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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Chaffinch (AMCU-18)
ex
 USS LCI(L)-694 (1944 - 1952)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Xray - Whiskey
 NPXW
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 Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large) / AMCU-7 Class Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator):
  • Laid down, 28 May 1944, by George Lawley and Sons, Neponset, MA.
  • Launched, 6 June 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-694, 13 June 1944
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-694 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II USS LC(L)-694 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 18 to 22 October 1945
  • Decommissioned, 25 April 1946
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Bremerton, WA.
  • Reclassified Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator) AMCU-18 and named Chaffinch, 7 March 1952
  • Conversion to AMCU-18 began, 21 September 1953 at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., and completed, 12 April 1954
  • Chaffinch was never recommissioned
  • Sold, 28 April 1960
  • Registered in 1961 as fishing boat Bering at Seattle, WA.
  • Registered in 1972 at Juneau, AK.
  • Registered in 2002 as tugboat Fairweather, homeport, Petersburg, AK.
  • Out of documentation in 2003.
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    LCI(L)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
    USS LCI(L)-694
    LC(L)-694 26k USS LC(L)-694 beached, date and location unknown. Photos courtesy Roland E. Galyean for his father Roland E. Galyean USS LCI(L)-369
    LC(L)-694 31k
    LCI(L)-694
    1015069403    		 131k USS LCI(L)-694 underway in San Francisco Bay following the end of World War II, circa 1945-46.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 86192    		 Darryl Baker
    Chaffinch (AMCU-18)
    Chaffinch
    110208101    		 42k
    Namesake
    Chaffinch - A European bird of the finch family    		 Tommy Trampp
    The history for USS LCI(L)-694 is from USS LCI "Landing Craft Infantry", Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1995. (ISBN 1-56311-262-0)
    Chaffinch (AMCU-18)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    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 Back To The Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator) Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 17 November 2023