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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(L)-518


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Yankee - Uniform
 NQYU
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippine Liberation Medal (2)

USS LCI(L)-518 was transferred to the Republic of China
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 14 November 1943, at New Jersey Shipbuilding Co., Barber, N.J.
  • Launched, 10 December 1943
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-518, 15 December 1943
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-518 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:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landing, 4 to 18 January 1945     		Consolidation of the Southern Philippines
    Mindanao Island landings, 17 to 23 August 1945

  • Following World War II USS LCI(L)-518 was assigned to Occupation and China service (Commander Yangtze Patrol Force) in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    8 September to 13 December 194513 December 1945 to 8 July 1946

  • While assigned to Commander Yangtze Patrol Force USS LCI(L)-518 operated as pilot boat (HECV) Harbor Entrance Control Vessel Whangpoo River and Yangtze River, crew was mix of US and Chinese Naval personnel
  • Decommissioned, 8 July 1946;
  • Transferred to the State Department, 8 July 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LCI(L)-518 earned two battle stars for World War II service
  • Transfer to the Republic of China, 10 July 1946
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    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
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    LCI(L)-518 45k USS LCI(L)-518 moored at Shanghai, China, circa 1945-46. Robah L. Snyder, III for his father, Robah L. Snyder, Jr. S1/c USS LCI(L)-518
    LCI(L)-518 157k USS LCI(L)-518 enlisted crew, date and location unknown Corinne Stefanko for her father ENS. Harold Archie Smith USNR USS LCI(L)-518
    Images of USS LCI(L)-518 Officers and Enlisted
    Contributed by Corinne Stefanko for her father ENS. Harold Archie Smith USNR USS LCI(L)-518
    LCI(L)-518
    Ship's Officers    		 LCI(L)-518
    Commanding Officer    		 LCI(L)-518
    ENS. Smith & CO    		 LCI(L)-518
    ENS. Smith    		 LCI(L)-518
    Shore Leave    		 LCI(L)-518
    Unknown
    LCI(L)-518
    ENS. Smith & mascot    		 LCI(L)-518 LCI(L)-518 LCI(L)-518 LCI(L)-518 LCI(L)-518
    LCI(L)-518 LCI(L)-518 LCI(L)-518 LCI(L)-518 LCI(L)-518 LCI(L)-518
    The history for USS LCI(L)-518 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
    History of LCI Flotilla 22
    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
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 23 June 2017