View source for Engineering:Landing Craft Mechanized

{{short description|Landing craft designed for carrying vehicles}}
[[File:US Navy 090615-N-6676S-456 Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM) 14, assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, transports Sailors, Soldiers and Marines during operations supporting Joint Logistics Over-The-Shore (JLOTS) exercises.jpg|thumb|An American landing craft mechanized (LCM) in June 2009]]
[[File:Kiska Invasion 01.jpg|thumb|Troops and an LCM in August 1943]]
[[File:Close to Leyte beach.jpg|thumb|An LCM during the invasion of Leyte]]

The '''landing craft mechanized''' ('''LCM''') is a landing craft designed for carrying vehicles. They came to prominence during the Second World War when they were used to land troops or [[Engineering:Tank|tank]]s during Allied [[Social:Amphibious warfare|amphibious assaults]].

== Variants ==

There was no single design of LCM used, unlike the landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP) or Landing Craft Assault (LCA) landing craft made by the US and UK respectively. There were several different designs built by the UK and US and by different manufacturers.

The British Motor Landing Craft (MLC) was conceived and tested in the 1920s and was used from 1924 in exercises. Nine were in service at the start of the war. It was the first purpose built tank landing craft. It was the progenitor of all subsequent LCM designs.

=== LCM (1) ===
[[File:The_Royal_Navy_during_the_Second_World_War-_the_Dieppe_Raid,_August_1942_A11228.jpg|thumb|Two LCM(1) after the Dieppe Raid 1942]] 
The landing craft, mechanised Mark I was an early British model. It was able to be slung under the davits of a liner or on a cargo ship boom with the result that it was limited to a 16-ton tank.<ref>William F Buckingham. ''D-Day the First 72 hours'' Tempus Publishing, Stroud. 2004</ref>

The LCM Mark I was used during the Allied landings in Norway (one alongside the MLCs),<ref>Maund 1949, p. 41</ref> and at Dieppe and some 600 were built.

*Displacement: 35 tonnes
*Length: {{convert|13.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
*Width: {{convert|4.27|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
*Draught: {{convert|1.22|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
*Machinery: two Chrysler 100&nbsp;hp petrol engines
*Speed: 7 knots
*Crew: 6 men
*Armament: two .303&nbsp;in. [[Engineering:Lewis gun|Lewis gun]]s
*Capacity: one medium tank, or 26.8 tons of cargo or 60 troops
**100 men<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://members.lycos.co.uk/Indochine/cefeo/boats.html |title=French Riverine Craft |access-date=2009-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205120723/http://members.lycos.co.uk/Indochine/cefeo/boats.html#LCM1 |archive-date=2008-12-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== LCM (2) ===
*Displacement: 29 tons
*Length: 45&nbsp;ft (14 m)
*Beam: 14&nbsp;ft 1&nbsp;in (4.3 m)
*Draft: 3&nbsp;ft (0.91 m)
*Speed: 8.5 knots (15.7&nbsp;km/h)
*Armament: two .50-cal M2 Browning machine guns
*Crew: 4
*Capacity; 100 troops, or one 13.5 ton tank, or 15 tons of cargo

The first American LCM design, from the US Navy's Bureau of Construction and Repair. Approximately 150 were built by American Car & Foundry and Higgins Industries.

=== LCM (3) ===
[[Image:Higgins LCM-3 at Battleship Cove, Fall River MA.jpg|thumb|right|Higgins LCM-3 at Battleship Cove]]
There were two designs:
*'''Bureau'''
Capable of carrying {{convert|120000|lb|abbr=on}} of cargo
*'''Higgins'''
In appearance very similar to the LCVP which Higgins Industries also constructed, with a {{convert|10|ft|m|sing=on}} wide load area at the front and a small armoured (1/4&nbsp;inch steel) wheelhouse on the aft decking over the engine room. A Higgins LCM-3 is  on display at the Battleship Cove maritime museum in Fall River, Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.battleshipcove.org/exhibits-lcm.htm |title=Landing Craft Mechanized |access-date=2009-03-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403235455/http://www.battleshipcove.org/exhibits-lcm.htm |archive-date=2009-04-03 |website=battleshipcove.org}}</ref> Another Higgins LCM-3 is  displayed at the Museo Storico Piana delle Orme in Province of Latina, Italy, 18 miles East of Anzio.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.anzio.it/Piana%20delle%20orme.htm|title=Info about Piana delle Orme museum on site about Anzio|access-date=2021-09-24}}</ref>

*Displacement: 52 tons (loaded); 23 tons (empty) 
*Length: {{convert|50|ft|m}}
*Beam: {{convert|14|ft|m}}
*Draft: {{convert|3|ft|m}} (forward); {{convert|4|ft|m}} (aft)
*Speed: {{convert|8|kn|mph}} (loaded); {{convert|11|kn|mph}} (empty) 
*Armament: two .50-cal M2 Browning machine guns
*Crew: 4
*Capacity: One 30-ton tank (e.g. [[Engineering:M4 Sherman|M4 Sherman]]), 60 troops, or {{convert|60000|lb|abbr=on}} of cargo

=== LCM (4) ===
In the years 1943 and 1944, seventy-seven LCM(4)s were built.<ref>Ladd, 1976, p. 44</ref> Outwardly, the LCM(4) was almost completely identical to a late model LCM(1) – the difference lay inside the pontoon. Here special bilge pumps and special ballast tanks allowed the LCM(4) to alter trim to increase stability when partially loaded.

