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57-684: The second USS Ardent (AM-340) was a Auk -class minesweeper in the United States Navy . Ardent was originally laid down as HMS Buffalo ( BAM-8 ), for the Royal Navy on 20 February 1943 at Alameda, California , by the General Engineering & Drydock Co.; rescheduled for delivery to the United States Navy; renamed Ardent and redesignated AM-340 on 24 May 1943; launched on 22 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Bernadette Armes,

114-458: A "one time use" vessel which would simply ferry the troops across the English Channel , and were considered an expendable vessel. As such, no sleeping accommodations were placed in the original design. The infantry were provided benches (similar to those on a ferry) upon which to sit while they were transported across the channel. This was changed shortly after initial use of these ships, when it

171-454: A 23-foot beam, making them relatively long and narrow. The 3 major LCI(L) types are normally referred to as: a) Square Conning tower, Side Ramp (the original style); b) Round Conn, Side Ramp; and c) Round Conn, Bow Ramp. On LCI(L)1-349 class, (Square Conn, Side Ramps) the deck was wider than the prow and two gangways on either side of the bow led onto a pair of ramps that were lowered, and down which troops would disembark. The LCI 350 class had

228-576: A class of minesweepers serving with the United States Navy and the Royal Navy during World War II . In total, there were 93 Auk s built. Prior to the United States entering World War II, they had produced two ships of the Raven -class minesweeper for testing and evaluation. From these two examples it was decided that the use of diesel-electric engines to power the ship and the minesweeping equipment, rather than separate geared diesel engines to propel

285-596: A larger crew that included ten medical doctors and lab technicians. In the late 1950s the ship was sold as surplus for use as an Alaskan fishing vessel. 30 years later, the 1091 was purchased and brought to Eureka, California, in the 1990s by Ralph Davis for use as a private fishing vessel. Davis sold the ship to the museum, headed by Leroy Marsh, and they are working together to restore the LCI-1091 to an operating museum vessel. Several former LCI hulls were obtained and modified for use as sightseeing vessels after World War II by

342-614: A piece of deck planking containing Japanese builders' inscriptions—indicated a definite "kill". Postwar research revealed the sunken submarine to be the Japanese submarine  I-12 , which had sailed from the Inland Sea on 4 October 1944 to disrupt American shipping between the west coast and the Hawaiian Islands. In sinking I-12 , Ardent and Rockford unwittingly avenged the atrocity I-12 had perpetrated on 30 October when, after sinking

399-422: A single 3"/50 caliber gun and/or two twin 40 mm cannon and numerous 20 mm cannon. These ships were prevalent in most major Pacific Theater invasions beginning in late 1944. The type was reclassified as Landing Ship Support, Large (LSSL) in 1949. One hundred and thirty of this type were built. Several LCIs survive and are available to be seen by the public. The LCI(L)-713 , (a round conn, bow ramp)

456-405: A single enclosed bow ramp with two bow doors that swung open. The reason for moving the ramp to the inside was to provide some protection for the troops as they disembarked to the beach, if only by concealing them from enemy sight. Also, the low, squared-off conning tower was upgraded on later models (LCI(L)350 and higher) with a taller, round conning tower which afforded slightly more visibility from

513-472: A single engine were to fail, the broken engine could be disconnected from the unit via its clutch and repaired while the other three engines were still operating. General Motors Corporation Electro-Motive Division supplied the reduction gears, propellers, drive shafts and control units. Each of the two propellers was a reversible pitch propeller, which allowed the propeller shaft to spin only in one direction for either ahead or astern operation. This, coupled with

570-587: A tank turret complete with its QF 2 pounder gun (40 mm), but for the Mk.2 this was replaced with a turret mounting the QF 6 pounder gun (57 mm). To this was added two Oerlikon 20 mm cannon and two 0.5 inch Vickers machine guns . Ten were built in all. The Landing Craft Support (Large) or "LCS(L) Mark 3" was built by the United States. These ships were built on a standard LCI hull, but were modified to add gunfire support equipment and accommodation. They were armed with

