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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LCI(L)-63


Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive 7 July 1943) - Navy Unit Commendation - American Campaign Medal Row
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippine Liberation Medal


LCI-1 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, (date unknown), at Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, TX.;
  • Launched (date unknown);
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-63, 16 November 1942;
  • During World War II LCI(L)-63 / LCI(G)-63 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater LCI Flotilla 22 and participated in the
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Consolidation of Solomon Islands
    Consolidation of northern Solomon Islands, 28 April to 15 June 1944
    Treasury Islands-Bougainville operation
    Treasury Island landings, 6 November 1943
    New Georgia Group operations
    New Georgia-Rendova-Vanguau occupation, 4 July 1943
    Cape Gloucester, New Britain, 31 August 1943
    Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landing, 9 to 18 January 1945
    Western New Guinea operations
    Morotai landing, 15 September 1944
    .

  • Following the end of World War II, LCI(L)-63 was assigned to Commander Philippine Sea Frontier;
  • Decommissioned (date unknown);
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown);
  • Final Disposition, sold, 3 December 1945, fate unknown.
  • LCI(L)-63 earned five battle stars and the Navy Unit Commendation for World War II service.
    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, Loaded, 5' 4" forward, 5' 11" aft
    Speed 16 kts (max.), 14 kts maximum continuous
    Complement 3 officer, 21 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 four single 20mm guns one forward, one amidship, two aft, later added two .50 cal machine guns
    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

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    LCI(L)-23 87k LCI(L)-23, LCI(L)-24, LCI(L)-65 and LCI(L)-63 beached on Rendova Island in the Solomons, 7 July 1943, being unloaded after a bombing raid. A bomb hit between the 24 and 65 which caused the ships to list and come to rest on the bottom. LCI(L)-24 lost 2 dead and 3 wounded. Survivors spent an uneasy night in foxholes on the beach watching the gunfire flare from the naval Battle of Kula Gulf. Photo from the USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association 2004 Calendar, courtesy Lou Plant SM1/c, USS LCI(L)-24. Ardie Hunt

    View the history of LCI Flotilla 22
    The history for LCI(L)-63 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
    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 and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.