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Landing Craft Infantry




The first LCIs appeared during the Second World War entering service in 1943 chiefly with the Royal Navy and U.S. Navy . Early models were capable of carrying 180 troops, this was raised to 210 later. Craft in service with the two navies had some variation according to national preferences. Some 1100 LCI were built in American yards and provided under lend-lease to the Allies. In Royal Navy service they were known as "HM LCI(L)-( Pennant Number )"

In February 1949, the U.S. reclassified all LCIs as "Landing Ship Infantry" (LSI).


DESIGN


The hull was relatively long and narrow. The deck was wider than the prow and two gangways either side gave onto a pair of ramps that could be lowered down onto the beach. The troops would dismbark down these. The steepness and narrowness of the ramps would have made the LCI impractical for landing troops as part of an initial assault against a defended beach and they were reserved for the follow up waves.


VARIANTS

As with the Landing Craft, Tank , the LCI was used as the basis of a number of conversions into specialist vessels.

  • LCI(R) - Rocket; a platform for six 5-inch rocket launchers

  • LCI(G) - Gunboat; two 40 mm guns, six .50 inch machine guns and ten MK7 rocket launchers added to the existing armament

  • LCI(M) - Mortar

  • LC(FF) - Flotilla Flagship




SPECIFICATION

LCI (1)

  • Displacement:

  • :Normal: 234 tons

:Loaded: 389 tons
  • Length: 158 ft 6 inches

  • Beam: 23 ft 3 in.

  • Draft:

  • :Loaded: 5 ft 4 in to 5 ft 11 in (aft)

  • Speed 16 knots maximum

  • Crew:3 Officers and 21 other ranks

  • Armament: typically 4 Oerlikon 20mm Cannon for anti-aircraft defence (one forward, one amidships, two aft)

  • Armour: splinter protection for guns, pilot house

  • Endurance: 4,000 miles at 12 kts

  • Propulsion: two sets of 4 GM Diesel Engine s, 2 shafts, 1,600 bhp