627-420: A total of 1600 bhp. These engines were a wartime expedient design that utilized existing and readily available engines. Four 2-stroke Detroit Diesel 6-71 (inline 6 cylinder with 71 cubic inch displacement per cylinder) with Roots blower were coupled to create a bank for each of the two propeller shafts. The four engines per bank were joined using individual drive clutches hence the name "Quad Diesel". If

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684-789: Is located in Portland, Oregon near the I-5 Bridge over the Columbia River. It is currently owned and being restored by a non-profit 501c3 group, the "Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum". Built in 1944 in Neponset, Massachusetts , the ship was transferred to the Pacific Theater where it saw action in making two assault landings: Zamboanga , Philippines in March 1945 and Brunei Bay , Borneo in June 1945 (as part of

741-991: The American Locomotive Company (ALCO), and Busch-Sulzer . Twenty of the original 32 ships ordered by the Royal Navy were delivered, with an additional two coming from the USN program. They were given "J" pennant number prefixes. Of these twenty-two, three were sunk in action and 19 were returned to the US after the war. Eleven minesweepers of the Auk class were lost in World War II, six to direct enemy action including USS  Skill , torpedoed by U-593 . The ships were constructed in 11 different shipyards, by 10 different companies, in 9 different states. Landing Craft Infantry Some 923 were built starting in 1943, serving in both

798-582: The Battle of North Borneo ). Purchased as war surplus initially for use as a log hauling tugboat, the engines were removed and it was relegated to a floating storage hulk in Stevenson WA until the late 1950s when it was abandoned and sank into the river mud on the shore of the Columbia river. In the late 1970s the ship was refloated and restoration began on the ship. LCI(L)713 has changed ownership until finally sold to

855-482: The Liberty ship SS John A. Johnson , the submarine had rammed and sunk the lifeboats and rafts and then machine-gunned the 70 survivors. Among the ten men killed were five enlisted men of the merchantman's Navy armed guard detachment. On 1 December 1944, Ardent departed San Francisco, California, and headed for Hawaii. She reached Pearl Harbor on the 10th and underwent an intensive training period before sailing for

912-716: The Republic of China (13), France (14), Indonesia (7), Chile (6), the Dominican Republic (3), the Philippines (3), Israel (2), Thailand (2), and the Republic of Korea (1). In February 1949, the U.S. reclassified the remaining LCIs as "Landing Ship Infantry" (LSI). Landing Ship Infantry was a term that had been used during the war since around 1941 by the British for various vessels such as converted ferries and passenger ships that could carry 800–1,800 troops close to shore,

969-663: The San Diego Naval Station on 22 January 1947. Placed out of commission, in reserve, on 30 January 1947, Ardent was berthed with the San Diego group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet . While she was in reserve, the ship's designation was changed to MSF-340 on 7 February 1955. Struck from the Navy List on 1 July 1972, the ship was subsequently sold to the government of Mexico on 19 September 1972. On 19 September 1972,

1026-537: The San Francisco Naval Shipyard until November 1946. Subsequently, proceeding to San Diego in company with USS  Vigilance  (AM-324) , Ardent then operated in the vicinity of San Clemente Island , Newport Beach , and Oceanside, California , and on air-sea rescue stations off the coast of southern California . Returning to pier 17, Treasure Island (California) , on 15 December 1946, to commence preparations for inactivation, Ardent shifted to

1083-503: The landings on Shumshu . The Soviet Union eventually returned 15 of the surviving LCI(L)s to the United States, all in 1955. In use, the LCI fleet was used for numerous missions. One important use was for smoke laying to obscure the invading fleet from enemy artillery or aircraft. Still others were used to provide close-in gunfire support to the troops who had just landed on the beach. In one such episode, eight LCI(G) were used two days prior to

