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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(L)-444

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Hotel - Golf
NQHG

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is top to bottom, from left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal

LCI(L)-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):

Laid down, 21 May 1943, at New Jersey Shipbuilding Corp., Barber, N.J.

Launched, 4 August 1943

Commissioned USS LCI(L)-444, 15 August 1943

During World War II USS LCI(L)-444 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
LCI Flotilla Five; and
LCI Flotilla Twenty Two (1944-45), CDR. Paul McD. Smith USN (1944) and CDR. Marion M. Byrd (1944-45) and participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
Bismarck Archipelago operation Green Islands landing, 15 to 19 February 1944	Western New Guinea operations Noemfoor operation, 2 to 3 July 1944 Morotai Island landings, 15 September 1944

Following World War II USS LCI(L)-444 was assigned to Commander Philippine Sea Frontier

Decommissioned, date unknown

Struck from the Naval Register, 17 April 1946

USS LCI(L)-444 earned two battle stars for service in WWII

Final Disposition, sold, 3 December 1946

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

Size	Image Description	Source
18k	USS LCI(L)-444 crew photo taken in Lae, New Guinea, 1944. Photo courtesy of Verlin Creed. Photo from the USS LCI National Association's newsletter "The Elsie Item," June 2006 issue.	Ardie Hunt
126k	New Zealand troops file down USS LCI(L)-444's ramps, 16 February 1944, as part of the occupation of Green Island, in the Solomon Islands group. Australian War Memorial, Photo No. 304260	Mike Green
110k	USS LCI(L)-444 beached at Trinity Beach, Queensland, Australia, 9 November 1944, while Australian troops of 2/1 Pioneer Battalion practice embarkation on landing craft prior to carrying out exercise "Octopus." In the background is an unidentified LCI(L) also taking part in the exercise.	Australian War Memorial

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
The History of LCI Flotilla 22
USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 1 October 2015