hello again. i have a question about a certain type of beach obstacle. i've been trying to find out what it is and what it does but no luck yet. it's a long wooden log that is elevated into sort of an angle by supports. if anyone could please tell me what they are and their purpose, i would really appreciate it. thanks
I don't know if you mean something like this. Many of the D-Day Foreshore Obstacle defences were designed on an ad hoc basis with input from Rommel himself. 'Foreshore obstacles consisted in their essentials of : - 1) Stakes driven into the sea bottom, many carrying an anti-tank mine at the tip. 2 ) Concrete tetrahedrons, also equipped at the apex with either steel blades or anti-tank mines 3) Various other items, such as captured anti-tank obstacles 4) Rommel's proposed 'nutracker mine'. This consisted of a stake let into a concrete housing containing a heavy shell. A landing-craft striking the stake would, by lever action, cause the other end to press against the fuze and detonate the shell. ' Liddell Hart, note to 'The Rommel Papers', 1953 p. 458.
If I remember the pics correctly the logs were euqipped with mines and were used for destroying landing craft/boats as well as amphibious Shermans. E
And when the Germans realised troops were moving freely on teh shore, especially at Utah and Omaha-German snipers shot at and detonated the mines, blowing men who were sheltering behind them into smithereens. Also, the shrapnel from wooden logs is not nice!!! Imagine the destruction such shrapnel wrought!!! Their original intention was to rip open LC'S, especially the larger ships, detonate the mine, wreck the LCs and cause a buildup on the shore, which the defenders could capitalise on...
Omaha beach, after D-day battles AND OTHER MEMORABLE PICS... http://www.normandybattlefields.com/book.htm http://canwar.ca/Images/507067%5B1%5D.jpg http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/h_normandy.html
Oh, now that we are talking about D-Day. Can anyone give me some information about the ships used. Like the LCT, liberty ship, ... I'd like to know a few things about them: - speed - reachable targets - troops they could carry - tanks they could carry - the distance they could travel - ... Thanx
I'm not entirely sure about this but I heard somewhere that the LCT could carry about 30 men and it's top speed was 25 kph (whatever that means ). I'm guessing I am probably wrong on both counts, but just thought I'd give it a try. Jet
I think if it's in nautical terms in probably means knots per hour. Although the spelling is off, knots means nautical miles. [ 14. January 2003, 11:51 AM: Message edited by: Doc Raider ]
Just to give you an idea of knots, Conversion table for knots to miles per hour KTS to MPH 5 Knots = 5.8 MPH 10 Knots = 11.5 MPH 15 Knots = 17.3 MPH 20 Knots = 23.0 MPH 25 Knots = 28.8 MPH 30 Knots = 34.6 MPH 35 Knots = 40.3 MPH 40 Knots = 46.1 MPH 45 Knots = 51.8 MPH 50 Knots = 57.6 MPH 55 Knots = 63.4 MPH 60 Knots = 69.1 MPH 65 Knots = 74.9 MPH 70 Knots = 80.6 MPH 75 Knots = 86.4 MPH 80 Knots = 92.2 MPH 85 Knots = 97.9 MPH 90 Knots = 103.7 MPH 95 Knots = 109.4 MPH 100 Knots = 115.2 MPH 105 Knots = 121.0 MPH 110 Knots = 126.7 MPH 115 Knots = 132.5 MPH 120 Knots = 138.2 MPH 125 Knots = 144.0 MPH 130 Knots = 149.8 MPH 135 Knots = 155.5 MPH 140 Knots = 161.3 MPH 145 Knots = 167.0 MPH 150 Knots = 172.8 MPH http://www.disastercenter.com/convert.htm
