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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(L)-666


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Golf - Charlie - Romeo
 NGCR
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

USS LCI(L)-666 was transferred to the Soviet Union, redesignated DS-50
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 8 March 1944, at George Lawley & Sons, Neponset, MA.
  • Launched, 16 March 1944
  • Commissioned as USS LCI(L)-666, 24 March 1944
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-666 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 southern France, 15 to 31 August 1944

  • USS LCI(L)-666 was decommissioned and transferred as part of Project Hula to the Soviet Union at Cold Bay, AK., 29 July 1945, designated Soviet Landing Ship DS-50
  • Ex-USS LCI(L)-666 (Soviet Navy DS-50) participated in the Soviet invasion of the Japanese Kuril Islands between 18 August and 1 September 1945
  • Returned to US Naval custody in 1955 and struck from the Naval Register
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • USS LCI(L)-666 earned one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 246 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
    LCI(L) Complement
    4 Officers
    24 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
    five single 20mm gun mounts, 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)-666 53k USS LCI(L)-666 moored pierside while embarking the 442 RCT, Italy, 10 June 1944.
    US National Archives images    		 Bill Brinkley
    LCI(L)-666 51k
    LCI(L)-666 50k USS LCI(L)-666 boarding troops of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (BEF), at Naples, Italy, 9 October 1944. USS LCI(L)-666 was part of a 50 LCI convoy that transported the 10,500 men of the 2nd and 3rd echelons of the 1st Expeditionary Infantry Division from Naples to Livorno. Flavio Mathias
    LCI(L)-666 120k
    The history for LCI(L)-666 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 30 January 2015