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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Lost to enemy action, 19 September 1944

USS LCI(G)-459
ex
 USS LCI(L)-459 (1943 - 1944)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Kilo - Papa
 NQKP
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 19 September 1944) - Navy Unit Commendation
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 23 July 1943, at New Jersey Shipbuilding Corp., Barber, N.J.
  • Launched, 2 September 1943
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-459, 11 September 1943
  • Reclassified Landing Craft Infantry (Gunboat) LCI(G)-459, 15 June 1944
  • During World War II LCI(L)-459 / LCI(G)-459 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    (1944) LCI Flotilla Three
    (1945) LCI Flotilla Six and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan 15 June to 28 July 1944     		Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, 6 to 19 September 1944
    Tinian capture and occupation
    24 to 28 July 1944     		 

  • USS LCI(G)-459 was sunk during enemy action, 19 September 1944, during the Western Caroline Islands operation
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LCI(G)-459 received three battle stars for World War II service in addition to the Navy Unit Commendation as a member of LCI(G) Flotilla 3 (31 January to 28 July 1944) for Occupation of Kwajalein and Eniwetok Atolls in the Marshall Islands and Capture and occupation of Saipan, Guam and Tinian in the Marianas
    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 guns, four 20mm guns, six .50cal machine guns, ten MK7 rocket launchers
    Fuel Capacity 130 tons, lube oil 200 gal.
    Propulsion two sets of 4 GM diesels, 4 per shaft, BHP 1,600, twin variable pitch propellers
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    There are no images of USS LCI(L)-459 / USS LCI(G)-459 available at NavSource
    The history for USS LCI(L)-459 / USS LCI(G)-459 is from USS LCI "Landing Craft Infantry", Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1995. (ISBN 1-56311-262-0)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Western Caroline Islands Attack Landing Order
    Beach White Peleliu - CTF 32 Operation Plan A501-44 Appendix 4 to Annex "D"
    USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) Photo Index
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    This page is created by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 26 October 2012