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

USS LCI(L)-537


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Alpha - Uniform
 NWAU
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal

USS LCI(L)-537 was leased to the United Kingdom
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down in December 1943 at New Jersey Shipbuilding Corp., Barber, N.J.
  • Launched in January 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-537, 20 January 1944
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-537 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following action/campaign:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Convoy UGS-38, 20 April 1944 Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944
  • Decommissioned and transferred to the United Kingdom under the Lend-Lease program, 30 November 1944
  • Returned to US Navy custody, 4 May 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1946
  • USS LCI(L)-537 earned two battle stars for World War II service
  • Transferred to the State Department and sold, 7 January 1947
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    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
    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 kts; 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 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)-537 685k USS LCI(L)-537 crew in England in 1944. Tiny Clarkson on the ladder.
    US National Archives photo    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc
    LCI(L)-403 2633k Troops prepare to board their ships for the Normandy invasion from LCVPs in an English harbor, circa 4 June 1944. USS LCI(L)-403 along with USS LCI(L)-538 (center) and USS LCI(L)-537 are nested together in the center of the harbor waiting their turn to load troops. Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-537 789k USS LCI(L)-537 putting her troops ashore during the invasion of Normandy, 6 June 1944.
    US National Archives photo    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc
    The history for USS LCI(L)-537 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
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 13 September 2019