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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LSIL-973
ex
 USS Oriole (MHC-33) (1955)
USS Oriole (AMCU-33) (1954 - 1955)
USS LCI(L)-973 (1944 - 1954)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Yankee - Kilo
 NYYK
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 11 March 1944, at Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange TX
  • Launched, 5 April 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-973, 30 April 1944, LTjg. E.J. Kirsch, USNR, in command (May 1945)
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-973 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LCI Flotilla Thirteen, CDR. M. B. Brown, USN (1933);
     LCI Group Thirty-Seven, LCDR. P. W. Howard;
     LCI Division Seventy-Three
  • Following World War II USS LCI(L)-973 was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following period:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    28 September to 16 December 19458 September to 16 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, March 1946 at Green Cove Springs FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs, FL.
  • Designation changed to Landing Ship Infantry (Large) LSIL, 28 February 1949
  • Authorized for conversion to a Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator) in FY 1952
  • Contract for conversion placed, 7 March 1952, with Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, S.C.
  • Conversion begun, 15 September 1953, and completed 16 March 1954
  • Commissioned USS Oriole (AMCU-33), 20 February 1954
  • Redesignated Coastal Minehunter (MHC-33), 7 February 1955
  • Decommissioned 7 July 1955
  • Reverted to Landing Ship Infantry (Large) LSIL-973, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register 1 January 1960
  • Final Disposition, sold 27 March 1961 to Ships and Power Inc., Miami FL.
    LCI(L) 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 12kts, 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 Contributed
    By
    LCI(L)-973
    1015097301    		 290k USS Oriole (AMCU-33) underway off Virginia Beach, VA. in 1955.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo Catalog #L45-219.03.03    		 Joe Radigan
    USS LCI(L)-973/Oriole (AMCU-33) (MHC-33)
    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
    USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association
    Association of Minemen
    Minewarfare Association
    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 (AMCU) Photo Index
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    This page is created by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 19 February 2021