"In the United States campaign against numerous Japanese-held islands in the Pacific, crucial to the assaults was a new group of amphibious gunboats that could deliver heavy fire close in to shore as American forces landed. They were important later against kamikaze threat. By the end of the war amphibious gunboats had proven their worth"--Provided by publisher.

The need for a new weapon -- From training to missions -- Operation Cartwheel -- The central Pacific campaigns -- The Philippines retaken -- Leyte and Lingayen -- The LCS(L)s arrive -- Iwo Jima -- The liberation of Borneo -- Okinawa -- Screening the fleet -- The radar picket line -- War's end and post-war -- Glossary -- Appendix I: LCI gunboat flotillas and commanding officers -- Appendix II: Building and conversion locations -- Appendix III: LCS(L) flotillas and commanding officers -- Appendix IV: LCI(G), LCI(M), LCI(R), and LCS(L) ships damaged or lost in World War II -- Appendix V: Awards.