.jpg) LCAs leave HMS Rocksand, a landing ship, infantry, for the island of Nancowry in the British occupation of the Nicobar Islands, October 1945
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Landing ship, infantry |
| Operators | |
| Succeeded by | Landing ship logistics |
| Built | 1938–1945 |
| Completed | ~40 |
| Active | 0 |
| General characteristics | |
| Troops | 150 to 1,500, |
| Crew | 120 to 300 officers and ratings |
| Armament | Typically a range of anti-aircraft guns |
| Armour | Typically anti-splinter mattresses and gun shields |
A infantry landing ship (naval designation LSI for landing ship, infantry) was one of a number of types of British Commonwealth vessels used to transport landing craft and troops engaged in amphibious warfare during the Second World War. LSIs were operated by the Royal Navy, British Merchant Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Indian Navy, and Royal Australian Navy. They transported British Commonwealth and other Allied troops in sea assaults and invasions throughout the war.
Typically, an LSI would transport its cargo of infantry from its embarkation port to close to the coast to be invaded. This location (the "lowering position" in Royal Navy terminology) was approximately 6–11 miles off shore. The troops would then transfer to landing craft, most commonly LCAs, for the journey to the beach. The landing craft would return to the LSI after disembarking their cargo and be hoisted up to embark additional troops.