Life on an LCI was not a long-term deployment. These ships were specially designed from lessons learned in the ill-fated Allied raid on Dieppe, France in August 1942 and were used for carrying troops to beachheads during invasions. Nicknamed “Water Bugs by one admiral, who likened them to the insect because of the way they would scurry around ferrying troops from large transport vessels to landing sites. Small platoons would cram themselves into these boats, which would get close enough to shore to lower a gangway on either side of the vessel to the beach. Because these side gangways exposed troops to heavy enemy fire, later LCI models were developed with a center ramp that provided more protection but increased unloading times.
Displacement: 389 tons (full load)
Length: 158’5-1/2″
Beam: 233″
Draft: 5’4″ fwd; 5′ 11” aft (full load)
Speed: 16 knots
Complement: 3 officers, 21 enlisted
Capacity: 6 officers and 182 troops or 75 tons cargo