Landing Craft, Infantry And Fire Support (new Vanguard)
by Gordon Rottman /
2009 / English / PDF
19.6 MB Download
Described by one soldier as "a metal box designed by a sadist to
move soldiers across the water," the Landing Craft, Infantry was a
large beaching craft intended to transport and deliver an infantry
rifle company to a hostile shore, once the beachhead was secured.
The LCI, or as it was more commonly known, "Elsie Item," and its
vehicle-delivery counterpart, the Landing Ship, Medium (LSM), were
widely used by the allies during amphibious operations during World
War II. They were mid-sized beaching craft filling the gap between
the much larger LST and the many types of smaller bow-ramped, open
cargo compartment landing craft. The LCI and LSM were the smallest
landing ships assigned a Bureau of Ships hull number.
Described by one soldier as "a metal box designed by a sadist to
move soldiers across the water," the Landing Craft, Infantry was a
large beaching craft intended to transport and deliver an infantry
rifle company to a hostile shore, once the beachhead was secured.
The LCI, or as it was more commonly known, "Elsie Item," and its
vehicle-delivery counterpart, the Landing Ship, Medium (LSM), were
widely used by the allies during amphibious operations during World
War II. They were mid-sized beaching craft filling the gap between
the much larger LST and the many types of smaller bow-ramped, open
cargo compartment landing craft. The LCI and LSM were the smallest
landing ships assigned a Bureau of Ships hull number.
In 1943 the hulls of the LCI and LSM were used as the basis for a
new type of gunboat. These specialized fire-support crafts were
intended to place suppressive fire on the landing beaches using
automatic cannons, rockets, and mortars. While LCI and LSM were
phased out after the Korean War, some fire support craft remained
in use throughout the Vietnam War.
In 1943 the hulls of the LCI and LSM were used as the basis for a
new type of gunboat. These specialized fire-support crafts were
intended to place suppressive fire on the landing beaches using
automatic cannons, rockets, and mortars. While LCI and LSM were
phased out after the Korean War, some fire support craft remained
in use throughout the Vietnam War.
Written by the author of Osprey's popular book on Landing Ship,
Tanks, this book tells the developmental and operational history of
this important tool of American amphibious military strategy that
spanned three wars.
Written by the author of Osprey's popular book on Landing Ship,
Tanks, this book tells the developmental and operational history of
this important tool of American amphibious military strategy that
spanned three wars.