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COMBINED OPERATIONS |
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The rare photographs below show newly completed Landing Craft Assault (LCAs) being handed over to the Royal Navy by builders Elliotts of Reading, Berkshire, England. It is believed the photographs were taken in September 1944.
LCAs were built throughout the period 1940-1944 and displayed craft or pennant numbers in the series 1 to 2030. The craft shown below were numbered LCA 1551 to LCA 1556 inclusive and were, therefore, amongst the last 500 constructed. They were designed to be transported over long distances on Landing Ship Infantry (LSIs). On arrival in the landing beach area the LCAs were lowered from davits into the water, fully laden with men and their equipment. From there the assault craft usually proceeded in formation and under their own power to their designated landing beaches. The LCAs could carry 35 assault troops and 800 pounds of equipment in addition to their 4 man crew. The Coxswain manned his station starboard (right) side forward, to his left, in position portside forward, was the bow gunner. The troop space within each craft was 6 metres by 3 metres with each craft measuring close to 14 metres in length by 3 metres across the bows. Armament comprised a Bren gun in the portside (left) cockpit position and two .303 Lewis Machine Guns. Some craft are recorded as having mortars fitted aft. The LCAs were powered by two 65hp Ford V-8 engines and could travel at 6 knots when fully loaded. In an assault operation a boat officer commanded 3 LCAs and was carried aboard one of the craft. That craft relayed signals and orders to the other two craft in the group.
Elliott's premises stretched down to the River Thames and the handover took place just above Reading Bridge. Only one LCA was lost within the 1500 number sequence. On August 17th 1945 LCA 1591 was lost overboard from a Landing Ship Tank (LST) off India which raises the possibility that the craft shown here may also have seen service in the Far East. At the time of the handover in September 1944, 3 months after the Normandy landings, the need for LCAs in the west had diminished although both Walcheren (Operation Infatuate) and the Rhine crossing were later. Any former employees of Elliott's Yard, their families, or Royal Navy personnel, who have recollections or photos from this period are invited to get in touch with Tony Chapman of the LST and Landing Craft Association in the first instance. Even the smallest piece of information could be of interest.
The photographs on this page are courtesy of Mike Taylor whose father Cyril Taylor worked for Elliotts, the manufacturer, from 1925 (age 16) to his retirement in 1974. |
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