LCT 7050

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by Carl Jobling, Nov 15, 2017.

  1. Carl Jobling

    Carl Jobling Member

    Hi,
    Apologies if this is the incorrect forum section so feel free to re-direct me if so but I am trying to find out more about my Grandad's role on D-Day.
    I know he was on LCT 7050 as an electrical engineer from April 44 till April 45.
    I have also managed to find out it was part of Operation Neptune in Force L-2 which I believe was part of 6 LCT Flotilla 'H' LCT Squadron Force 'L' based in Harwich before Normandy. Another LCT in this Flotilla, LCT 7086 I know landed at Omaha with US troops on D-Day, does this mean LTC 7050 would of done the same?
    Unfortunately whatever my Grandad saw during D-Day meant he refused to talk about it until he died in his 60's.
    I have visited the Normandy beaches twice speaking to some great guides who have helped me get so far and I also have his service records but have come to a bit of a standstill, any help greatly appreciated.
    Thank you
     
  2. Hello Carl,

    Welcome to the forum. This is the correct place for your thread too.

    LCT 7050 was a Landing Craft Tank Mark III (second series). For Operation NEPTUNE, she was in 19 LCT Flotilla, "V" LCT Squadron, part of Assault Group "L" 2, and based in Harwich.

    19 LCT Flotilla consisted of eleven craft, all LCT(3): 7044, 7046, 7047, 7050, 7078, 7085, 7087, 7088, 7089, 7096 and 7101.

    For the role of Force "L", you may refer to Trux's great thread here:
    Naval Force 'L'

    Please note that Assault Group "L" 2 is not the same as Sailing Group (L)2, which consisted of LST only.

    Assault Group "L" 2, made up of "V" and "H" LCT Squadrons, had a total of fifty-five LCT(3), sixteen (Landing Table Index Numbers 3508 to 3523 to JIG) of which were in Sailing Group 3 and thirty (LTINs 3524-3538 to KING, 3539-3547 and 3776-3781 to JIG) in Sailing Group 4 (aka Convoy ETL1).

    It is therefore probable, but not certain, that LCT 7050 was part of either Sailing Group 3 or Sailing Group 4.

    Unfortunately I know only a couple of Hull Number-LTIN matches for Force "L", and LCT 7050 is not one of them. But based on these very few matches, it could be that Sailing Group 3 had sixteen craft from "H" Squadron, while "V" Squadron supplied the thirty craft for Sailing Group 4.

    Michel
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2017
    Trux, Bazooka Joe and CL1 like this.
  3. Carl Jobling

    Carl Jobling Member

    Thank you so much for your help, so basically it looks as though he arrived at Gold Beach H+7 before meeting his lowering position and hitting the beaches with 7 or 51 armoured division around midnight from what I can make out.
    According to his records he continued on D-Day shuttles before being transferred to an American LC leased to the Navy LCIL 385 or LCQ 385.
    Thank you again, I really appreciated your kind efforts.
     
  4. K1 buoy was not on the far shore. It marked the beginning of Area Z, also known as "Piccadilly Circus", i.e. the area where convoys regrouped before starting the crossing, while the Lowering Position was somewhat offshore the assault area. So the planned timing for the LCT was as follows:

    Sailing Group 3
    K1 - H+7 (1425 hrs)
    LP - H+15½ (2255 hrs)
    Beach - H+17 (0025 hrs D+1)

    Sailing Group 4
    K1 - H+8 (1525 hrs)
    LP - H+16½ (2355 hrs)
    Beach - H+17½ (0055 hrs D+1) - First Flight
    Beach - H+18½ (0155 hrs D+1) - Second Flight

    Michel
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2017
    Trux likes this.
  5. Carl Jobling

    Carl Jobling Member

    Wow, amazing, thank you Michel
     
  6. Carl,

    LCT 7050 was to carry load Serial 3533. She was therefore to be part of Sailing Group 4. See more, including her detailed load, on Trux' great thread on Naval Force 'L'.

    Michel
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2022
  7. Carl Jobling

    Carl Jobling Member

    Hi Michel,

    That's brilliant, thank you very much for sharing with me.
    Kindest
    Carl
     
  8. KevinJ

    KevinJ Member

    Hi Carl. I have just found out that my late father was on LCT 7050 as Stoker 1st class at the same time as your Grandfather.
     
  9. Carl Jobling

    Carl Jobling Member

    Hi Kevin,
    That's amazing and thanks for reaching out. Have you been to the D-Day beaches? there is a plaque at Arromanches (see attached).
    Plaque_LST_Landing_Craft_1944_Arromanches.jpg
    Plaque_LST_Landing_Craft_1944_Arromanches.jpg
     
    Chris C likes this.
  10. KevinJ

    KevinJ Member

    Hi Carl, yes, I took dad over the year after the 50th anniversary, he would not have been able to cope with the crowds on the anniversary. We stood on the beach at Arromanches and visited a few museums and some graveyards. We went to Pegasus Bridge as this was something he had always wanted to do. Have some great photos.
    He spoke very little of his wartime service, but I have recently obtained a list of all his postings, so trying to dig up more information.
    Kevin
     
  11. Carl Jobling

    Carl Jobling Member

    Hi Kevin,
    My Grandad didn't talk about his experience either and looking at the manifest of LCT7050 it looks like they were carrying mainly medical equipment so must of seen some pretty harrowing stuff assuming they didn't shuttle back empty?
     
  12. KevinJ

    KevinJ Member

    Yes, as I understand it, east coast departures where follow-up to the initial assault.
     

Share This Page