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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(L)-551

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Foxtrot - Tango - Romeo
NFTR

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (2) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

USS LCI(L)-551 was transferred to the Soviet Union, redesignated DS-3

LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):

Laid down, 12 January 1944, at New Jersey Shipbuilding Corp., Barber, N.J.

Launched, 7 February 1944

Commissioned USS LCI(L)-551, 11 February 1944, LTjg Fred Caraiedo USNR in command

During World War II USS LCI(L)-551 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaigns;

**Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944	Invasion of Southern France, 15 August to 21 September 1944

USS LCI(L)-551 was decommissioned and transferred as part of Project Hula to the Soviet Union at Cold Bay, AK., 29 July 1945, designated DS-3 by the Soviet Union

Ex-USS LCI(L)-551 (Soviet Navy DS-3) participated in the Soviet invasion of the Japanese Kuril Islands between 18 August and 1 September 1945

Returned to US Naval custody in 1955 and struck from the Naval Register

USS LCI(L)-551 earned two battle stars for World War II service

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

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

Fuel Capacity

130 tons Diesel

200 gal. lube oil

Propulsion

two sets of 4 GM Diesels, 4 per shaft, BHP 1,600

twin variable pitch propellers

Size	Image Description	Source
1560k	USS LCI(L)-551 underway in May 1945, flying her colors at half-mast in honor of the recently deceased President Franklin D. Roosevelt. On 29 July 1945, during Project Hula, the United States transferred her to the Soviet Navy in which, as DS-3, she took part in the Soviet invasion of the Kuril Islands. The Soviet Union returned her to the United States in 1955.	Dan Clark for Don A. Buswell USS LCI(L)-551
257k	USS LCI(L)-551 underway, date and location unknown.	Dan Clark for Don A. Buswell USS LCI(L)-551
612k	USS LCI(L)-551 crew members, left to right Navsik Cox, Johnson S2/c, Dagastion SM3c, and ENS Roberts.	Jerry Gilmartin MMCS(SW) Ret., PT658 Curator, LCI713 AFMM Secretary
268k	USS LCI(L)-551 crew photo taken at Fowley, England, date unknown. Ship's officers left to right: Engineering Officer Langenheim, Executive Officer Buswell, Commanding Officer LTjg Fred Caraiedo, Medical Officer Johnson, and O'Brien.	Jerry Gilmartin MMCS(SW) Ret., PT658 Curator, LCI713 AFMM Secretary
185k	LTjg. Don A. Buswell CO USS LCI(L)-551 with sextant while underway, date and location unknown.	Jerry Gilmartin MMCS(SW) Ret., PT658 Curator, LCI713 AFMM Secretary
114k	USS LCI(L)-551 underway, date and location unknown.	Jerry Gilmartin MMCS(SW) Ret., PT658 Curator, LCI713 AFMM Secretary
106k	USS LCI(L)-551 crew member Richard Hudson with the ship's smoke generator.	Jerry Gilmartin MMCS(SW) Ret., PT658 Curator, LCI713 AFMM Secretary

Commanding Officers
01	LTjg. Caraiedo, Fred USNR	11 February 1944 - ?
02	LTjg. Buswell, Don A.	WWII

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

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This page is created by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 14 June 2013