Conversions and Modifications
Several special purpose versions were created for use during the Normandy landings. The British created the Landing Craft Tank (Rocket) (LCT(R)) modified to fire salvoes of 3-inch RP-3 rockets, while the Landing Craft Guns (Large) (LCG(L)) was armed with two QF 4.7 inch guns, eight Oerlikon 20 mm AA guns and two 2-pounder pom-poms. These ships did not beach; their mission was close-in gunfire support.
The Landing Craft Tank (Armored) (LCT(A)) was designed for use by the first wave and was equipped with additional armour protection for the crew stations and on the bows, while a heavy wooden ramp allowed the two forward tanks to fire forward. These were all U.S-built LCT Mk.5s, which had been lend-leased to the British for Mediterranean operations, then "reverse lend-leased" back to the U.S. for the invasion.
The Landing Craft Tank (Self-Propelled) (LCT(SP)) carried self-propelled guns for fire support; in U.S. vessels these were 155 mm, while the British used M7 105 mm self-propelled guns and called them Landing Craft Tank (High Explosive) (LCT(HE)). A related variant was the British Landing Craft Tank (Concrete Buster) (LCT(CB)), which carried three British Sherman Firefly tanks fitted with the 17-pounder high velocity gun, specifically deployed to attack fortifications. Other variants included the Landing Craft Tank (Hospital) (LCT(H)) for casualty evacuation, and one LCT served as a floating bakery at Normandy.
Other weapon combinations made the LCT into an effective floating anti-aircraft battery for harbour or support area defence. These were often manned by mixed Army and Navy crews. Others were modified post-war for other specific uses such as dredging, salvage, repair, and mine craft. Their shallow draft also made the LCT ideal for use in inland waterways.
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