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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Chewink (MHC 19)
ex-Chewink (AMCU 19)
ex-LSI(L)-701
ex-LCI(L)-701



Call sign:
November - Papa - Zulu - India

AMCU-7 Class Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator):

  • The second Chewink was laid down 17 June 1944 by George Lawley and Son, Neponset, MA
  • Launched 24 June 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-701, 30 June 1944 under the command of LTJG Howard O. Cheney, Jr., USNR
  • Decommissioned 17 July 1946
  • Reclassified as a Landing Ship Infantry (Large), LSI(L)-701, 28 February 1949
  • Named Chewink and reclassified as a Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator), AMCU-19, 7 March 1952
  • Conversion to AMCU-19 began 21 September 1953 at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA
  • Conversion completed 2 April 1954
  • Reclassified as a Coastal Minehunter, MHC-19, 7 February 1955
  • Removed from service 1 January 1960
  • Chewink was never recommissioned
  • Acquired in 1961 by R. Lyle Golding of Garden Grove, CA and renamed Kyle Anne
  • Acquired in 1963 by Geomarine Service, Inc. of Dallas, TX
  • Operated in 1969 under the Bahrainian flag
  • Fate unknown.

    LCI Specifications:

  • Displacement 216 t.(light), 234 t.(landing), 389 t.(loaded)
  • Length 158' 5½"
  • Beam 23' 3"
  • Draft, Light 3'1½" mean, Landing, 2' 8" forward, 41'10" aft, Landing, 5'4"forward, 5'11" aft
  • Speed 16 kts. (max.), 14 kts. maximum continuous
  • Complement 23
  • Troop Capacity 188
  • Cargo Capacity 75 t.
  • 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
  • Armament: Four 20mm guns one forward, one amidship, two aft, later added two .50 cal. machine guns
  • Propulsion: Eight 800bhp General Motors 6-71 diesel engines, four per shaft, two shafts, variable pitch propellers.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image
    Size Image Description Source
    USS LCI(L)-701
    Chewink 364k Off San Francisco, CA with the Golden Gate Bridge behind her Robert Morrssey
    Chewink 367k LCI(L)-701 Action Report dated 5 March 1945
    Chewink
    Chewink 52k Namesake: Chewink - The common towhee finch of eastern North America Tommy Trampp
    Photo added 9 March 2020

    View the Chewink (MHC 19)
    DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command website
    Back to the Main Photo Index Back to the Mine Warfare Ship Photo Index Back to the Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator) - (AMCU) Photo Index Back to the Coastal Minehunter - (MHC) Photo Index Back to the Amphibious Ship Index Back to the Landing Ship Infantry (LSI) Photo Index

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