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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(G)-438
ex
 USS LCI(L)-438 (1943 - 1944)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Victor - Foxtrot
 NKVF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, Iwo Jima)
Second Row - Presidential Unit Citation - Navy Unit Commendation - American Campaign Medal
Third Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Individual Awards

Navy Cross (LTjg. Bernard J. Powers, USNR, CO LCI(G)-438)
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, in 1943 at New Jersey Shipbuilding, Barber, N.J.
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-438, 3 August 1943
  • Designation changed to Landing Craft Infantry (Gunboat) USS LCI(G)-438, 15 June 1944
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-438 / USS LCI(G)-438 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LCI(G) Flotilla Three, CDR. Micheal J. Malanaphy (14 May 1945 - CDR. R. Eikel USNR) Jr.;
    LCI Group Eight, LCDR. W. V. Nash USNR;
    LCI Division Fifteen and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to 8 February 1944
    Occupation of Eniwetok Atoll, 17 to 26 February 1944     		Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 17 to 21 February 1945
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 20 June to 16 July 1944
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 21 to 28 July 1944     		 

  • Following World War II USS LCI(G)-438 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 2 to 22 September 1945
  • Decommissioned in March 1946 at New Orleans, LA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 5 June 1946
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 25 November 1947
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown.
  • USS LCI(L)-438 / LCI(G)-438 earned three battle stars for World War II service in addition to the Presidential Unit Citation for operations at Iwo Jima, 17 February 1945 and the Navy Unit Commendation as a member of LCI(G) Flotilla Three (31 January to 28 July 1944) for Occupation of Kwajalein and Eniwetok Atolls in the Marshall Islands and Capture and occupation of Saipan, Guam and Tinian in the Marianas
    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
    LCI(G)-441/LCI(G)-474 87k USS LCI(G)-438 and USS LCI)G)-474 pass USS Nevada (BB-36) on the way into the beach at Iwo Jima, 17 February 1945. Bill Brinkley
    LCI(G)-438 68k USS LCI(G)-438 and USS LCI)G)-474 pass USS Nevada (BB-36) on the way into the beach at Iwo Jima, 17 February 1945. Robert Cieri
    LCI(G)-449 65k LCI(G)'s of Flotilla 3 Group 8 form a column as they prepare to attack Iwo Jima in support of UDT operations, 17 February 1945. Closest to furthest;
    USS LCI(G)-474 (sunk during the operation),
    USS LCI(G)-438,
    USS LCI(G)-449,
    USS LCI(G)-441 and
    USS LCI(G)-457    		 Dennis Blocker II for his grandfather Cliff Lemke S1/c USS LCI(G)-449
    LCI(G)-438 139k USS LCI(G)-438 returning to Saipan for repairs after receiving several hits from shore batteries off Iwo Jima while supporting the UDT swimmers on 17 February 1945. Note the mast has been shot off the conning tower and is dangling beside the tower. Photo given to Dennis Blocker II by Joe Thornburg.
    LCI(G)-438 54k USS LCI(G)-438 underway during training maneuvers off Kauai, T. H., circa May to July 1945 Bryan Bonfiglio in honor of his Grandfather Elwood Winfield Yungmann PHM/1c USS LCI(G)-438
    World War II Crew Roster submitted by Wilburn J Killingsworth USS LCI(G)-438
    The history for USS LCI(L)-438 / LCI(G)-438 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 9 May 2014