Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LCI(L)-274

LCI-1 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, (date and place unknown)
  • Launched (date unknown)
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-274 and leased to Great Britian, 9 February 1943 for commissioning in the Royal Navy
  • During World War II HMS LCI(L)-274 was assigned to the European Theater and carried the British 1st Special Air Service Regiment under the designation of the Special Raiding Squadron, commanded by a Lt. Col. Blair "Paddy" Mayne DSO (3bars) Legion D'Honneur Croix De Guerre
  • HMS (LCI(L)-274 carried British special/commandos during Operation Baytown and Operation Avalnche
  • HMS (LCI(L)-274 also carried out landings in Italy, at Bagnara on 3 September 1943 and at Termoli 5 October 1943
  • After World War II LCI(L)-274 was returned to US Naval custory, 27 March 1946
  • Decommissioned, struck from the Naval Register and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal
  • Final Disposition, sold, 18 March 1948, fate unknown
    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
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    LCI(L)-20 115k HMS LCI(L)-274, USS LCI(L)-20 and USS LCI(L)-39 beached while landing assault troops at Anzio, 22 January 1944. LCI(L)-20 suffered a direct hit by a German bomb aft of midships and was abandoned. Photo courtesy Gordon Smith QM1/c USS LCI(L)-43 to the USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association. Ardie Hunt
    The history for LCI(L)-39 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
    No Information Available
    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
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History