LCT 7074 is the last surviving LCT that took part in the D-Day landings. More than 700 landing craft tank provided the backbone of the invasion of Normandy. LCT's could carry eleven Sherman tanks and LCT 7074 carried ten to Normandy; nine got on the beach without being hit or breaking down. After returning to Southampton LCT 7074 carried American reinforcements back to Normandy for the assault on Cherbourg. A total of 235 LCT. 3 were completed. This total includes 71 to slightly modified plans, which were built by the main shipbuilders during the winter of 1943 - 44 In the modified vessels an American Sterling Admiral petrol engine was fitted in lieu of the Paxman Deisel. The Landfall was one of these 71 craft and was built by Hawthorne Leslie and Co. Ltd at their Hebburn Yard on the River Tyne and was completed on the 6th of April 1944.

The Invasion

Throughout the summer of 1944 - until the capture of the port of Antwep - the LCT under the command of Sub. Lt John Baggot and second in command Sub. Lt Philip Stephens ferried vehicles and ammunition to the Allied Armies advancing across North West Europe. After the War the Royal Navy handed the LCT 7074 to the Master Mariners of Liverpool and for many years she was the lunch club, in a central position on the Liverpool Waterfront before being taken over by Jud [George] Evans and Colin Peers of Compass Catering Ltd who converted her into what became a well known Liverpool nightclub.

The Warship Preservation Trust hopes to complete restoration of the LCT 7074 in the near future.

THE LANDFALL - SPECIFICATIONS

PROPULSION

American Sterling Admiral petrol engine

2 shafts 920 bhp speed 10 knots max

DISPLACEMENT

640 tons

DIMENSIONS

192 feet x 31 feet x 3 foot 10 inches

CREW

2 officers
10 s

ARMAMENT

2 twin barrel Orlekon 20 mm Cannon

TANK LOAD

5 Churchill Tanks

Or

11 Valentine Tanks

Or

11 Sherman Tanks

The Landfall can now be seen at the Historic Warships - East Float Dock, Dock Road, Birkenhead, Wirral.