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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive
Magpie (MHC 29)
ex-Magpie (AMCU 29)
ex-LSI(L)-944
AMCU-7 Class Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator): Laid down, 15 January 1944 by the Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd., Orange, TX; Launched, 10 February 1944; Commissioned USS LSI(L)-944, 14 April 1944; Named Magpie and reclassified as a Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator),
AMCU-29, 7 March 1952; Conversion to AMCU-29 began 15 October 1953 at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, SC; Conversion completed, 15 April 1954; Reclassified as a Coastal Minehunter, MHC-29, 1 February 1955; Magpie was never recommissioned; Sold, 18 May 1960 to Randolph Mattson; Struck from the Naval Register, 1 January 1961; Sold to the Tropicana Products Co., La Ceiba, Honduras and renamed Abaco Trader; Still in service in 1981. 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 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.
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Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships History: LSIL-944 was reclassified AMc(U)-29 and named Magpie 7 March 1952. Assigned to the 15th Naval District, Magpie served off the Panama Canal Zone until she decommissioned in January 1954 and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Green Cove Springs, Fla. Reclassified MHC-29 on 1 February 1955, Magpie was struck from the Navy list 1 January 1961 after being sold to Rudolph Mattson 18 May 1960.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Naval Minewarfare Association
Association of Minemen
USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association
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© 2005 Joseph M. Radigan © 1996 - 2005 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
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