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 |
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142k | Washing down LCT-638 while preparing to load for the Invasion of Normandy, date unknown and location unknown. | Jeff Card for his grandfather Melvin Downing MoMM 3c LCT-638 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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113k | Washing down LCT-638 while preparing to load for the Invasion of Normandy, date and location unknown. | Jeff Card for his grandfather Melvin Downing MoMM 3c LCT-638 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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179k | LCT-638 loading ammunition for the Invasion of Normandy, date and location unknown. | Jeff Card for his grandfather Melvin Downing MoMM 3c LCT-638 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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116k | Scene on "Omaha" Beach soon after the "D-Day" landings, showing stranded landing craft, piles of supplies, wounded soldiers awaiting evacuation and dead soldiers awaiting burial .
LCT-199 is offshore in left center.
LCT(A)(5)-2421,
LCT-555 and
LCT-638 are on the beach in the center (listed from the middle distance to further away). An LCVP from USS Thurston (AP-77) is in the left foreground.
The photograph was received by the Naval Photo Science Laboratory, 14 June 1944, but was probably taken on or about 6 June. US National Archives photo # 80-G-252557, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives |
US Naval Historical Center web site | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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181k | LCT-638 off the Normandy beachhead, date unknown. Photo was taken from LCT-647. | Jack N, Wolslegel
 185k |
LCT-638 on the beach at Normandy while loading German Prisoner of War for transportation to England for internment, date unknown. |
Jeff Card for his grandfather Melvin Downing MoMM 3c LCT-638 |
 115k |
Laundry day aboard LCT-638 date and location unknown. |
Jeff Card for his grandfather Melvin Downing MoMM 3c LCT-638 |
 167k |
LCTs in convoy. Photo taken from LCT-638, date and location unknown. |
Jeff Card for his grandfather Melvin Downing MoMM 3c LCT-638 |
 235k |
LCT-638 partial crew photo; Steck, Melvin Downing, ENS Graham (Skipper), ENS Swartz, Butkiewicz, date and location unknown. |
Jeff Card for his grandfather Melvin Downing MoMM 3c LCT-638 |
 39k |
LCT-647 unloading Army staff cars in Normandy, date unknown. Note LCT-638 in background. |
Jack N, Wolslegel
|  135k |
LCT-638 being re-floated after sinking during storm at Normandy. Also in the photo is LCT-147. |
Jeff Card for his grandfather Melvin Downing MoMM 3c LCT-638 |
 51k |
A stern view of LCT-638 probably after being hauled out of the water at Dartmouth, date unknown.. |
Thomas J. Fowler for Francis A. LaPointe, signalman LCT-638 |
 140k |
Steck and Miller repairing the bow door of LCT-638 while in drydock at Dartmouth, date unknown. |
Jeff Card for his grandfather Melvin Downing MoMM 3c LCT-638 |
 117k |
LCT-638 after coming out of drydock at Dartmouth, date unknown. |
Jeff Card for his grandfather Melvin Downing MoMM 3c LCT-638 |
 84k |
Amphibious shipping beached on the Hungnam waterfront during the evacuation in December 1950. Ships present are (from left to right): Amphibious shipping beached on the Hungnam waterfront during the evacuation in December 1950. Ships present are (from left to right): LSU-520; LSU-638; LSU-742, two unidentified LSUs, LSU-783; and two Japanese-manned LSTs. Note the trucks and jeeps in the foreground. |
US National Archives photo # 80-G-425954, a US Navy photo now in the collects of the US National Archives US Naval Historical Center |
 120k |
LSU-638 entering the well-deck of USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) circa 1950-1952, in Korea or Japan. |
Photo by Warren G. Gilbert USN Ret. USS Gunston Hall Susan Neese |
 133k |
LSU-638 moored pierside, date and location unknown. |
Photo by Warren G. Gilbert USN Ret.USS Gunston Hall Susan Neese |
 58k |
LSU-638 beached at the ramp on Grande Island, Naval Station Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, , circa 1954-56. |
Harvey Kimbro LCU-638 |
 74k |
LSU-638 looking forward into the tank deck from the conning tower. LSU-638, LSU-1159 and an unidentified YTL are all moored at the "inner basin" Naval Station Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, circa 1954-56. |
Harvey Kimbro LCU-638 |
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There is no DANFS history for LCT-638 / LSU-638 / LCU-638 at NavSource
Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
LCU-638 at Subic Bay. Philippine Islands
The Saga of LCT 638
World War II LCT Flotillas
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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo © 2006 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved. |