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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(L)-737

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Uniform - Yankee
 NWUY
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal

USS LCI(L)-737 was transferred to Argentina and named ARA BDI No.11
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 16 January 1944, at Commercial Iron Works, Portland, OR.
  • Launched, 13 February 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-737, 28 February 1944, LTjg. Donald Charles Brockway, in command
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-737 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    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)-737 performed China service, 25 September to 16 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 18 February 1948
  • Transferred to the government of Argentina, redesignated ARA BDI No.11 in 1948
  • Final Disposition, disposed of by the Argentine Navy in 1951, fate unknown
  • USS LCI(L)-737 received 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
    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 kts; and 110 tons of fuel
    LCI(L) 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 130 tons, lube oil 200 gal.
    Propulsion two sets of 4 GM diesels, 4 per shaft, BHP 1,600, twin variable pitch propellers
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    LCI(L)-737 218k USS LCI(L)-737 officers and crew photo circa commissioning day, 28 February 1944. at Commercial Iron Works, Portland, OR. (ENS. Harold E. Yahnke is third officer up on the ladder.) Jim Yahnke for his father LT. Harold E. Yahnke USNR, CO USS LCI(L)-737
    LCI(L)-737 217k USS LCI(L)-737 officers, circa commissioning day, 28 February 1944. at Commercial Iron Works, Portland, OR. (ENS. Harold E. Yahnke far right.) Jim Yahnke for his father LT. Harold E. Yahnke USNR, CO USS LCI(L)-737
    LCI(L)-737 218k USS LCI(L)-737 enlisted crew, circa commissioning day, 28 February 1944. at Commercial Iron Works, Portland, OR. (ENS. Harold E. Yahnke far right.) Jim Yahnke for his father LT. Harold E. Yahnke USNR, CO USS LCI(L)-737
    LCI(L)-737 62k USS LCI(L)-737 high and dry at Shanghai in either the fall of 1945 or early 1946. Jim Yahnke for his father LT. Harold E. Yahnke USNR, CO USS LCI(L)-737
    LCI(L)-737 178k LTjg. Harold E. Yahnke USNR CO. USS LCI(L)-737 (at right) and unidentified officer at Shanghai in either the fall of 1945 or early 1946. Jim Yahnke for his father LT. Harold E. Yahnke USNR, CO USS LCI(L)-737
    LCI(L)-737 75k USS LCI(L)-737 moored pierside at San Pedro/Los Angeles, CA., early 1946. Jim Yahnke for his father LT. Harold E. Yahnke USNR, CO USS LCI(L)-737
    LCI(L)-737 66k
    LCI(L)-737 59k
    LCI(L)-737 57k
    LCI(L)-737 85k
    LCI(L)-737 147k LTjg. Harold E. Yahnke, USNR, Command Officer, USS LCI(L)-737, second from right, and ship's officers, circa early 1946, at San Pedro/Los Angeles. Jim Yahnke for his father LT. Harold E. Yahnke USNR, CO USS LCI(L)-737
    The history for USS LCI(L)-737 is from USS LCI "Landing Craft Infantry", Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1995. (ISBN 1-56311-262-0)
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Donald Charles Brockway, USNR28 February 1944 - 17 October 1945
    02LTjg. Harold E. Yahnke, USNR17 October 1945 - 14 May 1946
    03LTjg. R. E. Dorval, USNR14 May 1946 - 1946
    Courtesy Jim Yahnke
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    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 11 December 2009