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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LCI(L)-581


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Bravo - Romeo
 NPBR

USS LCI(L)-581 was manned by the Navy in the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and by the Coast Guard in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - Coast Guard Unit Commendation - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

LCI(L)-581 was transferred to Argentina and named ARA BDI No.9 (Q-62)
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 26 february 1944, at New Jersey Shipbuilding Corp., Barber, N.J.
  • Launched, 23 March 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-581, 30 March 1944, LTjg. Ralph F. Mulligan, USNR, in command
  • Succeeding Commanding Officers
    ENS. J.H. Gefaell, USNR - 30 September 1944 - 16 January 1945
    LTjg. William T. Allen, USCGR - 16 January 1945 - 23 September 1945
    LTjg. Seymour L. Treib, USCGR - 23 September 1945 - 20 December 1945
    LTjg. Charles A. Rice, USCGR - 20 December 1945 - 20 March 1946
  • During World War II USS LCI(L)-581 was assigned to the Europe-Africa Middle EAst Theater and participated in the:
    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Invasion of southern France, 15 August to 23 November 1944
  • Returned to the US in early December 1944 for repairs and overhaul prior to assignment to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater LCI Flotilla 35
  • Crew replaced by an all Coast Guard crew, 10 January 1945, LTjg. William T. Allen, USCGR, in command
  • Departed Norfolk, 19 January 1945, for San Diego via Key West and Canal Zone
  • Upon arrival at San Diego, USS LCI(L)-581 was attached to Commander, Training Command, Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet for training and final availability at the Naval Repair Base, San Diego, CA.
  • Departed San Diego, 20 April 1945, for Guam via Peal Harbor, and Eniwetok, arriving, 26 May 1945
  • At Guam USS LCI(L)-581 was assigned to Air-Sea Rescue duty, until 11 July 1945
  • Ordered to Eniwetok for ferry service between Eniwetok and surrounding atolls and islands
  • Ordered to report to San Pedro, CA. for decommissioning, USS LCI(L)-581 departed Eniwetok, 24 November 1945, via Pearl Harbor and San Diego, arriving 15 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, 20 March 1946, at San Pedro, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register in 1946
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 18 February 1948
  • Transferred to the government of Argentina, redesignated ARA BDI No.9 (Q-62) in 1948
  • Final Disposition, disposed of by the Argentine Navy in 1957, fate unknown
  • USS LCI(L)-581 received one battle star for World War II service
    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
    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 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
    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 Contributed
    By
    LCI(L)-581 203k LCIs moored at Bizerte, Tunisia, circa May 1944. From left to right front row:
    USS LCI(L)-586
    USS LCI(L)-589
    USS LCI(L)-583
    USS LCI(L)-581
    USS LCI(L)-951
    USS LCI(L)-582
    LCIs left to right back row:
    Four unidentified LCIs
    USS LCI(L)-671
    USS LCI(L)-670
    USS LCI(L)-669
    USS LCI(L)-672
    USS LCI(L)-528
    		 Photo by Robert W. Van Keuren CO USS LCI(L)-665
    LCI(L)-582 73k USS LCI(L)-581 and USS LCI(L)-582 docked pierside at Mers-El-Kebir, Algeria, circa May 1943 George C. Weisert USS LCI(L)-582
    LCI(L)-581 44k USS LCI(L)-581, at anchor in San Francisco Bay in 1946 Submitted by Roald Lokken for his father,
    Sigurd T. Lokken,
    Petty Officer 2nd Class, Radio Electrician. (1926-1991) USS LSM-206
    LCI(L)-581 60k USS LCI(L)-581, at anchor in San Francisco Bay in 1946 Submitted by Roald Lokken for his father,
    Sigurd T. Lokken,
    Petty Officer 2nd Class, Radio Electrician. (1926-1991) USS LSM-206
    The history for USS LCI(L)-581 is from "The Coast Guard At War, Transports and Escorts, Volume II"
    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
    US Coast Guard Historian's Office - USS LCI(L)-581
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 19 September 2008