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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(L)-640


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Mike - Romeo
 NPMR

USS LCI(L)-640 was transferred to Israel
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp)
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 26 May 1944, at New Jersey Shipbuilding Corp., Barber, N.J.
  • Launched, 22 June 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-640, 30 June 1944
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-640 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II USS LCI(L)-640 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East, 31 October to 5 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 August 1946
  • Handed over to Israel, 2 March 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)-640 31k Ex-USS LCI(L)-640 underway as a unit of the Israeli Navy, date unknown.
    Official Israeli Navy photo from "Jane's Fighting Ships 1956-57".    		 Robert Hurst
    LCI(L)-445
    1015045520    		 132k From right to left:
    USS LCI(G)-455
    USS LCI(G)-41
    USS LCI(M)-638
    USS LCI(L)-1012
    USS LCI(L)-640
    USS LCI(M)-673 and
    USS LC(FF)-679 moored in a nest in San Diego Bay, circa early 1946.
    Photo from the USS LCI National Association's newsletter, the "Elsie Item", March 2019.    		 Ardie Hunt
    The history for LCI(L)-640 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
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 8 September 2021