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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Cotinga (MHC-22)
ex
 USS Cotinga (AMCU-22) (1952 - 1955)
 USS LSIL-776 (1949 - 1952)
 USS LCI(L)-776 (1944 - 1949)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Tango - Tango
 NQTT
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon - Navy Unit Commendation - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 10 June 1944, at Commercial Iron Works, Portland, OR.
  • Launched, 9 July 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-776, 3 August 1944, LT, Eric Karlson USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-776 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LCI Flotilla Twenty Two, CDR. Marion M. Byrd, USN and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landing, 9 to 18 January 1945     		Consolidation and capture of the Southern Philippines;
    Mindanao Island landings, 17 to 23 April 1945

  • Following World War II USS LCI(L)-776 was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    8 September to 20 December 19458 September to 20 December 1945

  • While assigned to China Service USS LCI(L)-776 was assigned to Commander Yangtze Patrol Force
  • Decommissioned, 20 April 1946
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Bremerton, WA.
  • Redesignated LSIL-776, 28 February 1949
  • Authorized for conversion to Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator) in FY 1952
  • LSIL-776 was named Cotinga and reclassified, AMCU-22, 7 March 1952
  • Contract for conversion placed with Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA.
  • Conversion begun, 21 September 1953, completed, 2 April 1954
  • Placed in service, date unknown
  • Reclassified MHC-22, 7 February 1955
  • Placed out of service, 1 January 1960
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS LCI(L)-776 received the Navy Unit Commendation for service in Salvage, Fire Fighting, and Rescue Unit, Service Force, 7th Fleet - Philippine Islands area, 6 January to 15 February 1945, and earned two battle stars for World War II service
  • Sold, 6 May 1960, to Oaksmith Boat Sales, WA. for use as a fishing boat and renamed F/V Baranof
  • Acquired in 1961 by John J. Zappone of Spokane, WA
  • Operated in 1967 under the British flag
  • Operated in 1980 under the Panamanian flag by Rogreman Compania Maritima, S.A. for use as a hydrographic research vessel and renamed R/V Chita
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large) 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
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    LCI(L)-776 141k USS LCI(L)-776 commissioning crew photo, 3 August 1944, at Commercial Iron Works, Portland, OR. Officers are from bottom to top:
    Commanding Officer LT, Eric Karlson - Executive Officer E. O. Schwartz - Engineering Officer Ed Murphy - Commissary and Communication Officer, Louis "Lou" Scolnik.
    US Navy photo.    		 Lou Scolnik USS LCI(L)-1033
    LCI(L)-776 34k USS LCI(L)-776 enroute to Zamboanga, with members of Co. E. 21st Regiment, 24th Division aboard, date unknown.
    Photo taken from USS LCI(L)-1033 by Robert N. Rosenthal.    		 William Rosenthal for his father LCDR. Robert N. Rosenthal USNR USS LCI(L)-1033
    LCT-591 728k USS LCI(L)-776 lays between an LST with LCT-591 loaded on her deck and LCT-1412 at a ramp in Okinawa, circa late 1945. Donn Cuson
    The history for USS LCI(L)-776 is from USS LCI "Landing Craft Infantry", Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1995. (ISBN 1-56311-262-0)

    Cotinga (AMCU-22)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    History of LCI Flotilla 22
    USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association
    Naval Minewarfare Association
    Association of Minemen
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Mine Warfare Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) Photo Index Back To The Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator) (AMCU) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 10 November 2017