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Only two partially restored examples survive to remind us of one of the most iconic warships of WWII - the Landing Craft (later Ship)Infantry
The world's most widely produced ocean-going landing craft, the Landing Craft Infantry (LCI), became one of the iconic vessesls of World War II by landing hundreds of thousands of Allied troops on enemy shores. Unfortunately, only two LCIs are left intact today out of the 923 built in record time by ten American shipyards. In actuality there were several classes of seagoing amphibious assault ships used to land large numbers of infantrymen directly onto beacheheads.
Developed in response to a British request for a vessel capable of carrying and landing substantially more troops than their smaller Landing Craft Assault (LCA), the result was a small steel ship that could land 200 fully equipped troops, traveling from distant bases on its own bottom powered by bus engines.
Built starting in 1943, the LCIs were operated in flotillas by hastily trained Naval Reservists and Coast Guard crews. They served in both the Pacific and European theaters, including a number that were converted into heavily armed beach assault support ships. Commonly called "Elsie Items," the LCI(L) supplemented the smaller launch-like LCAs/LCVPs used to get many troops ashore before docks and port facilities could be captured or built.
WINSTON CHURCHILL NEEDED HELP
The LCI concept was conceived by the Royal Navy to carry 200 troops at up to 15-kts and be fully capable of snubbing its bow on an enemy beach. Since the UK's steel industry was needed for building destroyers, Prime Minister Winston Churchill decided the US should be approached. There, the plans were developed into the LCI(L) - Landing Craft Infantry (Large). The original British design was envisioned as being a "one-time use" vessel which would simply ferry the troops across the English Channel and were considered an expendable vessel. As such, no troop sleeping accommodations were placed in the original design. The troops were provided benches (similar to a ferry) upon which to sit while they were transported to their destination. This was changed shortly after initial use of these ships, when it was discovered that many missions would require overnight accommodations. Handily, the American naval architects were able to devise...