Landing craft mechanized


The landing craft mechanized is a military landing craft designed for carrying personnel and vehicles from ship to shore without requiring a pier or other shore-based structure. Multiple different models with varying size, capacity, and power plants were produced starting in 1920. They came to prominence during the Second World War when they were used to land troops and tanks during Allied amphibious assaults.

Variants

There was no single design of LCM used, unlike the landing craft, vehicle, personnel or landing craft assault landing craft made by the US and UK respectively. There were several different designs built by the UK and US and by different manufacturers.
The British motor landing craft (MLC) was conceived and tested in the 1920s and was used from 1924 in exercises. Nine were in service at the start of the war. It was the first purpose-built tank landing craft. It was the progenitor of all subsequent LCM designs.

LCM (1)

The landing craft, mechanised Mark I, was an early British model. It was able to be slung under the davits of a liner or on a cargo ship boom with the result that it was limited to a 16-ton tank.
The LCM Mark I was used during the Allied landings in Norway, and at Dieppe and some 600 were built.
  • Displacement: 35 tonnes
  • Length:
  • Width:
  • Draught:
  • Machinery: two Chrysler 100 hp petrol engines
  • Speed: 7 knots
  • Crew: 6 men
  • Armament: two.303 in. Lewis guns
  • Capacity: one medium tank, or 26.8 tons of cargo or 60 troops
  • *100 men
  • * with of freeboard

LCM (2)

The first American LCM design, from the US Navy's Bureau of Construction and Repair. Approximately 150 were built by American Car & Foundry and Higgins Industries.
  • Displacement: 29 tons
  • Length:
  • Beam:
  • Draft:
  • Speed:
  • Armament: two.50-cal M2 Browning machine guns
  • Crew: 4
  • Capacity; 100 troops, or one 13.5 ton tank, or 15 tons of cargo

LCM (3)

There were two designs:
  • Bureau
Capable of carrying of cargo
  • Higgins
In appearance very similar to the LCVP which Higgins Industries also constructed, with a wide load area at the front and a small armoured wheelhouse on the aft decking over the engine room. A vessel claiming to be a Higgins LCM-3 is on display at the Battleship Cove maritime museum in Fall River, Massachusetts, however this vessel has the superstructure and overall length of an LCM-6. Another Higgins LCM-3 is displayed at the Museo Storico Piana delle Orme in Province of Latina, Italy, 18 miles east of Anzio.
  • Displacement: 52 tons ; 23 tons
  • Length:
  • Beam:
  • Draft: ;
  • Speed: ;
  • Armament: two.50-cal M2 Browning machine guns
  • Crew: 4
  • Capacity: One 30-ton tank, 60 troops, or of cargo

LCM (4)

In 1943 and 1944, seventy-seven LCMs were built. Externally, the LCM resembled a late model LCM but inside the pontoon special bilge pumps and ballast tanks allowed the LCM to alter trim to increase stability when partially loaded.

LCM (5)

British model of LCM

LCM (6)

The LCM was an LCM extended by amidships.
  • Power plant:
  • * 2 Detroit 6-71 diesel engines; sustained; twin shaft; or
  • * 2 Detroit 8V-71 diesel engines; sustained; twin shaft
  • Length:
  • Beam:
  • Displacement: 64 tons full load
  • Speed:
  • Range: at
  • Military lift: 34 tons or 80 troops
  • Crew: 5
Many LCM-6s were later adapted for the Mobile Riverine Force in the Vietnam War. Some were modified as armored troop carriers, others became "monitors" with 105 mm guns, "Zippos" with flamethrowers or "Charlie" command variants.
A few LCMs were converted to lay and repair hoses for List of [United States Navy oilers#Other transport oilers|tankers equipped with the offshore petroleum discharge system (OPDS)].

LCM (7)

British model of LCM

LCM (8)

General characteristics, LCM 8 Type
  • Power plant: four 6-71 six-cylinder diesels, two hydraulic transmissions, two propeller shafts. crew of 3: coxswain, bowhook, and engineer
  • Power plant: 2 Detroit 12V-71 diesel engines; sustained; twin shafts
  • Length:
  • Beam:
  • Displacement: 105 tons full load
  • Speed:
  • Range: at full load
  • Capacity: 53.5 tons
  • Military lift: one M48 or one M60 tank or 200 troops
  • Crew: 5

Operators

Former operators