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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(G)-539
ex
 USS LCI(L)-539 (1944 - 1945)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Charlie - Bravo
 NWCB
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
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 13 December 1943, at New Jersey Shipbuilding Corp., Barber, N.J.
  • Launched, 18 January 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-539, 22 January 1944
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-539 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign;

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

  • Reclassified Landing Craft Infantry (Gunboat) USS LCI(G)-539, 15 July 1945
  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 8 January 1946
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 28 April 1948
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • USS LCI(L)-539 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Decommissioned, 20 December 1945
  • Registered in 1950 as passenger barge Lazy Days homeported in San Diego, CA.
  • Final Disposition, foundered, 9 May 1953, about 1 ½ miles off Sunset Cliffs, San Diego, CA.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 216 t.(light), 234 t.(landing); 389 t.(loaded)
    Length 158' 5 1/2"
    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
    3 Officers
    21 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
    four single 20mm guns one forward, one amidship, two aft
    two .50cal machine guns
    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 General Motors Diesel engines, 4 per shaft, BHP 1,600
    twin variable pitch propellers
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    LCI(L)-539 125k US Army troops in full battle dress board USS LCI(L)-539 from an LCVP belonging to USS Thomas Jefferson (APA-30), circa 5 June 1944, in an English port in preparation for the invasion of Normandy.
    US Navy photo from the US National Archives.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMCS(SW) Ret., PT658 Curator, LCI713 AFMM Secretary
    LCI(L)-539 166k
    LCI(L)-539 135k
    LCI(L)-539 162k US Army troops board USS LCI(L)-539 from an LCVP in an English port, circa 5 June 1944, in preparation for the invasion of Normandy.
    US Navy photo from the US National Archives published in USS National LCI Association newsletter "The Elsie Item" April 2009 issue.    		 Ardie Hunt, Courtesy Dennis Blocker
    President Warfield 104k USS President Warfield (IX-169) moored on the Seine River, France, circa 1944-1945. President Warfield was serving as a Base and Accommodations Ship for LCIs. Alongside, from left to right; USS LCI(L)-412, USS LCI(L)-408, USS LCI(L)-539, USS LCI(L)-401 and USS LCI(L)-556. In the right foreground is an LCT and HMS ML-248.
    US Army Signal Corps Photo # SC-222893, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command.    		 Robert G. Morrissey
    The history for LCI(L)-539 / LCI(G)-539 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
    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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 10 November 2023