elsie item issue 65 - USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association

ENGINES FOR THE 713An Exciting Development!The old Torpedo Recovery Boat with the good dieselsIn a major step forward in the efforts of dedicated volunteers to restore USS LCI 713, engines have beenacquired!What has long been a dream of the team at Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum came much closer toreality with an e-mail received by Gordon Smith, Chairman of the Museum Board, from Bill Chaplin, aFounding Life Member of the AFMM. Bill asked if the Museum would be interested in the diesel enginesfrom a Navy Torpedo Recovery Boat he had owned for several years but now felt would better serve therestoration of the LCI (L) 713.“Quads” they were not, but the hard-working Museum volunteers jumped at the chance.The Torpedo Recovery Boat contained two V-12 71 GMC Detroit diesel engines, reduction gear boxes,shafts, and two four blade Michigan props.The team sprang into action! A preliminary inspection and test running of both engines was successful,and the survey crew returned to Portland with dreams of some day seeing the #713 underway again!Rick Holmes and his wife Sue Cosper of the volunteer group made several preliminary 600 mile round tripsto Charleston, which is located near Coos Bay, Oregon, to visit Bill Chaplin and begin preparations forremoving the engines.In early October a crew consisting of Harold Elliot, Jerry Gilmartin, Rick Holmes, Sue Cosper, Walt James,Wendy Lucht and Mike Stone made the trip to Charleston. Gilmartin, Holmes, James and Stone burned themidnight oil Friday night and again early Saturday morning. Along with the rest of the volunteers, including20