=== LCM (5) ===
British model of LCM

=== LCM (6) ===
The LCM (6) was an LCM (3) extended by {{convert|6|ft|m}} amidships. 

* Power plant:
** 2 Detroit 6-71 diesel engines; {{convert|348|hp|abbr=on}} sustained; twin shaft; or
** 2 Detroit 8V-71 diesel engines; {{convert|460|hp|abbr=on}} sustained; twin shaft
* Length: 56.2 feet (17.1&nbsp;m)
* Beam: 14 feet (4.3&nbsp;m)
* Displacement: 64 tons (65 metric tons) full load
* Speed: 9 knots (10.3&nbsp;mph, 16.6&nbsp;km/h)
* Range: 130 miles (240&nbsp;km) at {{convert|9|kn|km/h}}
* Military lift: 34 tons (34.6 metric tons) or 80 troops
* Crew: 5

Many LCM-6s were later adapted for the Mobile Riverine Force in the Vietnam War. Some were modified as Armored Troop Carriers (ATCs or "Tangos"), others became "[[Engineering:Monitor (Vietnam War)|Monitors]]" with 105mm guns, "Zippos" with flamethrowers or "Charlie" command variants.

=== LCM (7) ===
British model of LCM

=== LCM (8) ===
[[Image:Lcm-8 1972.jpg|thumb|LCM-8 in March 1972]]

General characteristics, LCM 8 Type
* Power plant: four 6-71 six-cylinder diesels, two hydraulic transmissions, two propeller shafts. (Lighterage Division, Naval Support Activity Danang 1969-1970) crew of 3: coxswain, bowhook, and engineer (aka "snipe")
* Power plant: 2 Detroit 12V-71 diesel engines; {{convert|680|hp|abbr=on}} sustained; twin shafts
* Length: 73.7 feet (22.5&nbsp;m)
* Beam: 21 feet (6.4&nbsp;m)
* Displacement: 105 tons (106.7 metric tons) full load
* Speed: 12&nbsp;kt (13.8&nbsp;mph, 22.2&nbsp;km/h)
* Range: 190&nbsp;nm (350&nbsp;km) at {{convert|9|kn|km/h}} full load
* Capacity: 53.5 tons (54.4 metric tons)
* Military lift: one M48 or one M60 tank or 200 troops
* Crew: 5

==Operators==
*{{flag|Turkey}} – Turkish Naval Forces<ref>{{cite web|url=http://turkishnavy.net/c-302-lcm-class/|title=Ç-302 LCM CLASS|date=24 March 2013}}</ref>
*{{flag|United States}} – United States Navy, U.S. Army 7th Transportation Brigade Expeditionary
*{{flag|Thailand}} – Royal Thai Navy
*{{flag|Australia}} – Royal Australian Navy
*{{flag|Australia}} – Australian Army
*{{flag|Spain}} – Spanish Navy
*{{flag|El Salvador}} – Navy of El Salvador
*{{flag|New Zealand}} – Royal New Zealand Navy
*{{flag|Egypt}} – Egyptian Navy
*{{flag|Saudi Arabia}} – Royal Saudi Navy
*{{flag|Pakistan}} - Pakistan Navy
*{{flag|Japan}} - Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
*{{flag|Vietnam}} - Vietnam People's Navy

===Former operators===
*{{flag|Khmer Republic}} – Khmer National Navy
*{{flag|South Vietnam}} – Republic of Vietnam Navy

== See also ==

*Motor Landing Craft
*Landing Craft, Tank
*LCVP (United States)
*LCM2000
*LCM 25 ton type - Japanese version of LCM-6

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== References ==
*Gordon L. Rottman & Tony Bryan, ''Landing Ship, Tank (LST) 1942–2002'', New Vanguard series 115, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2005. {{ISBN|9781841769233}}
*Gordon L. Rottman & Hugh Johnson, ''Vietnam Riverine Craft 1962–75'', New Vanguard series 128, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2006. {{ISBN|9781841769318}}
*Gordon L. Rottman & Peter Bull, ''Landing Craft, Infantry and Fire Support'', New Vanguard series 157, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2009. {{ISBN|9781846034350}}
*Maund, LEH ''Assault From the Sea'', Methuen & Co. Ltd., London 1949.

== External links ==
*[http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/surfskill.htm Skill in the Surf: A Landing Boat Manual]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081020030238/http://www.boats.dt.navy.mil/pg2/LCM(6).htm LCM-6 principal characteristics]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070626153507/http://www.transchool.eustis.army.mil/lic/documents/History%20of%20LOTS%20Outline.doc History of "Logistics over The Shore" operations]
*[http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=1600&ct=4 LCM & LCU fact file]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060927172544/http://wrc.navair-rdte.navy.mil/warfighter_enc/SHIPS/shiptype/lcms.htm LCM information]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060527235410/http://www.ussrankin.org/id40.htm USS Rankin (AKA-103): LCM]
*[https://archive.today/20121212034855/https://savage.nps.edu/Savage/ShipsMilitary/LCM6-LandingCraftMechanized-UnitedStates/_pages/page01.html LCM-6 Xj3D/VRML model]
*[https://savage.nps.edu/svn/nps/Savage/ShipsMilitary/LCM6-LandingCraftMechanized-UnitedStates/textures/ LCM-6 surface textures required for Xj3D/VRML model]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}


[[Category:Ship types]]

{{Sourceattribution|Landing Craft Mechanized|1}}