In 1926, the first
motor landing craft (MLC1) was built by the Royal Navy. It weighed 16 tons, with a draught of , and was capable of about . It was later developed into the
Landing Craft, Mechanised. It was at the insistence of the British prime minister
Winston Churchill in mid-1940 that the LCT was created. Its speed was on engines delivering about . Designated the LCT Mark 1, 20 were ordered in July 1940 and a further 10 in October 1940.)
Mark 1 |name=LCT Mark 1 |builders= |operators= |built_range= 1940 |in_service_range= |in_commission_range= |total_ships_building= |total_ships_planned= |total_ships_completed= 30 |total_ships_canceled= |total_ships_active= |total_ships_laid_up= |total_ships_lost= |total_ships_retired= |total_ships_preserved= }} |hide_header= |header_caption= |type= |tonnage= |displacement= |length= |beam= |height= |draught= (aft) |ramps= |power= |propulsion= 2 ×
Hall-Scott petrol engine, 2 shafts |speed= |range= |endurance= |boats= |capacity= |troops= |complement=12 (2 officers, 10 enlisted men) |sensors= |EW= |armament= 2 × single
2-pounder pom-pom |armour =*Wheelhouse : 15 lb *Gunshield : 20 lb |notes= }} }} The first LCT Mark 1 was launched by
Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn on Tyne, in November 1940. It was designed to land three of the heaviest tanks (40t) then envisaged for the British Army in 2 ft 6ins of water on a 1:35 gradient beach. The load capacity was three 40-ton tanks, six 25-ton tanks or six 16-ton tanks. The forward draught was 3 feet forward and 5 feet 9 inches aft. They were designed on the same principle as a floating dock, with watertight side pontoons on each side joined by a tank deck set below the waterline. The tank deck swept up above the waterline near the bow before falling away again to the ramp. Engines were two
Hall Scott Defender petrol engines of 500 hp each. The craft were arranged in four sections so they could be shipped to the
Eastern Mediterranean as deck cargo on merchant ships. Thirty of these craft were ordered.
Mark 2 |name=LCT Mark 2 |builders= |operators= |built_range= 1941 |in_service_range= |in_commission_range= |total_ships_building= |total_ships_planned= |total_ships_completed=73 |total_ships_canceled= |total_ships_active= |total_ships_laid_up= |total_ships_lost= |total_ships_retired= |total_ships_preserved= }} |hide_header= |header_caption=
Mark 5 |name=LCT Mark 5 |builders= |operators=* * * |built_range=1942–1944 |in_service_range= |in_commission_range= |total_ships_building= |total_ships_planned= |total_ships_completed=470 |total_ships_canceled= |total_ships_active= |total_ships_laid_up= |total_ships_lost= |total_ships_retired= |total_ships_preserved= }} |hide_header= |header_caption= Production: •
New York Shipbuilding, NJ: 100 •
Quincy Barge Builders, IL: 66 •
Bison Shipbuilding, NY: 52 •
Manitowoc, WI: 36 •
Kansas City Steel, KS: 36 • Mount Vernon Bridge, OH: 36 • Decatur Iron & Steel, AL: 33 •
Pidgeon Thomas Iron Works, TN: 31 • Omaha Steel, NE: 24 •
Missouri Valley Bridge, KS: 20 •
Darby Corporation, KS: 20 •
Jones & Laughlin, PA: 16 Delivered: Production: •
Bison Shipbuilding, NY: 301 •
Mare Island Navy Yard, CA: 216 •
Pidgeon Thomas Iron Works, TN: 156 •
Quincy Barge Builders, IL: 110 •
Kansas City Steel, KS: 49 • Mount Vernon Bridge, OH: 46 •
Missouri Valley Bridge, KS: 44 •
Darby Corporation, KS: 42 • Manitowoc, WI: 1 Delivered: • Q3 1943: 43 • Q4 1943: 126 • Q1 1944: 238 • Q2 1944: 253 • Q3 1944: 216 • Q4 1944: 88
Mark 7 The Mark 7 was an even larger LCT that could carry troops. In 1944, when the Mk.7 design reached a length of 203 feet, its designation was changed to
landing ship medium (LSM). The new variant could attain speeds of up to 12 knots and saw usage in the Pacific. 558 were built.
Mark 8 The 225-foot LCT Mark 8, intended for service in the Pacific, was developed by the British in 1944. One hundred and eighty-six Mk.8s were ordered; however, when the war ended, most were cancelled and scrapped, or sold directly into civilian service. Only 31 entered service with the Royal Navy. Twelve were later transferred to the British Army; these were initially operated by the
Royal Army Service Corps, then by the
Royal Corps of Transport. Between 1958 and 1966, the other 19 ships were transferred to foreign navies or civilian companies, converted for other uses, or otherwise disposed of.
Mark 9 An even larger LCT Mark 9 was considered in 1944, but the design was never finalised and none were built. ==Armament==