HI ALL, TRYING TO FIND OUT WHEN THE WHITE AND BLUE COLOUR WAS PAINTED ONTO ALL LANDING CRAFT FOR D-DAY. CAN NOT FIND ANY INFO IN ALL MY LANDING CRAFT BOOKS. IT MUST HAVE BEEN A LARGE TASK TO DO WHEN YOU THINK OF THE NUMBER OF CRAFT INVOLVED. MANY THANKS, NORM.
Hi, Standard camouflage pattern drawings for landing craft were issued in May 1943. They were to be used worldwide. Not all RN landing craft used in Normandy were camouflaged. Regards Danny
HI DANNY, THANKS FOR THAT INFO. I BUILD RC MODEL LANDING CRAFT SO GETTING AWAY FROM THE BLUE AND WHITE CAMO WOULD MAKE A CHANGE. WOULD THEY HAVE BEEN LEFT RN GREY OR JUST PAINTED WHITE. ALSO HAVE YOU COME ACROSS ANY INFO ON THE LCM MK3 WHICH WAS FITTED WITH AN AIRCRAFT ENGINE IN THE TANK WELL TO ACT AS A SMOKE LAYER. I SEEM TO REMEMBER AN ARTICLE ON THE BACK COVER OF THE HISTORY OF WW2 PURNELL MAG MANY YEARS AGO,WITH A DRAWING OF IT BY A GUY WHO SAILED ON IT. MANY THANKS NORM.
Hallo Norm, Lovely models, and very interesting rnage of craft, are they static or powered floating, it would be interesting to find out more about the details, perhaps you would like to post some more info. I have scratch built a landing craft for my Overlord Military train to remember Private Tandy of the RM. http://www.gauge0guild.com/Gazette/Article16_12.html, to replace a temporary plastic one in the photos in the link. My new layout of Folkestone Harbour may need some more landing craft so hopefully I can contact you for a copy of plans? Thanks for posting, David
Hi Norm, Congratulations on your scratch built craft! I see that you gave LCI(S) 535 the serial 286. Do you have a source for this (photo or else), because I thought she was more likely to have a serial between 289 and 291, maybe 291? Thanks in advance, Michel
RE: LCM with Aircraft Engine Norm - I have seen a reference to this beast in relation to landings in Italy [in the book "Commissioned Bargees"] but nothing relating to N.W. Europe. I am in the wrong office at the moment but will check tonight. I do like the look of you models. Noel
HI MICHEL, I GOT IN TOUCH WITH ONE OF THE CREW OF LCI(S) 535 CALLED JACK BARTLE. HE WAS IN TOUCH WITH A GUY CALLED COLIN HENDERSON WHO WAS WRITING A BOOK CALLED D-DAY AND THE COMMANDOS. HE HAD SENT JACK SOME PAPERWORK WHICH JACK PASSED ON TO ME. I HOPE IT WILL BE AT THE END OF THIS POST. HE ALSO SENT AN EXTRACT OF 15 PAGES CALLED 45 ROYAL MARINE COMMANDO AND 3COMMANDOS LAND AT LE BRECHE AT 0910. (I HAVE NOT SENT THIS BIT). CHEERS NORM.
I have found the, very limited, reference - "....had transferred to a small assault landing craft.They were heading for the beach when one of the smoke-laying craft with the big propeller aft sprayed them with the acid which makes the smoke". There is also a photo but I am afraid that will have to wait until tomorrow before I can scan it - not very clear but clearly a Mk 3 Noel
Hi Norm, Thanks a lot for posting your sources. This is an interesting compilation, which shows the hull number/serial correspondences. Unfortunately at least some of the data does not reflect the actual Serial allocation on D Day. For example, Serial 288 was definitely LCI(S) 517, not 501 as per the tables (both markings are visible on a film clip showing Commandos embarking at Warsash). Perhaps these tables show the planned Serial allocation, as opposed to the actual on Day. However, maybe the Serial for LCI(S) 535 was confirmed to you by Jack Bartle himself? Michel
Hi, Idler, The in-service craft were “to be painted on the next occasion of painting”. They could also vary the tone of the camouflage for specific operations if need be. From photographic evidence it looks like home based landing craft used the patterns more than landing craft based abroad. Norm, Nice series of models there. Don’t think any were painted in white only. Some RCN LCA look like they were painted a light grey colour. There are some good colour photos of RN/RCN landing craft here including some single colour LCA. https://www.flickr.com/photos/photosnormandie/sets/72157607254609563 Norm/Michele, The LTIN for LCI(S) 235 was “291”. The sheet that you posted might have been one of the first drafts that Les Jordan put together. When I get a chance I will check and see what version I have. Regards Danny
HI MICHEL/DANNY, JACK COULD NOT BRING TO MIND HIS LTIN,BUT I THINK WHEN HE GOT THE INFO AND SAW THE NUMBER OF HIS BOAT WITH THE LTIN BESIDE IT HE TOOK IT AS READ. SO WHEN JACK SENT ME THE INFO I PUT THAT LTIN ON THE BOARD. PAINT AND BRUSHES AT THE READY. CHEERS NORM.
Going Back to the LCM "Smoker", I have now been able to scan the photo, it isn't very clear but you can make out the aircraft engine. I cant make out the propeller so can't say if it is a "pusher" prop or normal airscrew. The outlet pipe is very clear
HI NOEL, YES THAT,S THE ONE. THE DRAWING I REMMBER HAD THE TOP OF THE LARGE RAMP REMOVED.,A DECK WAS FITTED LEVEL WITH THE TOP OF THE RAMP THAT REMAINED AND A SMALL STEERING SHELTER LIKE THE ONE ON THE STERN WAS FITTED RIGHT ON THE BOW, THE REAR STEERING SHELTER WAS LEFT IN PLACE. MANY THANKS FOR THAT.WILL START ON ONE LATER IN THE YEAR.WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW IT TURNS OUT. CHEERS NORM.
Norm, Looking at the table you posted in #13, 45 RM Commando and 3 Commando landing table index numbers seem to have been switched. On D Day 45 RM Commando LCI's were 284-288 and 3 Commando's were 289-293. Guy
