 1-56311-262-0)
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    This page is created by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 4 October 2014