Description
Physical description
model
This full-hull model of LVBL 44 represents a Thames Barge, originally known a "Jack" prior to conversion.
LBVL 44 was with the 6th LBV Flotilla and went to Sword Beach, Normandy, on D-Day, 6th June 1944. She sank in the great gale shortly afterwards but was salvaged.
The model is made of wood to a scale of 1/48, and is 21in x 5.5in x 4in high.
Label
Landing Barges played a vital, but little publicised role, in the support of the British and American assault forces on D-Day and thereafter.
In 1942, with the possibility of the fall of Stalingrad, demand was growing for a second European front.
However, there was a serious shortage of landing craft, and so when Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten became Chief of Combined Operations, he requisitioned over 1000 Thames barges, to supplement the small number of landing craft then available. He had the barges converted, with stern ramps, to be towed to France by minesweepers, where they were to be beached by tugs and launches.
Many of the barges were subsequently engined and armed.
Some 400 were adopted by the Royal Navy, and converted to fulfil many varied roles, including the LBV (Landing Barge Vehicle), LBE (Landing Barge Emergency ), LBK (Landing Barge Kitchen), and LBW (Landing Barge Water).
Some 10% of the invasion craft on D-Day, 6th June 1944, were represented by barges, and Sword Beach was allocated 42 LBVs, out of the total of 64 barges for this beach alone.
History note
Landing Barges played a vital, but little publicised role, in the support of the British and American assault forces on D-Day and thereafter.
In 1942, with the possibility of the fall of Stalingrad, demand was growing for a second European front.
However, there was a serious shortage of landing craft, and so when Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten became Chief of Combined Operations, he requisitioned over 1000 Thames barges, to supplement the small number of landing craft then available. He had the barges converted, with stern ramps, to be towed to France by minesweepers, where they were to be beached by tugs and launches.
Many of the barges were subsequently engined and armed.
Some 400 were adopted by the Royal Navy, and converted to fulfil many varied roles, including the LBV (Landing Barge Vehicle), LBE (Landing Barge Emergency ), LBK (Landing Barge Kitchen), and LBW (Landing Barge Water).
Some 10% of the invasion craft on D-Day, 6th June 1944, were represented by barges, and Sword Beach was allocated 42 LBVs, out of the total of 64 barges for this beach alone.
They were manned by "volunteers", of whom many were previously Thames lightermen, and their sole objective was the support of the seaborne invasion.
photo ref of LBV 44 at sea - IWM 24493, IWM 24461, IWM 24462
To D-Day Exhibition wef 26/Feb/2004 - returned to temporary store 18/Feb/2009
