USS LCI 701
From Our Contribution
 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | USS LCI 701 |
| Owner | US Navy |
| Builder | George Lawley & Sons (Neponset, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) |
| Launched | 24 Jun 1944 |
| Completed | 30 Jun 1944 |
| In service | 30 Jun 1944 |
| Out of service | 17 Jul 1946 |
| In service | 28 Feb 1949 |
| Out of service | 1 Jan 1960 |
| Fate | unknown |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Landing Craft Infantry |
| Tonnage | 389 tons |
| Length | 158' 5½" (48.3m) |
| Beam | 23' 3" (7.1m) |
| Depth | Landing 2'8" (0.81m) fwd 4'10" (1.48m) aft |
| Propulsion | Twin screw |
| Speed | 14 knots (26 km/h) |
| Capacity | 23 crew; 188 troops; 75 tons cargo |
Remarks
Allotted to the Asiatic-Pacific theatre when completed she participated in the Operation Oboe landing at Brunei on 10 Jun 1945 carrying men and material from Morotai and landing them at 'Brown Beach' in daylight 11 Jun 1945, departing for Morotai once unloaded. This LSI made at least one other voyage to Brunei with an Engineering unit aboard.
Armament: Four 20mm guns one forward, one amid ship, two aft. Served in the pacific Theatre from 30 Jun 1944 until 17 Jul 1946. Reclassified as a Landing Ship Infantry (Large) on 28 Feb 1949 and on 7 Mar 1952 renamed USS Chewink and classified as a Coastal Minesweeper. Conversion to this role carried out in Washington sate from 21 Sep 1953 until 2 Apr 1954. On 7 Feb 1954 she was reclassified yet again, this time as a Coastal Minehunter, and finally retired from service on 1 Jan 1960.
Sold in 1961 and renamed SS Kyle Anne before being sold on 21 Apr 1963 and then again in 1969, the last time operating under a Bahrainian flag.
Soldiers carried
Morotai to Labuan 4-8 Jul 1945
2/8th Australian Field Regiment