1140-482: The "Klondike" minefield area, located in the East China Sea 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Kyūshū . She conducted daily minesweeping operations until 8 November, when she arrived back at Sasebo. Between that time and the end of the year, Ardent operated between Honshū and Kyūshū, escorting ships, transporting minesweeping gear, and observing Japanese minesweeping operations and conducting demolition firing at

1197-474: The 21st. Pushing on for Japan, Ardent moored at Sasebo , Japan, on 27 September, disembarking passengers, and delivering mail and freight. The ship made a brief trip back to Okinawa, arriving there on 2 October, before she returned to Sasebo on 20 October. During her time at Okinawa, she sortied on 7 October to ride out a typhoon , and conducted sweeps down the island's east coast for survivors of that storm. Joining TU 52.4.1 on 27 October, Ardent proceeded to

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1254-407: The 25th, the minesweeper embarked 20 marines and loaded 149 sacks of mail for delivery at Iwo Jima. She arrived back at that island on 1 March but shaped a course for Ulithi the next day as escort for Task Unit (TU) 51.29.3. A few weeks later, Ardent got underway with TG 52.4 to take part in the assault on Okinawa . She began mine-sweeping operations on the 24th and continued them through the 31st,

1311-629: The AFMM in 2003. The LCI(L) 713 has been continually restored with the goal of becoming a historically correct operating museum vessel. LCI(L)-1091 (also a round conn, bow ramp) is moored in Eureka, California , and is owned and operated by the Humboldt Bay Air & Sea Museum. The ship was used in the Korean War in 1951–1953 as an "Infectious Disease Control Ship". Her interior was modified to accommodate

1368-599: The British LCA) in the Allied inventory. The LCI(L) was designed to carry 200 men at up to 15 knots and be as capable at landing as the LCA. Since a steel hull would be needed and steel was already earmarked for building destroyers at home, the US was approached. There, the plans were developed into the LCI(L), landing craft, infantry (large). The original British design was envisioned as being

1425-570: The Commanding Officer of HMS LCI(L)-124 delivering troops to the beach near Cape Passero lighthouse on 9 July 1943 during the Allied invasion of Sicily . He missed the call from his commander to delay the landing and went on to land 25 minutes ahead of the rest of the LCI Flotilla. As he was returning from the beach empty, he was rebuked by his Flotilla Commander, who thought he was deserting from

1482-586: The Marshall Islands on 27 January 1945 with Task Group (TG) 51.11, arriving on 5 February at Eniwetok. Two days later, Ardent sailed for Tinian , and reported for duty with TG 52.3 on the 11th. On 13 February, the ship got underway, in company with USS  Champion  (AM-314) , USS  Devastator  (AM-318) , and USS  Defense  (AM-317) , to participate in the Iwo Jima campaign. She conducted mine-sweeping operations off that island during

1539-476: The New York City "Circle Line". The Circle Line 7 (ex- LCI-191 ), Circle Line 8 (ex- LCI 179 ) are all now retired. Circle Line X is currently on active duty with Circle Line 42nd Street on New York City's Pier 83. Several other LCI hulls have been located around the world. The Argentine Navy has at least three, which were still being used in 1998. LCI(L)-653 , renamed Husky II, was used as a pilot boat and then

1596-461: The Pacific and European theaters, including a number that were converted into heavily armed beach assault support ships. The LCI(L) supplemented the small LCAs/ LCVPs as a way to get many troops ashore before a dock could be captured or built. As such, they were the largest dedicated beachable infantry landing craft (the larger infantry landing ship (LSI) was a transporter for men and small craft such as

1653-414: The Royal Navy (RN) and United States Navy. Early models were capable of carrying 180 troops, this was increased to 210 later. Craft in service with the two navies had some variation according to national preferences. Some 923 LCI were built in ten American shipyards and 211 provided under lend-lease to the Royal Navy. In Royal Navy service they were known as "HM LCI(L)-(pennant number)". During Project Hula ,

