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

IX-212
ex
 USS LCI(G)-396 (1944 - 1945)
 USS LCI(L)-396 (1944)


LCI-396 International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Charlie - Hotel
 NKCH
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Personal Awards

Purple Heart (7 KIA, 20 WIA at Palau, 18 January 1945)
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down December 1943 at George Lawley & Sons Shipyard, Neponset, MA.
  • Launched December 1943
  • Commissioned as USS LCI(L)-396, 20 December 1943
  • Reclassified Landing Craft Infantry (Gunboat) LCI(G)-396, 15 June 1944
  • During World War II LCI(G)-396 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, 6 September to 14 November 1944

  • Reclassified Miscellaneous Unclassified IX-212, 23 February 1945
  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LCI(L)-396 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, destroyed 21 March 1946
    Specifications:
    Displacement 246 t.(light), 264 t. (landing), 419 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
    LCI(L) Complement
    4 Officers
    24 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
    five single 20mm guns, one bow mounted, one each port and starboard forward of wheelhouse, one each port and starboard aft of wheelhouse
    on some LCIs two .50 cal machine guns were added
    LCI(G) Armament
    two 40mm AA gun mounts
    four 20mm AA gun mounts
    six .50cal machine guns
    ten MK7 rocket launchers
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 800 Bbls
    lube oil 200 gal
    Propulsion
    two sets of 4 General Motors 6051 series 71 Diesel engines, 4 per shaft
    single General Motors Main reduction gears
    two Diesel-drive 30Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    twin variable pitch propellers, 2,320shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LCI(G)-396 25k USS LCI(G)-396 of the Black Cat Flotilla 13 at anchor after striking a mine while on picket duty in the Palau Islands on 18 January 1945. Note, the bow of the ship from the gun deck bulkhead forward was blown off. Seven of the crew were killed and more than 20 wounded. USS LCI(G)-728, USS LCI(G)-729, USS LCI(G)730, and USS LCI(R)-732 rendered aid to the severely damaged ship. Photo from the USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association 2005 calendar, courtesy Earl Kile, LCI(G)-728). Vaughn Hampton USS LCI(L) & (G)-450
    LCI(G)-396 179k LCI(G)-396 at anchor after striking a mine while on picket duty in the Palau Islands on 18 January 1945. Dave Sangster for his father James P. Sangster QM1 LCI(L)-735
    LCI(L)-728 187k USS LCI(G)-728 underway, 18 January 1945, in the Western Caroline Islands, near Palau Island enroute to render assistance to the damaged USS LCI(G)-396, seen in the far distance. Photo was taken by James P. Sangster QM/1c of USS LCI(L)-735 while temporarily at the helm of USS LCI(G)-728. Dave Sangster for his father James P. Sangster QM1 LCI(L)-735
    The history for LCI(L)-396 / LCI(G)-396 / IX-212 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 Back To The Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 31 January 2013