Landing craft

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 76. Chapters: Landing Craft Assault, Landing Ship, Tank, Landing craft tank, No.101 class landing ship, Mark 8 Landing Craft Tank, Landing Craft Infantry, DUKW, Siebel ferry, High speed transport, LCVP, Landing Craft Utility, Landing Craft Air Cushion, No.1 class landing ship, No.31 class patrol boat, Zubr class LCAC, LCM-8, Inter-Service Training and Development Centre, Motor Landing Craft, LCM2000, LCPL, Griffon 2000TD hovercraft, SS-class landing ship, Balikpapan class landing craft heavy, Marinefährprahm, No.1 class patrol boat, Ship-to-Shore Connector, Combat Rubber Raiding Craft, Engin de Débarquement Amphibie Rapide, SR.N6, Go Jun Bong class LST, Landing Craft Mechanized, Aist class LCAC, Dock landing ship, Amphibious assault submarine, Arrow boat, Fairmile H landing craft, Landwasserschlepper, Barbe class utility landing craft, USS LCI(L)-19, USS LCI(L)-189, Jurmo class landing craft, USS LCT-209, USS LCI(L)-93, USS LCT-242, MV Retriever, Watercat M14 class landing craft, Daihatsu class landing craft, Czilim class ACV, Assault boat, Toku Daihatsu class landing craft, G class landing craft, USS LCI(L)-339, Uisko class landing craft, Tsaplya class LCAC, Lebed class LCAC, Shohatsu class landing craft, Chuhatsu class landing craft, Air-cushioned landing craft, Jingsah II class LCAC, ALC 50, SAH 2200 hovercraft, Gus class LCAC, Rigid Raider, Ramped Craft Logistic, Ramped Powered Lighter, LCRL, LCRS. Excerpt: The Landing Craft Assault (LCA) was a landing craft used extensively in the Second World War. 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. During the war it was manufactured throughout the United Kingdom in places as various as small boatyards and furniture manufacturers. The design was also produced in Commonwealth boatyards in the Far East. Typically constructed of hardwood planking and selectively clad with armour plate, this shallow-draft, barge-like boat with a crew of 4, could ferry an infantry platoon of 31, with space to spare for 5 additional specialist troops, to shore at 7 knots (13 km/h). Men generally entered the boat by walking over a gangplank from the boat deck of their 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 the Second World War, and the humblest vessel admitted to the books of the Royal Navy on D-Day. Prior to early 1942, these craft were referred to as 'Assault Landing Craft' (ALC), but 'Landing Craft; Assault' (LCA) was used thereafter to conform with the joint U.S.-U.K. 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 Ranger