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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Landing Craft Tank LCT-709
Landing Ship Utility LSU-709
Landing Craft Utility LCU-709
Harbor Utility Craft YFU-57

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation (Vietnam-1 July 1971 to 30 April 972)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal (5) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Landing Craft Tank (Mark 6) / YFU-1 Class Harbor Utility Craft:
  • Laid down, 10 November 1943 at Pidgeon-Thomas Iron Co., Memphis, TN.
  • Launched, 26 December1943
  • Delivered and placed in service, 11 January 1944
  • Transported to Plymouth, U.K. in April 1944 by LST-510
  • During World War II LCT-709 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the:
    European Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Invasion of Normandy, June 1944 .

  • Redesignated Landing Craft Utility LSU-709 in 1949
  • Redesignated Landing Craft Utility LCU-709, 15 April 1956
  • Reclassified Harbor Utility Craft (YFU-57), 1 March 1966
  • During the Vietnam War YFU-57 participated in the following campaigns:
    European Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Sanctuary Counteroffensive Consolidation II
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII Vietnamese Ceasefire
    Consolidation I .

  • Placed out of service (date unknown)
  • Final Disposition, disposed of by transfer to the General Service Administration in 1976
  • LCT-709 earned one battle star for World War II service and as YFU-57 earned five campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 143 to 160 t.(lt), 309 to 320 t.(fl)
    Length 119' 1" (o.a.)
    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 Contributed
    By
    LCT-709
    LCT-709 138k A tow of 6 LCT's, being delivered down river from their builder, Pidgeon-Thomas Iron Co., Memphis, TN., for outfitting by the Navy at New Orleans, LA. circa May 1944. Visible are LCT-709, LCT-710, LCT-712, LCT-713, LCT-714, the sixth landing craft is presumed to be LCT-711.
    LCT-709 was transported to the United Kingdom on LST-510 for the Normandy invasion.    		 Paul Samaras
    LCT-709 335k Another view of the same tow of 6 LCT's, being delivered down river from their builder, Pidgeon-Thomas Iron Co., Memphis, TN., for outfitting by the Navy at New Orleans, LA. in May 1944. Visible are: LCT-709, LCT-710, LCT-712, LCT-713, LCT-714. LCT-711 is presumed to be the sixth LCT in this tow. This photo appeared in a National Geographic Magazine article, issue date unknown Paul Samaras
    LCT-709 253k LCT-709 off the invasion beaches at Normandy circa June 1944 Paul Samaras
    LCT-709 38k A close up of the above photo of LCT-709 off of the Normandy beaches Paul Samaras
    YFU-57
    LCT-709 119k YFU-57 and Winnemucca (YTB-785) moored at Nha Be Vietnam, circa 1971 © Richard Leonhardt
    LCT-709 60k YFU-57 underway in Da Nang Harbor, 1969 Steve Wetzler
    There is no DANFS history available for LCT-709 / YFU-57 at NavSource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    World War II LCT Flotillas
    Mobile Riverine Force Association
    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 11 August 2006