Landing crafts Loading plans and cargo

Meanwhile DCS: World has not design to simulate Landing or Beaching operations. I research the loading plans to LST and LCVP for mission / Dynamic Campaigns makers.

From Transport Doctrine, Amphibious Force Pacific Theatre, September 1944

Chapter XX Amphibious Force Loading, Embarkation, Debarkation and Unloading

https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ref/Transport/transport-20.html#s3

And Hazegray.org:

http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/amphib/apa26.txt

Section 3. Loading of Landing Ship Tank (LST)

The type of cargo that may be carried by LSTs varies from 1/4 ton trucks to large tanks with all classes of vehicles included, from small arms ammunition to large caliber ammunition and bombs, from cement to "C" rations, from gasoline in cans to diesel oil in the ballast tanks. The cargo officer must know how to handle and secure this cargo.

These craft are invaluable not only as freight carriers in the initial landing, but also as the means of rapid delivery of bulk cargo to the position captured until adequate port facilities can be established.

Each LST shall have one officer detailed as cargo officer. It is his duty to see that cargo is properly and securely stowed. When a troop transport quartermaster is present, the cargo officer shall work in close collaboration with him. He shall see that the ship is not overloaded. He shall keep the Commanding Officer informed of the situation at all times.

Loading of LSTs.

Equipment and cargo of troops is stowed by them in accordance with a carefully prepared stowage plan previously worked out by the troop transport quartermaster and cargo officer and approved by the Commanding Officer of the ship. Plans will be approved by LST Group Commanders in the same manner as plans are approved for APAs and AKAs by Transport Division Commanders (see Chapter XIX).

Other cargo may be stowed by the providing activity. Ordinarily, for long hauls, the cargo will be stowed and stored by the supplying agency. For short hauls, as in unloading transports or cargo ships in a forward area, cargo will be loosely dumped on deck.

Satisfactory loading depends upon careful planning based upon a full exchange of complete and accurate information between ship and unit to be embarked.

Cargo in an LST must be stowed in a manner different from that employed when loading transports or cargo vessels. If a large amount of loose cargo is to be unloaded rapidly, it must be stowed outboard on each side of the tank deck and at the after end, leaving space sufficient to permit trucks to be backed in, permitting 6 or 8 of them to be loaded simultaneously.

Trucks and trailers should be fully loaded when embarked. The more rolling stock stowed the faster the ship is able to unload when beached.

When the ship is properly loaded and with efficient unloading, 500 tons of bulk cargo can be discharged within one daylight period.

Each LST has been allotted one crawler crane and two finger lifts which are a great assistance in loading and unloading bulk cargo or pallets.

For Safety Regulations, see LST Type Organizations, Regulations and Standard Operating Procedure, Chapter VII, Section 2, Appendix 4 to this publication.

Capacities of an LST are generally as follows:

Troop Officers -- 12 to 16.

Troops, enlisted -- 150.

Landing condition: Cargo load 500 tons; draft forward 3'0"; draft aft 9'6"

Ocean going condition: Cargo load, 1431 long tons; draft forward 8'0" draft aft 14'4".

Maximum load carried in Main (weather) Deck -- 350 tons.

Main (weather) deck -- 6000 sq. ft. (not over 4500 sq. ft. net, because of ventilators, padeyes, etc.).

Tank Deck -- 28 ft. x 226 ft. -- 6328 sq. ft. all net, of which 4707 sq. ft. are abaft of elevator.

LST Loading Diagram

Elevator from tank deck to weather deck; dimensions 24 ft. fore and aft by 14 ft. thwartships; maximum capacity 10 tons. LST numbers 514 and up, except number 531, are equipped with a ramp instead of an elevator; dimensions, 30'6" by 12'6".

LST have no booms and must be loaded:

Direct from beach over ramp in bow (preferred method).

From a lighter secured to the ramp.

