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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Longspur (MHC 28)
ex-Longspur (AMCU 28)
ex-LSI(L)-884
ex-LCI(L)-884



Call sign:
November - Xray - Kilo - Kilo
LCI(L)-351 Class Landing Craft, Infantry (Large)/AMCU-7 Class Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator):

  • Laid down 22 September 1944 by the New Jersey Shipbuilding Co., Barber, NJ
  • Launched 20 October 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-884, 27 October 1944
  • Decommissioned 24 March 1947
  • Reclassified as a Landing Ship, Infantry (Large), LSI(L)-844, 28 February 1949
  • Named Longspur and reclassified as a Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator), AMCU-28, 7 March 1952
  • Conversion to AMCU-28 began 15 November 1953 at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, SC
  • Conversion completed 15 May 1954
  • Recommissioned in June 1952
  • Reclassified as a Coastal Minehunter, MHC-28, 7 February 1953
  • Decommissioned 1 January 1954
  • Struck from the Naval Register 1 January 1960
  • Sold for scrap, 18 May 1960 to Mills Marine Co. of Suffolk, VA

    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, 4' 10" aft, Landing, 5' 4"forward, 5' 11" aft
  • Speed 16 kts. (max.), 14 kts. maximum continuous
  • Complement two officer, 21 enlisted; Troop Capacity, six Officers, 182 Enlisted
  • 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 kts. and 110 tons of fuel
  • Armament: Four 20mm guns one forward, one amidship, two aft, later added two .50 cal. machine guns
  • Fuel Capacity 130 t., lube oil 200 gal.
  • Propulsion: Two sets of four 200bhp General Motors 6-71 diesel engines, 4 per shaft, two variable pitch propellers.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Longspur 97k
    Namesake:

    Longspur - A bird related to the sparrow and finch. They breed in the Arctic and winter over a large part of the United States

    		 Tommy Trampp
    Commanding Officers
    01LTJG Robertson G. Townsend, USNR27 October 1944 - 1946
    02LTJG Glynn I. Nash, USNR1946 - 24 June 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships History: The second Longspur was laid down as LCI(L)-884 by New Jersey Shipbuilding Co., Barber, N.J., 22 September 1944; launched 20 October 1944; and commissioned 27 October 1944, Lt. (jg.) R. G. Townsend in command.

    After shakedown LCI(L)-884 departed Norfolk 25 November, steamed through the Panama Canal. and arrived San Diego 20 December. Following additional training off the west coast, the landing craft sailed 6 March 1945 for the Marianias, arriving Guam 8 April. Two weeks later she was en route to Okinawa, where U.S. Forces were already engaged in the most extensive campaign of the Pacific war.

    Upon her arrival 28 April LCI(L)-884 was assigned mail delivery and smoke station duty for large ships operating off Okinawa. She remained in the vicinity for the rest of the war, playing an important part for the fleet in aiding it against the victorious struggle against the Japanese Empire.

    After the war she operated as a mine destruction vessel out of Nagasaki and Sasebo, remaining in Japan until December. Early in 1946, LCI(L)-884 returned to the United States and decommissioned 24 March 1947, joining the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Green Cove Springs, Fla. She was reclassified LSI(L)-884, 28 February 1949.

    LSI(L)-884 was named and redesignated Longspur (AMCU-28) 7 March 1952. Recommissioned in June 1952, Longspur was assigned to the 6th Naval District for harbor defense. Reclassified MHC-28 on 7 February 1953, she continued operations out of Charleston until 1 January 1954. Decommissioned the first of the year, she joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Charleston, S.C. Struck 1 January 1960, Longspur was sold to Mills Marine Co., 18 May 1960 and was towed away for scrap 22 June 1960.

    LCl(L)-884 received one battle star for World War II service.

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