USS LCI(L)-90 was an amphibious assault ship manned by a United States Coast Guard crew.[1] She was commissioned in 1943 and was used to land troops in the landings on French North Africa, Sicily and Anzio in 1943, and at Omaha Beach during the Invasion of Normandy in 1944. She participated in the invasion of Okinawa, where she was attacked by a Japanese kamikaze fighter.[2][3] Her two commanding officers were both Lieutenant junior grade, of the Coast Guard.[3] William Trump a seaman who volunteered to go ashore before the troops, at Omaha Beach, and lay out a cable through a safe path to shore, was awarded a Silver Star.[1] According to a soldier who landed from LCI-90 during the Invasion of Normandy, the vessel's doors were damaged by enemy fire.[4] During the Invasion of Okinawa LCI-90 was damaged by a kamikaze, after she had landed her soldiers, and one seaman was killed.[3]
 USS LCI(L)-90
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name |
|
| Builder | Consolidated Steel Shipyard, Orange, Texas |
| Laid down | October 1942 |
| Launched | December 1942 |
| Commissioned | 6 February 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 8 April 1946 |
| Stricken | Unknown |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 13 November 1947 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Landing Craft Infantry |
| Displacement | 216 t.(light), 234 t.(landing), 389 t.(loaded) |
| Length | 158 ft 5.5 in (48.298 m) |
| Beam | 23 ft 3 in (7.09 m) |
| Draft |
|
| Propulsion | 2 sets of 4 General Motors diesels, 4 per shaft, BHP 1,600, twin variable pitch propellers |
| Speed |
|
| Endurance | 4,000 miles at 12 knots, loaded, 500 miles at 15 knots; and 110 tons of fuel |
| Capacity | 75 tons cargo |
| Troops | 6 Officers, 182 Enlisted |
| Complement | 3 officers, 21 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Armor | 2" plastic splinter protection on gun turrets, conning tower, and pilot house |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Connie Braesch (2010-11-09). "Coast Guard Heroes: William Trump". United States Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 2012-09-03.
- ^
"The History of USS Current". 2010-05-14. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
While offloading troops during the assault on Okinawa at White Beach, the infantry landing craft LCI-90 was hit by enemy fire. A large explosion at the water line near the engine room tore a hole in the starboard side causing LCI-90 to settle to the bottom. At 1011 on June 4 after LCI-90 was re-floated, the landing craft moored to Current to have damage cut away and to have emergency repairs completed. By 1945, LCI-90 departed Current for the night.
- ^
Sandra Stewart Holyoak (1996-05-31). "Baier, Harold L." Rutgers University. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
I crossed on the [LCI]-90. [LCI]-91 and [LCI]-92 were sunk. ... We had our ramps blown off. They had to transfer to a rubber raft and that's how I got on the beach.
External links
edit- http://www.usslci.com
- "Landing Craft, Infantry (Large) - LCI(L)" Shipbuilding History. Retrieved 2010-02-02.