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USS Ortolan (MHC-34)
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 USS Ortolan (AMCU-34)1952 - 1955
 USS LSIL-976 1949 - 1952
 USS LCI(L)-976 1944 -1949

International Radio Call sign: November - Yankee - Yankee - Yankee
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Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 15 March 1944, at Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange TX.
  • Launched, 10 April 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-976, 5 May 1944
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-976 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, 5 to 29 November 1944
    Ormoc Bay landings, 7 to 8 December 1944     		Consolidation of the Southern Philippines
    Palawan Islands landings, 28 February 1945
    Visayan Island landings, 26 March to 20 April 1945
    Luzon operation
    Mindoro landings, 12 to 18 December 1944     		Manila Bay-Bicol operations
    Nasugbu, 31 January and 4 to 5 February 1945

  • Following World War II USS LCI(L)-976 was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    8 September to 16 December 19456 September to 16 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, 19 August 1946, at New Orleans, LA.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet
  • Designation changed to Landing Ship Infantry (Large) LSIL, 28 February 1949
  • Authorized for conversion to a Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator) in FY 1952
  • Contract for conversion placed with Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, S.C., 7 March 1952, conversion begun, 15 June 1953
  • Commissioned USS Ortolan (AMCU-34), 21 November 1953, at Charleston, S.C.
  • Redesignated Coastal Mine Hunter (MHC-34), 7 February 1955
  • Decommissioned, 23 June 1955, at Charleston, S.C.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 January 1960
  • USS LCI(L)-976 earned four battle stars for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 8 July 1960, to Marlene Bloiuse Co
    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 Contributed
    By
    USS LCI(L)-976
    LCI(L)-976 96k USS LCI(L)-976 underway, date and location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in World War II web site
    LCI(L)-977 89k USS LCI(L)-977 (forefront) along USS LCI(L)-976 (center), and USS LCI(L)-966 (far left), landing regimental combat assault troops of the Americal Division at Dumagueete, Negros Island, Philippines, 26 April 1945.
    US Navy photo.    		 USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association
    USS Ortolan (AMCU-34)
    LCI(L)-976
    1015097603    		 87k USS Ortolan (AMCU-34) underway, date and location unknown.
    Photo from www.picryl.com by U.S. National Archives    		 John Spivey
    USS LCI(L)-976 / USS Ortolan (AMCU-34) (MHC-34)
    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
    Minewarfare Association
    Association of Minemen
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Mine Warfare Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Craft Infantry (LCI)Photo Index Back To The Coastal Minesweeper/Minehunter (AMCU) (MHC) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 16 August 2024