Identify this ship LC4 Dunkirk

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by morrisc8, Dec 1, 2021.

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  1. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Photo of a small ship number LC4 on the bow and info on the back [ in German ] says it was bombed at Dunkirk and there is a ship in the background as well..
    I don`t see it in the Dunkirk ships list.
    Thanks for any help.
    ship LC4 Dunkirk.jpg Ship LC4 back.jpg ship LC4 Dunkirk close up LC4.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2021
  2. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    It looks like a barge, though LC normally means lifting craft; also a type of barge, though this one doesn't seem to be rigged for lifting (salvage). There was an ALC4 lost, but again this is not her. Precious little superstructure/funnel etc so we are left with a 'dumb' barge. At first I thought that no one ine their right mind would take one to Dunkirk. As it was the tug Persia towed at least two, SARK & SHETLAND, the second was lost. Also abandoned were the barge SPEC and a vessel called TWO RIVERS.
     
  3. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Are you certain that the picture is at Dunkirk? I know the writing says Dunkirk, but the beaches in the Dunkirk area are sandy with low lying sand dunes behind. The landscape in the background seems a bit high for that found in the Dunkirk area. It might be on the coast found south of Calais or somewhere completely different.

    Incidentally not that it helps identify the vessels, but the post with the X in between the two, looks like a 'Special Mark' navigation indicator, which was probably being used to note the presence of a pipe outlet.
     
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  4. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Hi Steve, It is not Dunkirk as you say but i think the ships could have drifted along the coast and ran aground. Maybe not a british ship.
    Keith
    LC4 x.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2021
  5. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Yes, difficult to know, but the one in the background looks like a tug. It looks like there could be a second barge/lighter between that vessel and the 'LC4'.
     
  6. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Looks like a Drifter or possibly Trawler to me that's had a good part of its rear superstructure stripped off. While the starboard anchor is in place, the port side anchor has been dropped (the chain can be seen dangling down to the rocks).

    Edit: LC is apparently (google search) the Port Registration code for Le Conquet which is a fishing port on the extreme western side of France.
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2021
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  7. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Looks a bit to far from Dunkirk to drift all that way with the other boats/tug, maybe a storm washed them up.
     
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  8. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    My 'theory' - need to start somewhere
    Boat registered in Le Conquet (but could, of course, be used elsewhere)
    Was a French 'little ship' or something during the Dunkirk period
    Ended up wrecked along with others down the coast from Dunkirk.

    Another possibility is that it was one of the requisitioned boats going to be used during Operation Sealion but got wrecked and then misidentified (as related to Dunkirk) by the German photographer....

    ....other theories are available :)
     
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