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USS LCI(L)-326

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LCI-326 during training for D-Day
USS LCI(L)-326 during training for D-Day
History
United States
NameUSS LCI(L)-326
BuilderBrown Shipbuilding, Orange, Texas
Laid down22 December 1942
Launched2 February 1943
Commissioned15 February 1943, as USS LCI(L)-326
DecommissionedMay 1946
Stricken1946
Honors and
awards
4 battle stars & Coast Guard Unit Commendation (World War II)
FateTransferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 2 February 1948
General characteristics
Class and typeLCI(L)-351 class large landing craft
Displacement
  • 216 long tons (219 t) light
  • 234 long tons (238 t) landing
  • 389 long tons (395 t) loaded
Length158 ft 5.5 in (48.3 m)
Beam23 ft 3 in (7.1 m)
Draft
  • Light :
  • 3 ft 1.5 in (0.95 m) mean
  • Landing :
  • 2 ft 8 in (0.81 m) forward
  • 4 ft 10 in (1.47 m) aft
  • Loaded :
  • 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) forward
  • 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) aft
Propulsion
Speed15.5 knots (28.7 km/h; 17.8 mph)
Range
  • 4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) loaded
  • 500 nmi (930 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Capacity75 tons cargo
Troops188
Complement4 Officers, 24 Enlisted
Armament
Armor2-inch (51 mm) plastic splinter protection on gun turrets, conning tower and pilot house

USS LCI(L)-326 was an LCI(L)-351-class landing craft infantry built for the United States Coast Guard during World War II. Like most ships of her class, she was not named and was known only by her designation. She participated in numerous battles throughout the war, and successfully landed troops through the Mediterranean, European, and Pacific Theaters.[1]

Service history

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After launching from Austin, Texas, LCI(L)-326 aided in the Occupation of Tunisia in June of 1943, and shortly thereafter participated in both Operation Husky and Operation Avalanche, landing troops in Sicily and Salerno from July to September of 1943.[2] The next six months were spent preparing for the Normandy Landings of June 6, 1944, when the ship and its crew successfully landed troops of the VII Corps on Utah Beach. After making multiple landings under constant enemy fire and securing the Cotentin Peninsula, the Landing Craft's commanding officer Lieutenant Samuel W. Allison was granted a Silver Star.[3] After repairs and a change of crew LCI(L)-326 was used to create smoke screens and deliver messages during the Battle of Okinawa in Japan from May to September of 1945.[4]

After returning to the United States in March of 1946, the landing craft received four Battle Stars and a Coast Guard Unit Commendation before being decommissioned later that year and sold for disposal in 1948.[5]

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

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Four Battle Stars, World War II
Combat Action Ribbon
American Campaign Medal
European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Navy Occupation Service Medal (Asia)

Individual Honors

[edit]
Silver Star, Lt. Samuel W. Allison, 6 June 1944 at Normandy

References

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  1. ^ "HyperWar: The Coast Guard at War--5.2: Transports". www.ibiblio.org. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  2. ^ "Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-326". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  3. ^ "LT Samuel Whips Allison". www.militaryhallofhonor.com. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  4. ^ "USS LCI(L)-326". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  5. ^ The Coast Guard At War. V. Transports and Escorts. Vol. 2 (2nd ed.). Washington: Public Information Division, Historical Section, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters: U.S. Coast Guard. May 1, 1949. pp. 117–130.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)