1710-502: The USN, and the Catherine class in the RN. The Auk class displaced 890 long tons, with a length of 221 ft 1 in (67.39 m), a beam of 32 ft 2 in (9.80 m), and a draft of 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m). They had a maximum speed of 18.1  kn (33.5 km/h; 20.8 mph). The Auk s armament varied. All were equipped with a single 3-inch (76 mm) gun on

1767-750: The United States in June and July 1945 secretly transferred 30 LCI(L)s to the Soviet Navy , which designated the type as desantiye suda ("landing ship") or DS ; they saw action against the Japanese after the Soviet Union entered the war against Japan in August 1945, and five – DS-1 (ex- USS  LCI(L)-672 ), DS-5 (ex- USS  LCI(L)-525 ), DS-9 (ex- USS  LCI(L)-554 ), DS-43 (ex- USS  LCI(L)-943 ), and DS-47 (ex- USS  LCI(L)-671 ) – out of 16 involved were lost on 18 August 1945 during

USS Ardent (AM-340) - Misplaced Pages Continue

1824-554: The bow, but many had their aft 3-inch gun removed or replaced by two 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns. Originally designed with four 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons, some ships mounted as many as eight. Five manufacturers provided the diesel-electric engines used in the class. These included the Cleveland Diesel Engine Division of General Motors, Cooper Bessemer , Baldwin Locomotive Works ,

1881-584: The bow. These were susceptible to damage. One Fairmile "H", a veteran of D-Day and the assault on Walcheren , survives as a houseboat on the River Adur, Shoreham-b-Sea, West Sussex, England. The Landing Craft Support (Large) ("LCS(L) Mark 1" or "LCS(L) Mark 2") was based on the LCI(S) hull, and were built by the United Kingdom, intended for use as a support vessel providing additional firepower. The Mk.1 carried

1938-612: The bridge. The steepness and narrowness of either type of bow ramps made the LCI impractical for landing troops as part of an initial assault against a defended beach, and they were sometimes reserved for the follow-up waves, after the LCA or LCPL boats had landed. However, they were included in the first waves at numerous invasions such as Anzio , Normandy, Southern France , Elba, Saipan, the Philippines, Iwo Jima , Guam, and Okinawa. All LCI(L) were twin shaft propelled by two banks of Detroit Diesel 6-71 "Quad" Diesel engines that produced

1995-637: The daughter-in-law of George A. Armes, President of the General Engineering & Drydock Co., and commissioned on 25 May 1944. During the first seven months of her career, Ardent escorted convoys and ships operating between the west coast of the United States and the Hawaiian Islands , though she also ranged as far as Eniwetok in the Marshalls and Tarawa in the Gilberts . The highlight of her service during this period occurred on 13 November. Ardent and

2052-457: The day from 15 to 18 February, and each night, her group retired to screen USS  Estes  (AGC-12) . During the sweeps, the ships came under intermittent fire from enemy shore batteries, but sustained no damage. On 19 February, Ardent took bomb-damaged USS  Blessman  (DE-69) in tow and proceeded to the Marianas as escort for a convoy of damaged LCIs . Upon reaching Saipan on

2109-433: The decision not to use self-sealing fuel tanks, together with the use of armour only in limited places made them less safe under fire than diesel fuelled vessels with more armour protection. Consequently, they were more suited to commando raids rather than large opposed landings. For instance, only 39 were used in the initial assault on D-Day . In action, the troops were disembarked over ramps which were extended either side of

2166-471: The existing armament to provide close-in fire support for landings. This variant was used for the basis of the LCS(L) class of Landing Craft Support ships. The same hull was used and more armament was added, but the troop carrying capability was removed. Equipped with three M2 4.2 inch mortars for naval surface fire support. A platform for six 5-inch rocket launchers. This platform was rather unsophisticated as

2223-527: The fight, when he informed the Commander he was on his way back to get more troops after having already landed once. Most LCI(L)s were struck from service by both the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy in 1946, and were put into reserve, sold, scrapped, or used as target ships. In addition to the 30 LCI(L)s, transferred to the Soviet Union in Project Hula, the United States also transferred LCI(L)s to Argentina (15),

