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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(L)-550


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Echo - Uniform
 NWEU
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp)
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 11 January 1944, at New Jersey Shipbuilding Corp., Barber, N.J.
  • Launched, 5 February 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-550, 10 February 1944
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-550 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of Southern Palau Islands, 6 September to 14 October 1944

  • Following World War II USS LCI(L)-550 was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    28 September to 15 November 1945 
    18 November to 10 December 194518 November to 10 December 1945

  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register in 1946
  • USS LCI(L)-550 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 17 February 1948
  • 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)-550
    1015055001    		 232k USS LCI(L)-550 underway in San Francisco Bay after the end of World War II, circa 1946.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 86184    		 Darryl Baker
    The history for USS LCI(L)-550 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 and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 4 November 2022