On the subject of landing craft, can anyone verify if the LCM3, such as Hobby Boss's, was used during D-Day (Normandy)? A couple of web sites claimed they were used, but in the Osprey series of D-Day #1 - 4 makes no mention of LCM's at all. Plenty of other types of landing craft, but no mention of LCM's.

There are plenty of pics from the D-Day landings showing LCMs, but I agree, I don't think I have seen any being used in actual assault operations. They were certainly used in huge numbers ferrying men and materiel between the larger ships and the beaches however. Couple of excellent books on the subject, Yves Buffetaut 'D-Day Ships' Conway, ISBN 0 85177 639 6, and Allied Landing Craft of World War Two published by the Naval Institute Press, ISBN 0-87021-064-5 . You might have to trawl eBay for copies as I don't think either are in print just now.

Tim

PS Didn't we discuss how to correct the hull on this kit some time ago? It is too deep, as I recall. I must dig out my HC kit sometime!

I don't have any referances for the British/Canadian Beachs but here is what occured at Omaha Beach

There were two assualt regiments; 16th from the 1st and the 116th from the 29th. Supporting them were two tank bat; 741st and 743rd, two engineer bat and two engineer gap team bat. to clear beach obsticles. Also there were two AAA(SP) bat, two towed 105mm how bat and two M7 105mm how bat.

All of the infantry assault bat's were carried aboard LCVPs or Royal Navy LCAs. The engineer and Medical troops were carried on LCM's. All of the vehicles and their crews were carried on LCTs including the AAA and M7 units. The exception being the two 105mm how bat which were carried on DUKWs.

The Reg and Div support troops came in next on LCIs with their vehicles on LCTs.

In the afternoon the second Regimental assualt teams were brought in on LCIs

Utah Beach was identical but with 1 Div and 1 each of the support bat.

The grand total of landing craft used by American, Canadian and British forces were as follows:

LCA and LCVP 1089
LCM 481
LCT 911
LCI 245
LST 229

The first LCMs hit Omaha Beach at H Hour plus 8 minutes.

Does any one info on the British/Canadian Beachs?

Small Fact: The 5th Rangers which Tom Hanks portays in "Saving Private Ryan" were actually carried ashore on Royal Navy LCAs and not US LCVPs. The same is true of the 2nd Rangers who assualted Point Du Hoc.

So an LCM debarking any kind of an armoured vehicle on Normandy during the assualt phase would be incorrect? Bummer! It's like having a whole wardrobe and no two pieces co-ordinating! I suppose I could use it in the Rhine crossing, but it's so boring compared to D-Day.

...but what about the landings on Sicily, southern Italy, Anzio and southern France? Then, there are all the landings in the Pacific, too.

Isamu

Mark Gilmore had commented earlier in another thread that the LCM3 was not capable of carrying a Sherman type tank (that is, including the M10 GMC) because it didn't have the flotation needed to do so safely in rough water. The lengthened LCM6 was the version used for Shermans. The LCM3 could carry the M3/M5 Stuart light tanks, but I don't believe Stuarts were landed on the American beaches on D-Day.