View source for 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|U.S. Navy landing craft mechanized (LCM) during logistics exercise 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 [[Battle of Leyte|invasion of Leyte]]]]

The '''landing craft mechanized''' ('''LCM''') is a military [[landing craft]] designed for carrying personnel and vehicles from ship to shore without requiring a [[pier]] or other shore-based structure. Multiple different models with varying size, capacity, and power plants were produced starting in 1920. They came to prominence during the [[Second World War]] when they were used to land troops and [[tank]]s during [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[Amphibious warfare|amphibious assaults]].

== Variants ==

There was no single design of LCM used, unlike the [[LCVP (United States)|landing craft, vehicle, personnel]] (LCVP) or [[Landing Craft Assault|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|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) ===
{{main|LCM 1}}
[[File:The_Royal_Navy_during_the_Second_World_War-_the_Dieppe_Raid,_August_1942_A11228.jpg|thumb|Two British LCM(2)s 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>{{clarify|which variety of ton?|date=March 2024}}

The LCM Mark I was used during the [[Norwegian Campaign#Ground campaign|Allied landings in Norway]] (one alongside the MLCs),<ref>Maund 1949, p. 41</ref> and [[Dieppe Raid|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. [[Lewis gun]]s
*Capacity: one medium tank, or 26.8 tons of cargo or 60 troops{{clarify|which variety of ton?|date=March 2024}}
**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>
**{{convert|54,500|lb|LT|abbr=on}} with {{convert|9|in|cm|abbr=on}} of freeboard<ref>Norman Friedman ''U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History'' Naval Institute Press, 2002 9781557502506</ref>{{page needed|date=August 2022}}

=== LCM (2) ===
{{main|LCM (2)}}

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]].
*Displacement: 29 tons
*Length: {{convert|45|ft|m|abbr=on}}
*Beam: {{convert|14|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on}}
*Draft: {{convert|3|ft|m|abbr=on}}
*Speed: {{convert|8.5|kn|km/h}}
*Armament: two .50-cal [[M2 Browning machine gun]]s
*Crew: 4
*Capacity; 100 troops, or one 13.5 ton tank, or 15 tons of cargo

=== LCM (3) ===
[[Image:Higgins LCM-3 at Battleship Cove, Fall River MA.jpg|thumb|right|Higgins LCM-6 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|adj=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 vessel claiming to be a Higgins LCM-3 is on display at the Battleship Cove [[maritime museum]] in [[Fall River, Massachusetts]], however this vessel has the superstructure and overall length of an LCM-6.<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) {{clarify|which variety of ton?|date=March 2024}}
*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 gun]]s
*Crew: 4
*Capacity: One 30-ton tank{{clarify|which variety of ton?|date=March 2024}} (e.g. [[M4 Sherman]]), 60 troops, or {{convert|60000|lb|abbr=on}} of cargo

=== LCM (4) ===
In 1943 and 1944, seventy-seven LCM(4)s were built.<ref>Ladd, 1976, p. 44</ref> Externally, the LCM(4) resembled a late model LCM(1) but inside the pontoon special bilge pumps and 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: {{convert|56.2|ft|m}}
* Beam: {{convert|14|ft|m}}
* Displacement: 64 tons (65 tonnes) full load
* Speed: {{convert|9|kn|mph km/h}}
* Range: {{convert|130|mi|km}} at {{convert|9|kn|km/h}}
* Military lift: 34 tons (34.6 tonnes) 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 "[[Tango (boat)|Tangos]]"), others became "[[Monitor (Vietnam War)|monitors]]" with 105&nbsp;mm guns, "Zippos" with flamethrowers or "Charlie" command variants.

A few LCMs were converted to lay and repair hoses for [[List of United States Navy oilers#Other transport oilers|tankers equipped with the offshore petroleum discharge system (OPDS)]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/opds.htm |title=Offshore Petroleum Discharge System (OPDS) |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org }}</ref>

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

=== LCM (8) ===
[[Image:Lcm-8 1972.jpg|thumb|LCM-8 during landing exercises in the Caribbean in March 1972]]

{{main|LCM-8}}
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: {{convert|73.7|ft|m}}
* Beam: {{convert|21|ft|m}}
* Displacement: 105 tons{{clarify|what kind of "ton" is this?|date=January 2024}} (106.7 tonnes) full load
* Speed: {{convert|12|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}
* Range: {{convert|190|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|9|kn|km/h}} full load
* Capacity: 53.5 tons (54.4 tonnes)
* Military lift: one [[M48 Patton|M48]] or one [[M60 tank|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 ==
*[https://archive.today/20121212210112/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]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050527204154/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 }}
*LCM 6 Project. French west coast association. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086543887103

{{Warship types of the 19th & 20th centuries}}

[[Category:Landing craft]]
[[Category:Ship types]]