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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

USS Sparrow (MHC-42)
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 USS Sparrow (AMCU-42) (1952 - 1954)
USS LSIL-1098 (1949 - 1952)
USS LCI(L)-1098 (1944 - 1949)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Zulu - Uniform - Xray
 NZUX
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal
LCI(L)-641 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large) / AMCU-7 Class Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator):
  • Laid down, 4 October 1944, by the Defoe Shipbuilding Co., Bay City, MI.
  • Launched, 17 October 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-1098, 23 October 1944, LTjg. E.L. Fitch USNR in command (May 1945)
  • During World War II LCI(L)-1098 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LCI Flotilla Five, CDR. M.V. Milton;
     LCI Group Fifteen, LCDR. E.S. Dulcan;
     LCT Division Twenty-Nine
  • Decommissioned, 5 June 1946, at Green Cove Springs, FL.
  • Reclassified a Landing Ship Infantry (Large) LSIL-1098, 28 February 1949
  • Named Sparrow and reclassified Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator) AMCU-42, 7 March 1952
  • Recommissioned USS Sparrow (AMCU 42), 23 October 1953
  • Redesignated Coastal Minehunter MHC-42, 7 February 1955
  • Decommissioned, 12 April 1955
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 January 1960
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    LCI(L) 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
    Diesel 860 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
    LCIL-1098 75k USS LCI(L)-1098 moored pierside, date and location unknown. Earl F. Swain Flotilla 5 Group 14 staff
    George Murray
    USS LCI(L)-1098/USS Sparrow (AMCU-42)
    History of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Fitch, E. L., USNR 1945 -  
    Joe Radigan
    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
    Naval Minewarfare Association
    Association of Minemen
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back to The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back to The Landing Ship Infantry (LSI) Photo Index Back To The Mine Warfare Ship Photo Index Back to The Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator) - (AMCU) Photo Index
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    This page created by Joseph M. Radigan and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 5 July 2019