Erwin, here’s a few basic specs on the various LCT’s etc. used in WW2. Landing Ship, Infantry (Large) – LSI/(L) Crew, 290 Max speed, 18 knots Range, 22,250 km (13,285 miles) at 14 knots Capacity, 2 LCM’s, 12 LCA’s, 230 landing craft crew, 1,100 troops Landing Ship, Infantry (Medium) – LSI(M) Crew, 170 Max speed, 22 knots Range, 12,979 km (8,065 miles) at 13 knots Capacity, 2 LCM’s, 6 LCA’s, 60 landing craft crew, 370 troops Landing Ship, Tank Mk 1 – LST(1) (converted “Maracaibo” type oil tankers) Crew, 98 Max speed, 11 knots Range, 12,045 km (7,845 miles) at 10 knots Capacity, 2 LCM’s, 20 25-ton tanks, 207 troops Landing Ship, Tank Mk 1 – LST(1) (purpose built “Boxer” type) Crew, 169 Max speed, 17 knots Range, 14,830 km (9,215 miles) at 14 knots Capacity, 20 medium, or 13 heavy tanks, 27 trucks, 193 troops Landing Ship, Tank Mk 2 – LST(2) Crew, 211 Max speed, 10 knots Range, 11,120 km (6,910 miles) at 9 knots Capacity, 2 LCVP’s, 18 heavy tanks, 27 trucks, or 1 LCT (5), 163 troops Landing Ship, Tank Mk 3 – LST(3) Crew, 104 Max speed, 13 knots Range, 14,822 km (9,210 miles) at 11 knots Capacity, 5 LCA’s, 15 heavy, or 27 medium tanks, with crews, 14 trucks, 168 troops Landing Ship, Dock – (LSD) Crew, 254 Max speed, 17 knots Range, 14,830 km (9,215 miles) at 15 knots Capacity, 2 LCT(3)’s or LCT(4)’s, or 3 LCT(5)’s with relevant crews, 263 troops Landing Craft, Tank Mk’s 1 to 3 – LCT (1-3) Crew, 12 Max speed, 10 knots Range, 1,666 km (1,035 miles) at 10 knots Capacity, 3 heavy, or 6 medium, tanks with crews Landing Craft, Tank Mk 4 – LCT(4) Crew, 12 Max speed, 9 knots Range, 2,035 km (1,265 miles) at 8 knots Capacity, 6 heavy, or 9 medium, tanks with crews Landing Craft, Tank Mk’s 5 to 8 – LCT(5-8) Crew, 52 Max speed, 13 knots Range, 6,486 km (4,030 miles) at 11 knots Capacity, 3 heavy or 5 medium tanks, 54 troops Landing Craft, Infantry Large and Small – LCI(L) and LCI(S) Crew, 29 Max speed, 14 knots Range, 14,822 km (9,210 miles) at 12 knots Capacity, 210 troops Landing Craft, Mechanised Mk’s 1 to 7 – LCM(1-7) Crew, 4 Max speed, 8 knots Range, 1,577 km (980 miles) at 6 knots Capacity, 1 medium tank, or 60 troops Landing Craft, Assault – LCA Crew, 4 Max speed, 7 knots Range, 95-150 km (60-95 miles) Capacity, 35 troops As well, several landing craft types were converted to other uses, such as the Landing Craft, Flak, (LCF), which carried eight 2-pdr pompom guns and four single 20-mm guns, the Landing Craft, Gun, (LCG), designed to engage pillboxes etc, which carried two 4.7-in guns (usually manned by Royal Marines), and one or two 20-mm guns, and the Landing Craft, Tank (Rocket), LCT(R), which could carry over 1,000 rockets, launching them from a distance of about 3 km’s (2 miles) into an area measuring 700 by 150 metres wide. These 1000 rockets would deliver 17 tons of explosives onto the target area in one hit. ___________________ "Chamberlain seemed such a nice old gentleman that I thought I would give him my autograph." Adolf Hitler.
Hi all, Not sure if anyone will see this, last post seems a good while ago. Sorry Sniper but some of your LCT info is incorrect. I have done some research on this - my uncle was killed on Mk3 LCT Oct 44 (HMLCT 488). Various marks of LCT (eg1-5) were developed pre D-Day, the largest being the Mk3, produced in 2 series (No.s 300 - 499 and 7001 - 7150). Displacement (light) 350T, loaded 640T (1st series) 625T (2nd series). Dims: o/a length approx 190ft L x 31ft W. Propulsion: 1st series 2 x 500HP Davey Paxman deisel, 2nd series 2 x Stirling petrol. Both series max speed approx 10.5 to 11,5 Kts (knots, Nautical MPH). Best range: Series 1 deisel, 2700 NM @ 9 Kts (24 tons diesel fuel bunker). Complement (crew):12. Armament 2 x 2pdr or 2 x 20mm AA. Tank/cargo capacity: 5 Heavy tanks eg Churchill/11 Medium tanks eg Sherman/ 10 x 3 ton lorries/ 300T cargo. Some Mk3s converted to hospital, kitchen, Gun (LCG), rocket (LCR) and engineering vessels. Hope that is useful, I have more info if required. Best regards, Mike
