Yea, it probably is still there GM I think it’s saipan that there is still a sherman sitting out on a reef to this day. I guess we like to think we are a clean and tidy race, but when itt comes to wars, when there over, especially in oceans we just walk away. I forget which island it is right now with out looking it up. But The German Cruiser Prinz Eugen lies sort of upside down of one of islands in south Pacific. They took her there and she part of one the Nuclear Bomb tests
Stik That doesn’t surprise me. We do it to.
Thanks Guys
As soon as I get my memory for my camera, I’ll get some pics of the LCM
I recall seeing a film with a landing craft during the “torch” landings in North Africa of a jeep towing a 37mm gun exiting a landing craft. That might be a good, interesting, choice of cargo.
For the assault phase of a landing I can see only one tank in the LCM. Craft need to drop off their load quickly and then get back out to go pick up a load and clear the way for follow on waves. Also for an assault like Pacific Atolls, the craft would need clearance to float over the reef and get reasonably close to the beach so wheeled vehicles won’t swamp. Tanks would weigh down the craft to reduce that possibility.
I think it is an okay kit . I just wish they would do an L.C.M. - 6 . Why ? Well Marine Pollution Control of Crockett Ca. used two LCM-6s converted to Oil Spill Skim Boats with a two level deckhouse . A tank in the middle of the Well Deck for skimmed oil and two Lori Brush skimmers over each side .
The boats were under contract to Clean Bay out of Concord at the time of the Cape Mohican Oil Spill in the bay back in the nineties . Check San Francisco Chronicle for Oil Spill , Cape Mohican . There’s a nice picture of Mine .The "Squeegee " In the paper . The other boat was called the " Sponge "
They also carried an overhead arch fitted with two booms Port annd Starboard . These were deployed to support the floating boom material whilst going forward at three knots . The oil skimmed along the floating boom , got picked up in the Loris , brought up to deck level and got deposited in the tank till it was full .
The bow was closed and Modified with a short foredeck . The Deckhouse was built over the original helm station and the extension for a generator room . They generally rode a little higher forward , when loaded , than the R.C. model pictured .
There is no way to embark an entire landing force in every available landing craft. So, you schedule the landing in waves, where the LC go in, drop off, then return to reload. This is not optional, it’s required.
A 700 man Battalion Landing Team takes about 5 waves for an administrative landing, and seven for a combat landing.
If the beach is that hot, that they might be gunning from the tide line, you’d only load the one tank.
Two reasons for that. One is tanks operate in Platoons of five. Two, ground troops are also organized by the Platton, but, that’s about 50. Sticking a couple squads in with a track, just because “there’s room” is a good way to separate those Squads from their Platoon, which is supposed to be landed with its Company.
Recall, too, that in a combat landing, you spread the LC out, 50 to 100 yards apart, so that they cannot fall into a single MG’s beaten zone. Once the landing force advances above the high water mark and pushes the MRL/MSR out to a half-mile or mile, you can start in with admin landing, where you can send the HQ and support units–which tend to be small groups of 15, 20, 30 in as “fillers” in the LC going ashore. Also, at that point, a full half the LC will be dedicated to dropping supplies at dedicated logistics points on the beach.
I got a surprise a while back. I was reading about this guy running back and forth picking wounded Marines on his LC at the landing of Tarawa But the Japs were firing everything they at him. They never did hit him was credited with saving 70 wounded men that day. and was awarded the Bronze Star
I think most of you will know who I’m talking about, His name was Eddie Albert. If you can’t place the name think the TV show Green Acres
There’s a list floating around on the internet with the old Hollywood actors and other celebrities and their service in the military.
My two favorites for boldness are Aldo Ray, who was a UDT frogman At Okinawa and Richard Todd, who was a Para Officer who jumped in Normandy on D-Day and fought at Pegasus Bridge.