picture 181297

The British-built LCT Mk.4 was designed to be used in the English Channel during the Second World War. The equivalent of the American Landing Ship, Tank (LST), the LCT Mk.4 could carry and deploy up to six medium tanks or 300 tons of stores. One particular advantage for French Dinassaut forces using this type of craft in Indochina, was that it could operate in water as shallow as three feet. Whereas four LCTs were being used by French forces in 1946–1947, by 1954 their utility was such that riverine forces were using as many as 13 LCTs. (Artwork by David Bocquelet)