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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(G)-437
ex
 USS LCI(L)-437 (1943 - 1944)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Uniform - Lima
 NKUL
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive-Iwo Jima, 19 to 26 Feb. 1945) - Navy Unit Commendation
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 23 April 1943, at New Jersey Shipbuilding Corp., Barber, N.J.
  • Launched, 17 July 1943
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-437, 31 July 1943, LTjg. W. B. Watkins Jr. in command
  • Designation changed to Landing Craft Infantry (Gunboat) LCI(G)-437, 15 June 1944
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-437 / LCI(G)-437 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LCI Flotilla Three CDR. R. Eikel Jr. USNR;
    LCI Group Nine, LCDR. C. J. Starkus USN (Ret);
    LCI Division Eighteen and participated in the and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to 8 February 1944     		Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 to 26 February 1945
    Marianas operation;
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 23 July to 12 August 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operation;
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 21 to 30 June 1945
  • Decommissioned in 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 25 February 1946
  • USS LCI(L)-437 / LCI(G)-437 earned four battle stars for World War II service in addition to the Navy Unit Commendation as a member of LCI(G) Flotilla 3 (31 January to 28 July 1944) for Occupation of Kwajalein and Eniwetok Atolls in the Marshall Islands and Capture and occupation of Saipan, Guam and Tinian in the Marianas
  • Sold, 2 December 1946, buyer unknown
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 246 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
    LCI(L) Complement
    4 Officers
    24 Enlisted
    LCI(G) Complement
    5 Officers
    65 Enlisted
    LCI(L) Troop Capacity
    6 Officers
    182 Enlisted
    LCI(L) 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 kts; and 110 tons of fuel
    LCI(L) 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
    LCI(G) Armament
    two 40mm AA gun mounts
    four 20mm AA gun mounts
    six .50cal machine guns
    ten MK7 rocket launchers
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 800 Bbls
    lube oil 200 gal
    Propulsion
    two sets of 4 General Motors 6051 series 71 Diesel engines, 4 per shaft
    single General Motors Main reduction gears
    two Diesel-drive 30Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    twin variable pitch propellers, 2,320shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    LCI(L)-437 91k USS LCI(G)-437 pulls wreckage off the beach at Iwo Jima in March 1945 after the initial invasion.
    US National Archives photo 127-GW-112135, a US Marine Corps photo now in the custody of the National Archives in College Park, MD.    		 Tracy White
    LCI(L)-437
    1015043702    		 123k USS LCI(G)-437 coming alongside USS Putnam (DD-757). Photo labeling suggests LCI(G)-437 was being used to shift personnel, cargo, and mail around an Okinawa anchorage, Summer 1945. Photo from the George Hansen Putnam set. John Chiquonie
    LSM-330 94k USS LCI(G)-437 and USS LSM-330 being assisted by two harbor tugs while entering USS ABSD-6 for dry docking at Apra Harbor, Guam, Marianas Islands, 5 June 1946.
    US Navy photo # 379476.    		 USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LCI(G)-345
    1015034504    		 503k USS LCI(G)-345
    USS LCI(G)-346
    USS LCI(G)-449
    USS LCI(G)-437
    USS LCI(G)-348
    USS LC(FF)-423
    alongside USS Seaward (IX-209) and LCT(6)-1314 at anchor in the far distant background at Naval Station Guam in July 1945.
    TimeLife_image 115952714 by J. R. Eyerman. Life Magazine. For personal non-commercial use only.     		David Upton
    The history for LCI(L)-437 / LCI(G)-437 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
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 5 November 2021