page_title: Landing Craft Support
section_title: Design and manufacture
hierarchical_section_title: Landing Craft Support / Design and manufacture
caption_attribution_description: Builders progress photo of LCS(L)(3)-26, Commercial Iron Works, Portland OR., 21 July 1944.
context_page_description: The Landing Craft, Support were two distinct classes of amphibious warfare vessels were used by the United States Navy in Pacific and the Royal Navy in World War II. The USN versions which were later reclassified Landing Ship Support, Large also performed radar picket duty and fire fighting.
context_section_description: A total of 130 were made. Three different ship building yards did the construction: George Lawley & Son (Neponset, Massachusetts); Commercial Iron Works (Portland, Oregon); and Albina Engine Works (Portland, Oregon).
  The hull was the same as the Landing Craft Infantry ships. They were 158 ft 6 in (48.31 m) long, displaced 250 long tons (250 t), 23 ft 3 in (7.09 m) wide and drew 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) when fully loaded. The flat bottom and skegs between and on either side of the twin screws allowed the ships to safely beach. The anchor is at the stern of the ship so it can be used to help pull the ship off the beach if necessary. The twin variable pitch screws were each driven by a bank of four Grey Marine (later General Motors) diesel engines, with a total power for all eight engines of 1,600 horsepower (1,200 kW). These engines gave a maximum speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h), but normally the ships sailed at 12 knots (22 km/h). The ships had a range of 5,500 nautical miles (10,200 km). Armour for the gun mounts, pilot house and conning tower was provided by 10 lb (4.5 kg) STS splinter shields. The ships had a smoke generator which was used to obscure landing craft approaching the beach.
  LCS(L) vessels could be produced in as little as 10 days, and final fitting out would take a further few weeks. The ships also made very good fire fighting ships. A fire fighting manifold was fitted in front of the bow gun and two monitors with pumps fitted just forward of the aft gun.
caption: Builders progress photo of LCS(L)(3)-26, Commercial Iron Works, Portland Oregon, 21 July 1944.
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