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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LCT(6)-540
Landing Craft Tank

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive - 6 June 1944) - Presidential Unit Citation, 6 June 1944)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Landing Craft Tank (Mark 6) Class:
  • Laid down, 3 September 1943, at Bison Shipbuilding Corp, North Tonawanda, N.Y.
  • Launched, 19 September 1943 Delivered, 17 October 1943, LTjg. Frederick Nye Moses Officer In Charge
  • During World War II LCT(6)-540 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East heater, LCT Flotilla 15, LCDR Pruet, and participated in the following campaign:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944
  • Placed out of service, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • LCT(6)-540 earned the Presidential Unit Citation and one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 143 to 160 t.(lt), 309 to 320 t.(fl)
    Length 119' 1" (ovl.)
    Beam 32' 8"
    Draft
    limiting 3' 9"
    maximum navigation 5'
    Speed 10 kts.
    Range 700 nautical miles at 7 kts.
    Complement
    1 officer
    12 enlisted
    Cargo Capacity 150 short tons
    Armament
    two single 20mm AA gun mounts
    four .50 cal. machine guns
    Armor
    wheelhouse 20lbs
    gun shields 10lbs
    Fuel Capacity Diesel 80 Bbls
    Propulsion
    three Grey Marine 6-71 Diesel engines
    two Diesel-drive 10Kw 120V. D.C. Ships' Service Generators
    three propellers, 675shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LCT-540 155k LCT(6)-540 on the beach at Normandy, 7 June 1944 John Kellers
    LST-372 149k The stern of LCT(6)-540 married to the bow ramp of USS LST-372 probably off the Normandy beachhead, while unloading supplies and equipment, date unknown.. Note the barrage balloons overhead. Josh McNattin for his grandfather, Richard B McNattin USS LST-372
    LCT-540
    1018054003    		 123k The crew of LCT(6)-540 who on D-Day earned a Presidential Unit Citation, the highest honor given to a military combat unit. According to the Navy, the degree of heroism required for the Presidential Unit Citation is the same as that which would be required for an individual to receive the Navy Cross, which as an individual award, is second only to the Congressional Medal of Honor . Tommy Trampp
    There is no history for LCT(6)-540 available at Navsource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    World War II LCT Flotillas
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Craft Tank (LCT) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 26 March 2021 Last Updated 20 November 2020