2280-605: The final transfer being by smaller boats. As with the Landing craft tank , the LCI(L) was used as the basis of a number of conversions into specialist vessels. Equipped to carry a flotilla commander and his staff. Forty-nine were converted, but after their combat debut at Okinawa they were judged to be too cramped and slow for this role. Landing Ship Mediums were then recommended for conversion, but this never happened. Two or sometimes three 40 mm guns, six .50-caliber (12.7mm) machine guns and ten Mk.7 rocket launchers were added to

2337-434: The first, 5,000 yards (4,600 m) from USS Ardent's port beam. Combined fire from Adams and Ardent , as well as other ships in the formation, splashed the second, 1,200 yards (1,100 m) on the port beam. Ardent opened fire on the third aircraft, and saw it splash, the victim of a barrage put up by a formation of ships on the starboard quarter. USS Adams accounted for the fourth enemy aircraft. Later that same day,

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2394-508: The former Ardent was sold to the Mexican Navy , which renamed her ARM Juan N. Álvarez (C77). Her pennant number was later changed to G09, before being changed a final time to P108 in 1993. As of 2007, Juan N. Álvarez was still in active service for the Mexican Navy. Ardent earned four battle stars for her World War II service. Auk-class minesweeper The Auk class were

2451-501: The frigate USS  Rockford  (PF-48) were escorting a six-ship convoy midway between Honolulu and the United States. At 12:32, Ardent' s sonar picked up a submarine contact. Ardent attacked first at 12:41, firing a 24-charge " Hedgehog " pattern, and again at 12:46 with a second " Hedgehog " pattern. Rockford left her escort station to assist, and fired her first barrage of rockets from her " Hedgehog " at 13:08; two explosions followed, before an underwater detonation rocked

2508-540: The invasion of Iwo Jima to protect Underwater Demolition Team insertion and beach mapping teams. They were mistaken by the Japanese defenders as the main invasion, and were fired upon by numerous previously hidden large caliber coastal defense artillery, (up to 8 inch). Three of these LCI(G) were sunk and all were damaged. Lt.(j.g) Rufus G. Herring (CO LCI Force) received the Medal of Honor for this action. In another instance, Lt. Alec Guinness RNVR made numerous trips as

2565-571: The mine disposal grounds at Kushikino Ko . She remained thus engaged into March 1946. Routed to Kobe on 4 March 1946, in company with USS  Defense  (AM-317) , Ardent sailed for the Hawaiian Islands two days later, on 6 March. Touching at Saipan, Eniwetok, Johnston Island and Pearl Harbor, the minesweeper continued on to the west coast of the United States; parting company from USS Defense on 16 April, Ardent dropped anchor in San Francisco Bay on 19 April. The minesweeper lay in

2622-593: The minesweeper USS  Skylark  (AM-63) struck a mine and sank; Ardent rescued 19 survivors. Following the completion of mine-sweeping operations, Ardent assumed station on a patrol screen. On L-day, the day of the landings at Okinawa, 1 April 1945, a suicider crashed the nearby USS  Adams  (DM-27) , causing extensive damage. During this period, Ardent opened fire on several Japanese planes, but scored no hits. Ordered to proceed to Saipan for engine repairs, Ardent sailed for her destination on 4 April, and arrived on 10 April. Since parts necessary for

2679-564: The repairs were not available in the forward areas, she was routed via Pearl Harbor, to Seattle , where she arrived on 30 May. Ardent underwent engine repairs at Seattle , Washington until 7 August. Six days later, on the 13th, the minesweeper sailed for Pearl Harbor, and was at sea, en route to the Hawaiian Islands, when the war with Japan ended. Departing Pearl Harbor on 20 August in company with USS  Scoter  (AM-381) and USS  Redstart  (AM-378) , Ardent called at Saipan from 13 to 17 September, and arrived at Okinawa on

