Landing Craft Gun

Landing Craft Gun (LCG) was a landing craft used extensively in World War II, present for both the Normandy landings (Operation Neptune), on D Day and also the invasion of Allied invasion of Sicily-Salerno- Anzio.[1] Its primary purpose was to provide direct fire against beach positions and surface attack for first-echelon landing waves. The LCG was then typically beached to become a stationary gun platform. The craft was developed from the Landing Craft Tank (LCT) vessel, derived from a prototype designed by John Thornycroft Ltd. of Woolston, Hampshire, in the UK.

Landing Craft Gun (Large) 680
Class overview
Name: Landing Craft Gun
Builders: John I. Thornycroft Ltd.
Operators:  Royal Navy
General characteristics LCG(L) Mark 3
Type: Landing craft support
Displacement: 500 long tons (508 t)
Length: 192 ft (59 m)
Beam: 31 ft (9.4 m)
Draught: 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) forward, 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) aft
Propulsion: 2 x Paxman 500 hp. Diesels, twin screws.
Speed: 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) maximum
Range: 2,700 miles at 9 knots
Crew: 15 (2 officers, 13 sailors) + 23 (1 officer, 2 NCOs, 20 marines for gun crew)
Armament:
Armour: 25-lb. DIHT plating for gun deck sides, blast screens, and sides of magazines

In addition to the 20mm Oerlikon armament of a normal LCT, each LCG (Medium) had two British Army 25-pounder gun-howitzers in armoured mountings, while both LCG(L) 3 and LCG(L) had two BL 4.7-inch (120 mm) naval guns[2]

The operation of the craft was the responsibility of RN crew and the guns were manned by Royal Marines.

During the war it was manufactured throughout the United Kingdom in places as various as small boatyards and furniture manufacturers.

LCGs played a very important part in the Walcheren operations in October 1944.

Variants
  • LCG (Medium) - 270 tons light, 2x 25-pdr or 17 pdr guns
  • LCG(L) Mark 3 - 500 tons loaded, 2x 4.7 inch guns
  • LCG(L) Mark 4 - 500 tons loaded, 2x 4.7 inch guns

References
  1. "BBC - WW2 People's War - LCG&F Association". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  2. "D-Day : Normandy 1944 - Allied Landing Craft". www.6juin1944.com. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
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