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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(G)-45
ex
 USS LCI(L)-45 (1942 - 1945)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Kilo - Zulu
 NCKZ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (4) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
LCI-1 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 2 November 1942, at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.
  • Launched, 9 December 1942
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-45, 26 December 1942
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-45 / USS LCI(G)-45) was first assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater, LCI Flotilla One, and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater participating in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaigns and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Sicilian occupation
    9 to 15 July 1943     		Borneo operation
    Brunei Bay, 7 to 12 June 1945
    Salerno landings, 9 to 21 September 1943  
    West Coast of Italy operations
    Anzio-Nuttuno advanced landings, 22 to 1 March 1944
    Elba and Pianosa landings, 17 June 1944     		 
    Invasion of Southern France
    15 August to 16 September 1944     		 

  • Reclassified Landing Craft Infantry (Guns) LCI(G)-45, 15 July 1945
  • Classification reverted to LCI(L)-45, 15 September 1945
  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register in 1946
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 19 February 1947
  • Purchased, date unknown, by Rivertow for use on MacKenzie Lake in southern British Columbia, reflagged Canada
  • Acquired in the early 1980s by Seaforth Towing and Salvage, Sechelt, B.C.
  • Sold in 1994 to Aurora Marine Services of Kitimat, B.C., named MV Redonda
  • Final Disposition, abandoned at Kitimat, B.C. circa 2015
  • USS LCI(L)-45 earned five battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 216 t.(light), 234 t.(landing); 389 t.(loaded)
    Length 158' 5 1/2"
    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
    LCI(L) Complement
    3 Officers
    21 Enlisted
    LCI(G) Complement
    5 Officers
    65 Enlisted
    LCI(L) Troop Capacity
    6 Officers
    182 Enlisted
    LCI(L) 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
    four single 20mm guns one forward, one amidship, two aft
    two .50cal machine guns
    LCI(G) Armament
    two 40mm guns
    four 20mm guns
    six .50cal machine guns
    ten MK7 rocket launchers
    Fuel Capacity 130 tons, lube oil 200 gal.
    Propulsion
    two sets of 4 General Motors Diesel engines, 4 per shaft, BHP 1,600
    twin variable pitch propellers
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS LCI(L)-45
    LCI(L)-45 840k USS LCI(L)-45 and other landing craft unloading men and supplies north of Agropoli, Italy, 21 September 1943 during the Salerno landings.
    US Army Signal Corps photo # 180048    		 Dave Kerr
    LCI(L)-45 77k From right to left USS LCI(L)-45, USS LCI)L)-44 and USS LCI)L)-19 waiting to embark members of the 3rd Ranger Battalion for the landings at Anzio, Italy, 22 January 1944. Robert Hurst
    LCI(L)-45 148k USS LCI(L)-45 underway, date and location unknown. Photo was taken from USS LCI(L)-33 Mike Harpe
    Merchant Service
    LCI(L)-45 671k Ex-USS LCI(L)-45 underway as the Aurora Marine Services' MV Redonda, date and location unknown. Note the modified bow and addition of a ramp. John Denholme
    LCI(L)-45
    1015004505    		 305k Abandoned hulk of Redonda in a tidal bay at Kitimat, B.C. Redonda was removed from merchant service in 2015 and converted into a private fishing camp. Aurora Marine Services donated it to the owner to help fulfill the dream of a resort getaway for men with troubles, unfortunately, the previous owner passed away that year and the current owner also passed away before being able to complete the project. She was left moored in Kitimat but came into disrepair and had to be grounded to stop her from sinking. She now rests in a tidal bay in Kitimat. Redonda had an interesting career. She was involved in Expo 86 and filming of tv shows on the west coast of British Columbia. John D Denholme, Northstar Ventures, Kitimat B.C.
    The history for USS LCI(L)-45 / LCI(G)-45 is from USS LCI "Landing Craft Infantry", Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1995. (ISBN 1-56311-262-0)
    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
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 2 December 2022