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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Landing Craft Tank
LCT(5)-63

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right, top to bottom
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal
Landing Craft Tank (Mark 5):
  • Laid down, 10 October 1942, at Kansas City Structural Steel Co. Kansas City, KS.
  • Delivered in three section, 18 October 1942, for trans-shipping to Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA. for assembly
  • Launched and placed in service at Mare Island Navy Yard, 1 November 1942
  • During World War II LCT(5)-63 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LCT Flotilla Five, LCDR Paul A. Wells;
     LCT Group Thirteen;
     LCT Division Twenty Six and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Capture and defense of Guadalcanal, 10 October 1942 to 8 February 1943 New Georgia Group operations
    New Georgia-Rendova-Vangunu occupation, 30 June 1943
    Consolidation of Solomon Islands
    Consolidation of southern Solomons, 7 April 1943     		Treasury-Bougainville operation
    Occupation and defense of Cape Torokina, 1 November to 15 December 1943

  • Placed out of service, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 8 January 1946
  • LCT(5)-63 earned four battle stars for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, hulk 30 November 1945
    Specifications:
    Displacement 285 t.(fl)
    Length 114' 2" (o.a.)
    Beam 32' 8"
    Draft
    limiting 3' 6"
    max.navigational 3' 6"
    Speed 10 kts.
    Range 700 nautical miles at 7 kts.
    Complement
    1 officer
    10 enlisted
    Cargo Capacity 150 short tons
    Armament
    two single 20mm AA gun mounts
    two .50 cal. machine guns
    Armor
    wheelhouse 2 1/2"
    gun shields 2"
    Fuel Capacity Diesel 80 Bbls
    Propulsion
    three Grey Marine 6-71 Diesel engines
    one Diesel-drive 20Kw 120V. D.C. Ships' service generator
    three propellers, 675shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LCT-63
    1018006309    		 253k LCT(5)-63 beaches to be loaded with supplies, prior to assault on Rendova; Yellow Beach, Banika Island, Russell Island group, 29 June 1943.
    U.S Army Signal Corps photo #161-43-33-18-9S159E. US National Archives and Records Administration; World War II Operations Reports - Pacific Theater: 31-001_2 page 55. National Archives (NAID 402629995). Colorized for detail.    		 David Upton
    LCT-63
    1018006310    		 330k View taken LCT(5)-63, Yellow Beach Banika Island of the Russell Island Group, 29 June 1943, showing men of the 2nd Battalion , 103rd Infantry Regiment, 43rd Division loading supplies for embarkation.
    U.S Army Signal Corps photograph 161-43-657-9S159E. Mulholland. National Archives; World War II Operations Reports - Pacific Theater: 31-001_2 page 57. National Archives Identifier     		David Upton
    LCT-63
    1018006308    		 230k Taken from beach showing men of Hq Company, 2nd. Battalion, 103rd Infantry Regiment, 43rd Division, loading impedimenta on LCT(5)-63 at Yellow Beach, Banaka Island of the Russell Island group, 29 June 1943.
    U.S Army Signal Corps photo#161-43-655-9S159E, Mulholland. National Archives; World War II Operations Reports - Pacific Theater: 31-002_1 page 36. National Archives Identifier (NAID 402630238). Colorized for detail.    		 David Upton
    LCT-63
    1018006307    		 294k LCT(5)-63, 29 June 1943, upon completion of loading with equipment belonging to 2nd. Battalion, 103rd Infantry Regiment, 43rd Division, and 70th Coast Artillery AA. at Bankika Island of the Russell Island group.
    U.S Army Signal Corps photo #161-43-661-9S159E, Mulholland. National Archives; World War II Operations Reports - Pacific Theater: 31-002_1 page 36. US National Archives and Records Administration Identifier (NAID 402630238). Colorized for detail.    		 David Upton
    LCT-63
    1018006303    		 325k LCT(5)-63 crew on the Renard Channel, west end of Kukurana Island, north of Rendova Island, New Georgia Islands. 23 July 1943.
    TimeLife_Image_116110518 by William C. Shrout, Life Magazine. For personal non-commercial use only.    		 David Upton
    LCT-63
    1018006302
    TL 116110521    		 412k LCT(5)-63 loading a M3 Stuart light tank on the Renard Channel, west end of Kukurana Island, north of Rendova Island, New Georgia Islands. 23 July 1943.
    TimeLife_Image_116110521 and TimeLife_Image_116110519 by William C. Shrout, Life Magazine. For personal non-commercial use only.    		 David Upton
    LCT-63
    1018006306
    TL 116110519    		 641k
    LCT-63
    1018006304    		 381k LCT(5)-63 loading up for the return trip in support of the New Georgia Campaign. Renard Channel, west end of Kukurana Island, north of Rendova Island, New Georgia Islands. 23 July 1943.
    TimeLife_Image_116110515 by William C. Shrout, Life Magazine. For personal non-commercial use only.    		 David Upton
    LCT-63
    1018006305    		 429k LCT(5)-63 pulling away from the beach in the Renard Channel, west end of Kukurana Island, north of Rendova Island, New Georgia Islands, 23 July 1943.
    TimeLife_Image_116110499 by by William C. Shrout, Life Magazine. For personal non-commercial use only.    		 David Upton
    LCT-63
    1018006301    		 421k LCT(5)-63 underway in the Renard Channel, west end of Kukurana Island, north of Rendova Island, New Georgia Islands, 23 July 1943.
    TimeLife_Image_116110500 by by William C. Shrout, Life Magazine. For personal non-commercial use only.    		 David Upton
    LCT-63
    1018006313    		 204k LCT(5)-63 beached at Boram, New Guinea, 13 October 1945, while loading 6th Division Royal Australian Army troops to be transported to HMAS Katoomba for return home to Australia.
    Australian War Memorial, Accession Number 097863. Public Domain.    		 David Upton
    LCT-63
    1018006312    		 177k LCT(5)-63 and LCT(5)-64 (foreground) at Boram, New Guinea, 13 October 1945, unloading Australian troops to HMAS Katoomba to be transported home to Australia.
    Australian War Memorial, Accession Number 097876. Public Domain.    		 David Upton
    LCT-63
    1018006314    		 246k LCT(5)-63 on the beach at Boram, New Guinea, 26 October 1945 to embark the 67th Infantry Battalion, Australian Army, being assembled for departure on LCT's to transport HMAS Manoora (F-48).
    Australian War Memorial, Accession Number 098331. Public Domain.    		 David Upton
    LCT-63
    1018006311    		 205k LCT(5)-63 is in the background at Boram, New Guinea, 26 October 1945, as three Australian officers check departure paperwork, Left to right; CAPT. B. Wade, Sub-LT. J.M. McGuire, and Major B.R. Paterson.
    Australian War Memorial, Accession Number 098329. Public Domain    		 David Upton
    There is no history available for LCT(5)-63 at NavSource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    World War II LCT Flotillas
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 25 April 2025