Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Navy - Military - Battleships: => Topic started by: john44 on December 15, 2019, 08:24:27 pm
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i was asked a question this morning at lakeside by a fellow member who is building a ww2
Landing craft, the question was do or did they use navigation lights.
I hadn't a clue, does anyone know? I can't see any on the photo,s I looked at {:-{
John
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I know that they were fitted to LCTs but I don't know if they were used or not. That also raises the question were Nav lights ever switched on during wartime or did "blackout" rules apply.
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Hi John
I’m currently building one too, I bought a copy of US Landing Craft of WWII, Vol 1, by David Doyle.
Pictures of the LCM 6 shows a central navigation light on a pole behind the conning position.
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There will be some form of navigation lighting on all landing craft ( the only likely exception would be any specifically built for once-only use in a live operation). As much as anything else, there will be a need for much use of the craft doing training and rehearsals away from and prior to the actual landings where safety and the ability to see what the craft are up to is important. There are also situations in wartime in a theatre of operations where using lights is advisable even though there is a overall threat - in thick fog when in close formation for example.
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On the USN Flower class they often carried a shielded single light on the stern for use when in convoy so is it possible that the same would be used on landing craft when close manoeuvering?Copy of USN lighting regs from WW2 are on line if you really want to delve! %%