By crane from dock or by another ship; cargo then lowered by elevator -- a slow, laborious method. For LSTs with ramps instead of elevators, this method is not practicable.

Speed of ship maximum 10 knots. Vehicle capacities are as follows:

Load for Tank Deck

Light tanks 30.

Medium tanks 20.

Heavy tanks 10.

LVTs 17.

2-1/2 ton trucks 33.

Load for Main (weather) deck

1/4 ton trucks 44.

LVT(1) 9.

2-1/2 ton trucks 24.

Ocean Going Cargo Characteristics.

This tonnage figure is placed at 1431 long tons. It is variable depending on weights of other factors affecting the displacement and is based on the following:

Light Ship (7-40mm singles, 12-20mm) __________ 1490 tons.

Fuel Oil (all regular fuel oil tanks full, to give a cruising distance of 12,000 miles with adverse conditions of weather and bottom) __________ 595 tons.

Fresh water (all designed fresh water tanks full, LSTs without evaps). __________ 434 tons.

Lube Oil __________ 10 tons.

Stores __________ 36 tons.

Complement (23 officers at 400 lbs. per man; 217 men at 300 lbs. per man)

NOTE: Complement for all bunks full, crew and troops. __________ 33 tons.

Ammunition -- 20mm __________ 8 tons.

Ammunition -- 40mm __________ 33 tons.

Liquids in machinery __________ 10 tons.

Total, prior to loading __________ 2,649 tons.

Cargo -- Pay Load __________ 1,431 tons.

MAXIMUM OCEAN DISPLACEMENT __________ 4,080 tons.

The following special loads will reduce the ocean going cargo capacity.

LCT(6) with stores, parts, etc., ways and launching gear __________ 176 tons.

2 x 30 pontoon causeways __________ 90 tons.

3 x 7 pontoon __________ 30 tons.

3 x 12 pontoon barge (add 4 tons to pontoons if self-propelled) __________ 54 tons.

LCM(3) __________ 28 tons.

LCV(P) __________ 8 tons.

Tank Cargo Space Dimensions:

Length (to top of hump) 250 ft.

Width (inside fenders) 28' x 6"

Width (inside angle) 29' x 4"

Height (to bottom of beams) 12'11/2"

Volume 92,765 cu. ft.

Door opening (clear) 14' x 13'6" wide

Ramp dimensions 23' x 15'6"

Cargo hatch dimensions 32' x 14'

Doors open thru arc of 104 degrees

Section 7. Loading of Landing Craft

General:

One of the most serious handicaps which will complicate the TQM's problem in unloading a ship is the limited number of landing boats and tank lighters available for ferrying vehicles and supplies ashore. Ordinarily APAs carry 2-4 LCMs and 25-30 LCVPs. Obviously no equipment which can be carried in LCVPs should be sent ashore in LCMs as long as heavy equipment remains aboard. Capacity of landing boats is generally referred to in terms of BOAT SPACES. It is assumed that one boat space is equal in weight or volume of an average soldier fully equipped for combat. For the sake of a uniform figure

a BOAT SPACE is assumed to equal 224 lbs. or 53.5 cubic feet. Either figure is used depending on which capacity is reached first. Listed below are loadings which have been used on actual operations:

LCVP 4 tons cargo:

3/4 ton C&R, W/C, etc.

1/4 ton truck and trailer, plus 17 men

105mm Howitzer plus 15 men

2 - 1 ton trailers plus 5 men

37mm A/T gun, 1/4 ton truck and 15 men

Amphibian 1/4 ton truck and 15 men

2 - 37mm A/T guns plus 18 men

------

AP56, 2/1943- APA26 Samuel Chase (ex-African Meteor)

Military load

22 LCVP, 2 - 4 LCM(3), cargo, 1304 troops

by 1945: 4 LCM(6), 18 LCVP, 3 LCPL, 2 LCPR, 2700t of cargo, 1240 marines

(To update with others Landing Ships / Landing Crafts Appears on DCS: World).