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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Chimango (MHC 20)
ex-Chimango (AMCU 20)
ex-LSI(L)-703
ex-LCI(L)-703



Call sign:
November - Quebec - Bravo - India
AMCU-7 Class Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator):

  • The second Chimango was laid down 2 June 1944 by George Lawley and Son, Neponset, MA
  • Launched 8 July 1944 and commissioned USS LCI(L)-703 the same day, under the command of ENS Henry C. Smith, Jr., USNR
  • Decommissioned 16 July 1946
  • Reclassified as a Landing Ship Infantry (Large), LSI(L)-703, 28 February 1949
  • Named Chimango and reclassified as a Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator), AMCU-20, 7 March 1952
  • Conversion to AMCU-20 began 1 December 1953 at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA
  • Conversion completed 18 May 1954
  • Removed from service 1 January 1960
  • Chimango was never commissioned
  • Acquired in 1961 by the Cook Inlet Tug and Barge Co. of Anchorage, AK and renamed Whirlwind
  • Acquired in 1976 by H. Albert Ansell of Seattle, WA
  • Acquired in 1981 by Arthur B. Church of Bellevue, WA
  • Acquired in 1988 by Richard A. and Dawn E. Dennis of Cordova, AK
  • Out of documentation in 1991
  • Fate unknown.

    LCI Specifications:

  • Displacement 216 t.(light), 234 t.(landing), 389 t.(loaded)
  • Length 158' 5½"
  • Beam 23' 3"
  • Draft, Light 3'1½" mean, Landing, 2' 8" forward, 41'10" aft, Landing, 5'4"forward, 5'11" aft
  • Speed 16 kts. (max.), 14 kts. maximum continuous
  • Complement 23
  • Troop Capacity 188
  • Cargo Capacity 75 t.
  • 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
  • Armament: Four 20mm guns one forward, one amidship, two aft, later added two .50 cal. machine guns
  • Propulsion: Eight 800bhp General Motors 6-71 diesel engines, four per shaft, two shafts, variable pitch propellers.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS LCI(L)-703
    Blue Jay 94k LCI(L)-654, LCI(L)-1003 and LCI(L)-703
    Contributed by Don Scott in memory of his Father John K. Scott, Sr. who served during WWII aboard the LCI(L)-654    		 Robert G. Morrissey
    LCI(L)-702
    1015070203    		 473k USS LCI(L)-702, USS LCI(L)-703 and USS LCI(L)-774 beached on the Zamboanga Peninsula, Mindanao Island, Philippines, 10 March 1945.
    Photo from the private collection of David Upton     		David Upton
    USS Chimango (AMCU 20)
    Chimango 21k
    Namesake:

    A bird of southern South America

    		 Tommy Trampp
    View the Chimango (AMCU 20)
    DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command website
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    This page created and maintained by Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory) & David Wright
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    Last Updated 30 January 2025