2736-474: The rocket launchers were fixed to the deck, and so the ship had to be maneuvered to aim them. When fired the crew had to take shelter below decks to escape the blast of the rocket engines. At least four LCIs were used to support underwater demolition teams , and were unofficially termed LCI(D)s. Others were equipped with searchlights for spotting Japanese night attacks. Thirty-two LCIs were converted to ACMU-7 class coastal minesweepers . One LCI(L), LCI-346,

2793-519: The same time as the LCI(L) was handed over for US development and production, the British reworked their need for a raiding vessel into something that could be produced natively without making demands on limited resources. Fairmile Marine had already designed a number of small military vessels that were built in wood and they produced the Fairmile Type H which was another prefabricated wooden design. This

2850-447: The ship and diesel generators to energize the minesweeping equipment, would work better. The Royal Navy placed an order for 32 of these minesweepers from the United States, BAM-1 - BAM-32 . Because of the additional equipment, the displacement was raised from 810 long tons (820  t ) on the Raven s, to 890 long tons (900 t) on what would come to be known as the Auk class in

2907-430: The ship. Ardent carried out two more attacks and the frigate dropped 13 depth charges to administer the coup de grace. The resulting explosions caused a loss of all contact with the enemy submarine. Wreckage recovered on the scene—deck planks, ground cork covered with diesel oil, a wooden slat from a vegetable crate with Japanese writing and advertisements on it, pieces of varnished mahogany inscribed in Japanese, and

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2964-516: The unit to which she was attached destroying 17 mines during this time period. During frequent enemy air attacks, the minesweeper took several Japanese planes under fire. On 26 March, an enemy plane under fire from the nearby fast minelayer USS  Adams  (DM-27) started a glide for USS Ardent's stern. The minesweeper opened fire and splashed the plane 300 yards (270 m) away. On four occasions on 28 March, Japanese aircraft approached Ardent and her consorts. An adjacent formation shot down

3021-418: The use of a stern anchor which was dropped as the ship approached the beach, was used to pull the ship off the beach after the infantry had disembarked. Two auxiliary Detroit Diesel 2-71s drove the two 30 kW 120 V D.C. Ship's Service Generators. LCI(L) were armed originally with four or five Oerlikon 20 mm cannons . Each gun was mounted inside of a round gun tub with an integral splinter shield. As

3078-497: The war progressed, several LCI(L) had three of their forward mounted 20mm Oerlikon cannons removed and replaced with heavier single barrel Bofors 40 mm guns and were designated LCI(G) (LCI Gunboats). Several LCI(L) had various types of Rocket Launcher racks added in place of their side ramps and inside their well decks and were sometimes designated LCI(R). LCI(L) modified to carry three M2 4.2-inch mortars were designated LCI(M). The first LCI(L)s entered service in 1943 chiefly with

3135-509: Was discovered that many missions would require overnight accommodations. The U.S. was able to come up with an easily-built and mass-produced design by using non-traditional shipbuilding facilities and equipment. The U.S. established LCI building yards at ten different locations. There were 3 major types of LCI(L) which differed mostly by the location of the ramps and by the shape of the conning tower. All of these ships had similar hulls. The hull of all LCI(L) were 158 ft (48 m) long with

3192-475: Was taken on as the Landing Craft Infantry (Small) or LCI(S). The overall length of these craft was 105 feet 1 inch (32.03 m) with a beam of 21 feet 5 inches (6.53 m). They were one of the faster landing craft, with a maximum speed of 12.5 knots (14.4 mph). They had a crew of 2 officers and 15 other ranks and could carry 102 troops for landing. Their petrol engines and

3249-410: Was used as a press boat (PGY) during the Battle of Iwo Jima , collecting reporters' copy from several ships for delivery to a communications ship for transmission. Admiral William Halsey Jr. reported that the LCI(L) was ideally suited to move large numbers of sailors from ships in fleet anchorages to liberty ashore and back. BuShips studied conversions for these roles but none were performed. At

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