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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(L)-443

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Hotel - Bravo
NQHB

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is top to bottom, from left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)

LCI(L)-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large);

Laid down, 19 May 1943, at New Jersey Shipbuilding, Barber, N.J.

Launched, 2 August 1943

Commissioned USS LCI(L)-443, 13 August 1943

During World War II USS LCI(L)-443 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
LCI Flotilla Five; and
LCI Flotilla Twenty Two (1944-45), CDR. Paul McD. Smith USN (1944) and CDR. Marion M. Byrd (1944-45) and participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
Bismarck Archipelago operation Green Islands landing, 15 to 19 February 1944	Luzon operation Lingayen Gulf landings, 4 to 18 January1945
Western New Guinea operation Morotai Island landings, 15 September 1944

Following World War II, LCI(L)-443 was assigned to Commander Philippine Sea Frontier

Decommissioned, date unknown

Struck from the Naval Register, 12 April 1946

USS LCI(L)-443 earned three battle stars for service in WWII

Final Disposition, sold, 2 December 1946

Specifications:
Displacement 236 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

Complement

4 officers

24 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

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

Fuel Capacity

Diesel 860 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

Size	Image Description	Source
103k	USS LCI(L)-443 drydocked at New York Navy Yard, 7 September 1943. Starboard view before alteration of skegs. New York Navy Yard photo # F644C4534 now in the collections of the US National Archives	Jerry Gilmartin AFMM secretary LCI713 restoration crew.
66k	USS LCI(L)-443 drydocked at New York Navy Yard, 7 September 1943. Center view after alteration of skegs. New York Navy Yard photo # F644C4539 now in the collections of the US National Archives	Jerry Gilmartin AFMM secretary LCI713 restoration crew.
662k	USS LCI(L)-443 beached somewhere in the Pacific while taking on fuel, date and location unknown.	Jerry Gilmartin AFMM secretary LCI713 restoration crew.
415k	USS LCI(L)-82 embarking New Zealand troops at Vela la Vella, circa February 1944.	Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) Ret, Secretary AFMM LCI713, Curator Save the PT Boat Inc PT658.
406k

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
The History of LCI Flotilla 22
USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 26 September 2014