Usslci.com
Title
USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association Home Page.
Description
Landing Craft Infantry were designed to deliver soldiers and marines quickly during an amphibious assault on enemy territory.LCIs and their crews proved their worth during invasions in North Africa, Italy, D-Day and in the Pacific.
Landing Craft Infantry were and are ships designed to deliver fighting troops to a beach quickly. WWII LCIs had a crew of 24-60 sailors and carried 200 soldiers, who descended from ramps on each side of the craft. They weren't designed cross-ocean travel -- yet given the urgency of wartime, they did just that, sailing from the United States to the European and Pacific Theatres. Their flat-bottom hulls were designed for beaching, which meant you felt every wave and more than one sailor and soldier ended up donating his lunch to the sea on a continuous basis.
Landing craft were 158 feet long and 23 feet 3 inches wide at the middle. The hull or skin was made of 1/4 inch steel plate. The propulsion of the ship was two sets of quad General Motors 6 cylinder diesel engines generating 3600 HP per Quad; 8 engines total.
