Hand-hoisting LSIs reveal wartime urgency

Hand-hoisting LSIs used manpower to work the davits that lowered and recovered their LCAs. This crude solution reflects how urgently Combined Operations needed shipping and how little conversion time was available. The vessels were small, uncomfortable, and carried fewer troops than medium or small LSIs, but they remained usable. As amphibious formations accumulated vehicles and equipment, these basic conversions could no longer provide enough support. Later infantry ships grew larger and more sophisticated to handle the expanding logistical burden.