LCA 1377 (Landing Craft Assault)

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Arturo
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Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:11 pm

LCA 1377 (Landing Craft Assault)

Post by Arturo » Mon Mar 30, 2015 7:49 pm

On the stamp depicted Royal Navy Landing Craft LCA-1377 carries American troops to a ship near Weymount in Southern England on June 1, 1944, during preparations for the Normandy invasion. British soldiers can be seen in the conning tower. For safety measures, U.S. Rangers remained consigned on board British ships for five days prior to the invasion of Normandy for "Operation Overlord".

The Landing Craft Assault (LCA) was a landing craft used extensively in World War II. Its primary purpose was to ferry troops from transport ships to attack enemy-held shores. The craft derived from a prototype designed by John I. Thornycroft Ltd. of Woolston, Hampshire, UK. During the war it was manufactured throughout the United Kingdom in places as various as small boatyards and furniture manufacturers.

Her displacement; 9 long tons (9,144 kg), tons burthen; 4 long tons (4,064 kg), length; 41.5 ft (12.6 m), beam; 10 ft (3.0 m), draught; light: 1 ft 1 in fwd, 1 ft 9 in aft loaded: 1 ft 9 in fwd, 2 ft 3 in aft, ramps; 1, propulsion; 2 × 65 hp Ford V-8 petrol, speed; 10 kt (light), 6 kt (loaded), range; 50–80 miles, troops; 36 troops or 800 lb (363 kg) cargo, crew; four; coxswain, two seamen and a stoker plus one officer per group of three boats, armament; 1 × Bren light machine gun, possibly 2 × Lewis Gun, 2 × 2-inch mortar fitted aft (later models), armour; 10 lb. DIHT (3/4") on bulkheads and sides 7.8 lb. DIHT (1/4") on decks above the troop well and engine space.

Most LCAs were fitted with a compass. The craft were steered by twin rudders. The LCA propulsion system was designed to be quiet. At low speeds the engines could not be heard at 25 yards. The power-plant, while quiet, has been criticized for being underpowered. Nevertheless the bow lines and small ramp made the LCA a reasonably good sea boat.

Typically constructed of hardwood planking and selectively clad with armour plate, this shallow-draft, barge-like boat with a crew of four could ferry an infantry platoon of 31, with space to spare for five additional specialist troops, to shore at 7 knots. Men generally entered the boat by walking over a gangplank from the boat deck of a troop transport as the LCA hung from its davits. When loaded, the LCA was lowered into the water. Soldiers exited by the boat's bow ramp.

The LCA was the most common British and Commonwealth landing craft of World War II, and the humblest vessel admitted to the books of the Royal Navy on D-Day. Prior to July 1942, these craft were referred to as "Assault Landing Craft" (ALC), but "Landing Craft; Assault" (LCA) was used thereafter to conform with the joint US-UK nomenclature system.

Landing craft could hardly be adored by soldiers required to endure rides in them through any sea conditions. Still, the design’s sturdy hull, load capacity, low silhouette, shallow draft, little bow wave, and silenced engines were all assets that benefited the occupants. The extent of its light armour, proof against rifle bullets and shell splinters with similar ballistic power recommended the LCA. Also, many a Tommy and GI looked favourably upon the luxury of seating in the well for the soldier passengers. Throughout the war in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean, the LCA was the most likely sea assault transport of British Commandos, United States Army Rangers, and other Special Forces.

Perhaps 1,500 LCAs survived the war in serviceable condition. But many of these LCAs were discarded, as when the LSI HMS Persimmon, returning to Britain from the Far East in 1946, dumped her lower deck LCAs overboard to lighten ship and make better speed. Many LCAs used in the Far East were not sent back to the United Kingdom. Damaged LCAs, along with other damaged landing craft, were sunk rather than repaired. In Cochin, India, at the shore establishment HMS Chinkara (home of the Landing Craft Storage), many LCA were towed out to the 10 fathom mark and sunk by various means from axe to Bofors gun fire. In home waters, the end of the war meant the merchant ships and passenger liners that had served as LSIs were returned to their owners and refitted to civilian trim. This left an LCA surfeit that was sold off for civilian uses. They were popular acquisitions among riparian holiday-makers and canal enthusiasts in Britain. Their holds covered and ramps sealed, LCAs became charming little houseboats.

She was the lead boat from HMS Prince Baudouin to Omaha Dog Beach (D-Day Landing) and gave a dry landing to the 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion troops. During the landing the crew of LCA 1377 not only held their boat onshore, but also used their machine guns to spray the hillside ahead of the troops, hoping to suppress some enemy fire while Rangers left the craft and tried to survive on Omaha Beachead. Just an artillery shell hit the fantail of her but this brave ship survived on Omaha Beach Assault.

Fate of her unknown at the end of WW-II.

Palau 2004, S.G.?, Scott: 777a.

Source: Wikipedia.
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LCA 1377.jpg
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aukepalmhof
Posts: 7762
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

Re: LCA 1377 (Landing Craft Assault)

Post by aukepalmhof » Thu Jun 13, 2019 9:29 pm

Gibraltar 2019 70p sg?, scott?
I believe the PA number on the bow is the number of her mothership that transported her to Normandy beaches.
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lci(l)495.jpg
2019 US 495.jpg

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