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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Landing Craft Tank LCT-637
Landing Ship Utility LSU-637
Landing Craft Utility LCU-637
Harbor Utility Craft YFU-55

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Korean Service Medal (5) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Landing Craft Tank (Mark 6) / YFU-1 Class Harbor Utility Craft:
  • Laid down, 15 December 1943, at Buffalo Shipbuilding Corp., Buffalo, N.Y.
  • Launched, 18 January 1944
  • Delivered, 19 January 1944
  • During World War II LCT-637 was assigned to the European Theater, LCT Flotilla 19, LCDR Puret in command, and participated in the:
  • Invasion of Normandy
    6 to 25 June 1944
  • Redesignated Landing Ship Utility, LSU-637 in 1949
  • During the Korean War LSU-637 participated in the following campaigns:
    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    North Korean Aggression
    18 September to 2 November 1950     		First UN Counter Offensive
    25 January to 16 March 1951
    Inchon Landing
    13 to 17 September 1950     		Korean Defensive Summer
    12 August to 9 September 1952
    Communist China Aggression
    3 November 1950 to 24 January 1951
    		.

  • Redesignated Landing Craft Utility LCU-629, 15 April 1956
  • Reclassified Harbor Utility Craft YFU-55, 1 March 1966
  • Placed out of service (date unknown)
  • Struck from the Naval Register )date unknown)
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • LCT-637 earned one battle star for World War II service and as LSU-637 earned 5 battle stars for Korean War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 143 to 160 t.(lt), 309 to 320 t.(fl)
    Length 119' 1" ovl.
    Beam 32' 8"
    Draft 5' (max)
    Speed 10 kts.
    Range 700 nautical miles at 7 kts.
    Complement 14
    Cargo Capacity 150 short tons
    Armament 2 single 20mm AA gun mounts, 4 .50 cal. machine guns
    Armor 20lbs wheelhouse, 10lbs gun shield
    Propulsion 3 Grey Marine Diesels, 3 propellers, Shaft horsepower 225 per shaft
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    LCI(L)-416 114k LCT-637 beached alongside an unidentified LCT at Normandy, 7 June 1944. Other ships present include LST-355 laying to seaward of the sunken LCI(L)-416 off Omaha Beach amidst reinforcement and cleanup activities on 7 June 1944. US National Archives photo from the USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association 2006 calendar. Ardie Hunt
    Mount McKinley 105k LSU-637 is alongside Mount McKinley (AGC-7) anchored off Hungnam on 19 December 1950. Askari (ARL-30) is partially visible beyond Mount McKinley's bow.
    US National Archives photo 80-G-424523, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    LCU-637 118k LCU-637 and several harbor tugs can be seen on the wharf at left as harbor tugs move Oklahoma City (CLG-5) alongside Providence (CLG-6) at Yokosuka Naval Station, Japan for change of Seventh Fleet flagship, 7 July 1964. Commander Seventh Fleet, Vice Admiral Roy L. Johnson, transferred his flag and staff from Providence to Oklahoma City at the conclusion of the former's first tour as Fleet flagship. Note the large dockyard cranes; tunnels in the cliff in the background; and the large number of automobiles on board Oklahoma City.
    US Navy photo # USN 1104112, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    There is no DANFS history for LCT-637 available at NavSource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    World War II LCT Flotillas
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To the Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Craft Tank (LCT) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2006 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 26 January 2007