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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LCI(L)-491


USS LCI(L)-491 was leased to the United Kingdom
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, (date unknown) at New Jersey Shipbuilding, Barber, N.J.
  • Launched, (date unknown)
  • Commissioned as USS LCI(L)-491, 3 November 1943
  • During World War II LCI(L)-491 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the:
  • Decommissioned and leased to the United Kingdom, 18 November 1944
  • Commissioned into the Royal Navy as HM LCI(L)-491, 18 November 1944
  • Returned to US Naval custody, 14 March 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, (date unknown)
  • Transferred to the State Department for disposal
  • Final Disposition, sold, 9 June 1947, fate unknown
  • LCI(L)-491 earned one battle star for World War II service
    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
    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
    Armament five single 20mm guns two forward, one amidship, two aft, on some LCIs two .50 cal machine guns were added
    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 Contributed
    By
    USS LCI(L)-491
    LCI(L)-491 85k LCI(L)-491 departing a southern British port, 5 June 1944, bound for the invasion beaches at Normandy. Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    LCI(L)-491 60k LCI(L)-491 in port, southern England, date unknown.
    US National Archives image    		 Bill Brinkley
    LCI(L)-491 69k LCI(L)-491 moored pierside, date and place unknown.
    Photo from the USS LCI National Association's newsletter "The Elsie Item", June 1999 issue. Photo courtesy Bill Hughes, EM3/c USS LCI(L)-491.    		 Ardie Hunt
    HM LCI(L)-491
    LCI(L)-491 39k HM LCI(L)-491 and HM LCI(L)-33 in port, date and place unknown. These worn out LCIs were enroute from the United Kingdom to the Pacific war after cessation hostilities in Europe. Bruce Rowling
    The history for LCI(L)-491 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
    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 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 14 July 2006