NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Kestrel (MHC 26)
ex-Kestral (AMCU 26)
ex-LSI(L)-874

Call sign:
November - Xray - Golf - Quebec

---

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 two officer, 21 enlisted; Troop Capacity, six 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 12 kts, loaded, 500 miles at 15 knots; and 110 tons of fuel; Armament four single 20mm guns one forward, one amidship, two aft, later added two .50 cal. machine guns; Fuel Capacity, 130 tons, lube oil 200 gal.; Propulsion two sets of four General Motors diesels, 4 per shaft, 1,600 bhp, twin variable pitch propellers.

Click on thumbnail for full size image	Size	Image Description		Source
	74k	c. September 1945 Palau Islands From the collection of Joseph C. Ritchotte, MoMM2/c		Thomas A. Jarvis
	121k	c. September 1945 Palau Islands Top row, sixth from the right is MoMM2/c Joseph C. Ritchotte. From the collection of Joseph C. Ritchotte, MoMM2/c		Thomas A. Jarvis

---

Following shakedown and training off the Atlantic coast, LCI(L)-874 departed Key West 25 November for the Pacific. She engaged in additional training after arriving San Diego 13 December. Departing 29 January 1945, she touched Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Guam before arriving Peleliu 12 April. She performed picket and patrol duty in the Palau Islands during the remaining months of World War II.

From September 1945 to February 1946, LCI(L)-874 operated between the Palau and Mariana Islands, providing mail and shuttle service among the Islands. Departing Eniwetok 4 February she arrived San Pedro, Calif., 1 month later. Sailing to Oregon in May LCI(L)-874 decommissioned there 10 July 1946 and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

She was reclassified and named Kestrel (AMCU-26) 7 March 1952; then recommissioned 8 February 1954, Lt. Gurley P. Chatelain in command. After shakdown and training, she arrived San Diego 27 March for operations in the 11th Naval District. From 1954 to 1957, Kestrel operated out of San Diego on underwater mine location exercises. She was reclassified MHC-26 in February 1955. Kestrel decommissioned at San Diego 2 December 1957. She was sold to Murphy Marine Service on 28 June 1960.