Landing Craft Tank Mk III & LCT (3)

model This is a full-hull model of LCT 396, a MkIII (Landing Craft, Tank) and illustrates the classic features of a Landing Craft, namely a box-like hull, shallow draft and lowering front ramp. It is built to a scale of 1/48 and is 48in long.

During the 1920s, serious consideration was given to the question of invasion from the sea, for as a maritime nation, it was obvious that in future wars which were going to be as widespread as the First World War, Britain would have to at some time carry out assaults from the sea. It seemed simple enough to land troops, but to establish a bridgehead they would need support from tanks, armoured cars, and ideally, mobile artillery. Initial planning assumed that the landing craft would be carried by a large ship, slung from davits, and this immediately imposed limits on the size and weight of the landing craft. A prototype was built in 1929, which was disappointing and matters stagnated until 1938 when fresh designs were sought, finalising in a craft called the LCM(I) (Landing Craft Mechanised MkI), capable of carrying one 16-ton tank. Some of these assisted with the evacuation at Dunkirk in 1940 when they were the only craft capable of putting a tank ashore. The LCMs were very limited in their use, as they could only carry one tank, and a further disadvantage was that they had to be transported to the scene of the landing. Although in 1937 some thought was given to building landing craft with a larger carrying capacity, based on the First World War X-lighter, nothing more was done, mainly because the important role that the tank would play in land warfare was not appreciated. However, after Dunkirk, when Great Britain was cut off from the continent, it was obvious that a seaborne invasion was inevitable, and a specification was drawn up for craft to transport large numbers of tanks across the Channel. The first TLC MkI (Tank Landing Craft MkI) was produced in 1940, and led to a whole series of craft that were subsequently termed LCT (Landing Craft, Tank). The LCT MkIII was 192ft long, and could carry the following tank loads: 5 Churchills, or 11 Valentines or 11 Shermans, at up to 10 knots.

During the 1920s, serious consideration was given to the question of invasion from the sea, for as a maritime nation, it was obvious that in future wars which were going to be as widespread as the First World War, Britain would have to at some time carry out assaults from the sea. It seemed simple enough to land troops, but to establish a bridgehead they would need support from tanks, armoured cars, and ideally, mobile artillery. Initial planning assumed that the landing craft would be carried by a large ship, slung from davits, and this immediately imposed limits on the size and weight of the landing craft. A prototype was built in 1929, which was disappointing and matters stagnated until 1938 when fresh designs were sought, finalising in a craft called the LCM(I) (Landing Craft Mechanised MkI), capable of carrying one 16-ton tank. Some of these assisted with the evacuation at Dunkirk in 1940 when they were the only craft capable of putting a tank ashore. The LCMs were very limited in their use, as they could only carry one tank, and a further disadvantage was that they had to be transported to the scene of the landing. Although in 1937 some thought was given to building landing craft with a larger carrying capacity, based on the First World War X-lighter, nothing more was done, mainly because the important role that the tank would play in land warfare was not appreciated. However, after Dunkirk, when Great Britain was cut off from the continent, it was obvious that a seaborne invasion was inevitable, and a specification was drawn up for craft to transport large numbers of tanks across the Channel. The first TLC MkI (Tank Landing Craft MkI) was produced in 1940, and led to a whole series of craft that were subsequently termed LCT (Landing Craft, Tank). The LCT MkIII was 192ft long, and could carry the following tank loads: 5 Churchills, or 11 Valentines or 11 Shermans, at up to 10 knots.