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Fighting back: the port, the Thames and the liberation of Europe
The need for landing craft |
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The importance of landing craft
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 Landing Craft Mechanised, by Lesley Cole. © NMM | British troops had been forced to withdraw from France in 1940 and Greece in 1941.
If they were to return to mainland Europe to confront the Axis armies, they would have to fight their way ashore. This required huge numbers of landing craft to carry the men and supplies to the beaches.
The Badcock Yard
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| Side view of landing craft LCM42. © NMM | While the major dockyards were needed for building the bigger warships, many small yards in Britain were used for the construction of landing craft of various types.
One of these was the D. Badcock (Marine) Ltd Yard (formerly the London Yard) at Cubitt Town on the Isle of Dogs.
The Badcock craft
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| Landing craft LCT340 under construction. © NMM | Badcock built four large LCTs (Tank Landing Craft). As they could carry several tanks, they played an important part in amphibious operations alongside the smaller LCAs (Assault Landing Craft) and other vessels.
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| The LCM42 at the Badcock Yard. © NMM | The Badcock Yard had earlier built 18 smaller LCMs (Landing Craft Mechanised). The LCM was able to carry a single tank or two lorries.
Landing craft at Harland and Wolff
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| Landing craft LCT913 under construction at the Harland and Wolff yard. © NMM | Another London yard making landing craft was the Harland and Wolff ship repair facility near the entrance to the King George V Dock.
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| Landing craft under construction at Harland and Wolff. © NMM | Several larger landing craft were built here during the later stages of the war.
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