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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LC(FF)-370
ex
 USS LCI(L)-370 (1943 - 1944)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Hotel - Whiskey
 NIHW
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 11 August 1943, at George Lawley & Sons, Neponset, MA .
  • Launched, 8 September 1943
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-370, 13 September 1943
  • Reclassified Landing Craft (Flotilla Flagship) LC(FF)-370, 31 December 1944
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-370 / LC(FF)-370 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater as flotilla flagship for LCI(R) Flotilla 16, consisting of 34 LCI(R)s, CDR. Clarence E. Coffin, USN, in command and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 26 March to 30 June 1945
  • Following World War II USS LC(FF)-370 performed occupation duty in the Far East, 2 to 25 September and China service from 30 September to 15 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 9 March 1948 for disposal
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • USS LC(FF)-370 earned one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 236 t.(light), 264 t.(landing), 419 t.(loaded)
    Length 158' 5½"
    Beam 23' 3"
    Draft Light, 3'1½" mean, Landing, 2' 8" forward, 4' 10" aft, Loaded, 5' 4" forward, 5' 11" aft
    Speed 16 kts (max.), 14 kts maximum continuous
    Complement 4 officers, 24 enlisted
    Troop Capacity 6 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 five single 20mm guns, one bow mounted, one each port and starboard forward of wheelhouse, one each port and starboard aft of wheelhouse, on some LCIs two .50 cal machine guns were added
    Fuel Capacity 130 tons, lube oil 200 gal.
    Propulsion two sets of 4 GM diesels, 4 per shaft, BHP 1,600, twin variable pitch propellers
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    LCI(L)-370 141k USS LCI(L)-370 beached, date and location unknown.
    This photo is on display at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. in their permanent exhibits.    		 USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association's "The Elsie Item." Issue #46, October 2003.
    LCI(L)-370 221k LCI(R) Flotilla 16 staff man the radio room aboard (seated, foreground, left is S. Cranke RM3/c, R.A. Klotz S1/c and standing left H.H. Klcempke S1/c and standing closer and center left E.J. Grover CRM and George Weber RM1/c)USS LC(FF)-370 during General Quarters, while off the invasion beaches at Okinawa, circa March-June 1945.
    US National Archives photo # 311701.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-370 182k LCI(R) Flotilla 16 staff go over the maps of Okinawa while aboard USS LC(FF)-370 off the invasion beaches at Okinawa, circa March-June 1945.
    US National Archives photo # 311702.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-370 214k CDR Clarence E. Coffin briefs LCI(R) Flotilla 16 staff officers aboard USS LC(FF)-370 while off the invasion beaches at Okinawa, circa March-June 1945. Left to right; Ltjg A.W. Hamba, LT. Frank H. Tinkler, LTjg Herbert M. Dickey, Ens. Eadon F. Keith, LTjg Robert E Gibson and CDR. Coffin seated. Standing right is LTjg Floyd V Turner, Ens J.C. Jones and LT james W. Menofee.
    US National Archives photo # 311702.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-370 121k CDR Coffin LCI(R) Flotilla 16 aboard USS LC(FF)-370 while off the invasion beaches at Okinawa, circa March-June 1945.
    US National Archives photo # 311706.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-370 172k USS LC(FF)-370 with LCI(R) Flotilla 16 aboard underway off the invasion beaches at Okinawa, circa March-June 1945.
    US National Archives photo # 311707.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-370 183k View looking aft over the stern of USS LC(FF)-370 with all guns manned while underway off the invasion beaches at Okinawa, circa March-June 1945. LCI(R) Flotilla 16 aboard.
    US National Archives photo # 311708.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-370 202k View looking toward the bow of USS LC(FF)-370 with all guns manned while underway off the invasion beaches at Okinawa, circa March-June 1945. LCI(R) Flotilla 16 aboard.
    US National Archives photo # 311712.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-370 121k USS LC(FF)-370, portside 20mm waist gun, Loader Jack Oosterbaan S1c, Pointer J. Harding S1c manned and ready during General Quarters while underway off the invasion beaches at Okinawa, circa March-June 1945. LCI(R) Flotilla 16 aboard.
    US National Archives photo # 311713.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-370 153k LTjg Edward P. Herald mans the bridge aboard USS LC(FF)-370 during General Quarters while underway off the invasion beaches at Okinawa, circa March-June 1945. LCI(R) Flotilla 16 aboard.
    US National Archives photo # 311714.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-370 184k USS LC(FF)-370 underway off the invasion beaches at Okinawa, circa March-June 1945. LCI(R) Flotilla 16 aboard.
    US National Archives photo # 311715.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-370 146k USS LC(FF)-370 underway off the invasion beaches at Okinawa, circa March-June 1945. LCI(R) Flotilla 16 aboard. Note the LCIs in the foreground firing rockets.
    US National Archives photo # 311716.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-370 233k USS LC(FF)-370 crew member takes time to eat and drink something while at General Quarters aboard USS LC(FF)-370 underway off the invasion beaches at Okinawa, circa March-June 1945. LCI(R) Flotilla 16 aboard.
    US National Archives photo # 311717.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-370 151k Okinawa invasion seen from USS LC(FF)-370 left to right A. Chipolus, John A. Baker and Ens. Harold C.F. Elm., circa March-June 1945.
    US National Archives photo # 311718.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-370 163k Looking aft toward the conning tower and superstructure of USS LC(FF)-370 while underway off the invasion beaches of Okinawa, circa March-June 1945. Note the large array of antennas needed to support LCI(R) Flotilla 16 staff.
    US National Archives photo # 311719.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-370 204k L-R LCI(R) Flotilla 16 staff members; Edwin Williams PhoM3c, Ted Darby SK1c, Robert Kremer CPhM aboard USS LC(FF)-370 while underway off the invasion beaches of Okinawa, circa March-June 1945.
    US National Archives photo # 311720.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    LCI(L)-370 139k LCI(R) Flotilla 16 staff aboard USS LC(FF)-370 while underway off the invasion beaches of Okinawa, circa March-June 1945.
    US National Archives photo # 311721.    		 Jerry Gilmartin MMC(SW) USN Ret. Secretary AFMM LCI 713, Curator PT-658 Save the PT Boat Inc, courtesy Dennis Blocker LCI National Association Historian
    The history for USS LCI(L)-370 / LC(FF)-370 is from USS LCI "Landing Craft Infantry", Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1995. (ISBN 1-56311-262-0)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 28 August 2009