Mark 5 Landing craft tank

when united states entered war in december 1941, u.s. navy had no amphibious vessels @ all, , found obliged consider british designs in existence. 1 of these, advanced k.c. barnaby of thornycroft, double-ended lct work landing ships. bureau of ships set drawing plans landing craft based on barnaby s suggestions, although 1 ramp. result, in 1942, lct mark 5, 117-foot craft beam of 32 feet accommodate 5 30-ton or 4 40-ton tanks or 150 tons of cargo. crew of twelve men , 1 officer, 286 ton landing craft had merit of being able shipped combat areas in 3 separate water-tight sections aboard cargo ship or carried pre-assembled on flat deck of lst. mk.5 launched heeling lst on beam let craft slide off chocks sea, or cargo ships lower each of 3 sections sea joined together.

an lct being loaded onto lst crane barge

powered 3 225 hp gray marine diesels, mk.5 had range of 700 nautical miles (1,300 km; 810 mi). capable of making 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) @ best; speed slow independent passage across pacific. shipped aboard other vessels, mk.5s proved in operations. inland yards lead lct production , not long before yard workers boasted built them mile , cut them in feet . 4 hundred , seventy mk.5s built.

first used in invasion of north africa, mk.5 crews earned reputation efficiency under fire , in worst of weather or sea conditions. enjoying little priority in fleet maintenance schedules, lct crews gained reputation finding whatever needed. of lack of status within amphibious forces because lct smallest landing craft organized independent assault flotillas. entirely manned reservists , draftees, lct crews operated in free , easy manner horrified professional naval officers. late 1943, mk.5s relegated training or harbour duties in united states.

after world war ii, eleven used in 1950-1960 polish navy amphibious forces, bds, later ods prefixes..