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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(L)-493

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Uniform - Hotel
NQUH

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal

USS LCI(L)-493 was leased to the United Kingdom following the Invasion of Normandy in 1944

LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):

Laid down in 1943 at New Jersey Shipbuilding Co., Barber, N.J.

Launched in 1943

Commissioned as USS LCI(L)-493, 30 November 1943

During World War II USS LCI(L)-493 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign:

Campaign and Dates
Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944

Decommissioned and leased to the United Kingdom, 30 November 1944

Returned to US custody, 24 September 1946

Struck from the Naval Register, 13 December 1946

Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal

Final Disposition, sold, 28 October 1947, fate unknown

USS LCI(L)-493 earned one battle star for World War II service

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	Contributed By
108k	USS LCI(L)-493 underway off the coast of Normandy, June 1944. US National Archives image.	Bill Brinkley
53k	USS LCI(L)-493 moored alongside USS LCI(L)-495, date and location unknown.	John Boucher for his father LCDR. John W. Boucher USS LCI(L)-495)
59k	USS LCI(L)-493 in a southern English port date unknown. US National Archives image.	Bill Brinkley
82k	USS LCI(L)-493 Painting titled "The Battered Amphibian", by Combat Artist Dwight C. Shepler, done in England, April 1944. From the "About Our Cover:" section of USS LCI National Association's newsletter The Elsie Item, January 2005 issue: "In April of 1944, Paigton Sands, Cornwall, England was the scene for an early practice landing by LCI's recently arrived from the US. Just about everything went wrong. LCI 493 ended up broached against the rocks with another LCI pounding up against her from the other side all night long. The next morning the battered 493 made her way up the River Dart to a marine railway where combat artist Dwight C. Shepler painted her as she underwent repairs."	Ardie Hunt

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

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 11 July 2014