Landing Craft Infantry

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The Landing craft, Infantry, Large or LCI (L) was an amphibious assault ship for landing large numbers of infantry directly onto beaches.

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).

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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

The LCI(G) variant was used for the basis of the LCS(L) class of Landing Craft Support ships. The same hull was used and more armament was added, but the troop carrying capability was removed.

[edit] 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 engines, 2 shafts, 1,600 bhp