LCT 7074

idler · May 28, 2022

Blimey! Thank god that lot didn't end up in a skip.
And thank you for actually bringing it into the light of day.

Glen C · Jun 5, 2023

Michel Sabarly said: ↑

As pointed out by Steve, the masts on the bows seem to have been confined to the two LCT(3) Squadrons ("V" & "H" LCT Squadrons) of Force L, which happened to comprise only craft from hull number 7035 up. Conversely, they appear to be absent on all LCT(3) below 7012, as on this photo:
View attachment 246793

As also noted by Steve, they are again absent on LCT 7037 and 7038 (which were launched too late to take part in D Day), although the Mulock Extensions have been fitted:
View attachment 246800

View attachment 246801

However, LCT 7093, which did not participate in D Day either but joined "V "Squadron later, had them when photographed at Weskapelle, probably in 1945:
View attachment 246791

All this points to a modification performed exclusively by "V" and "H" Squadrons on their own craft, possibly as a result of the generalisation of the Mulock Extensions. Unfortunately I have no photo of LCT(3) between 7012 and 7034 to check whether the modification was indeed specific to the two Force L Squadrons.

As always, there is an exception! Here is the only example I could find of similar, although apparently shorter, masts being fitted to another Mark of LCT. This is LCT(4) 952 (at that time part of 22 Flotilla, "N" Squadron) during the assault on Westkapelle on 1 Nov 44:
View attachment 246792
Source: IWM A26272 via File:The Royal Navy during the Second World War A26272.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

952 does not appear to have had the masts on D Day:
View attachment 246794
Source: LANDING CRAFT TANK SQUADRON, LCT SQUADRON,

The modification must therefore have been implemented during the refit or repair of 952.

Michel
Click to expand...

Guys - don't know if you've seen tonights tv ? LCT(4) 952 was featured on "Vicky McClure: My Grandfather's War". Ralph McClure was the the signaller on this very landing craft. He's 97 years old but very much alert - maybe if anyone wants to chase this up he could the very man to ask !

Glen C · Jun 6, 2023

On the subject of whether individual shipyards and later fabrication companies made modifications I can confirm that is correct.
I've been delving into LCT(1) in particular as my grandfather was part of the team which built LCT(1) 17 and 18 at Hawthorn Leslie and were thus the first ones launched.
I've dug into the fascinating correspondence at T&W Archives and found letters from (in particular) Alexander Stephens and Sons talking of the various changes they made to their initial two craft.
See attached images for details.

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LCT 7074

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