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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Lost to enemy action, 6 June 1944

Landing Craft Tank
LCT(6)-703


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)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal


Landing Craft Tank (Mark 6):
  • Laid down in April 1944, at Pidgeon-Thomas Iron Co., Memphis, TN.
  • Launched in May 1944
  • Delivered and placed in service in May 1944 ENS. Oscar R. Elsaesser, USNR officer-in-charge
  • During World War II LCT(6)-703 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater
    : LCT Flotilla Seventeen, CDR. R. Craig Fabian;
    LCT Group Fifty and participated in the following campaign:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Invasion of Normandy, 6 June 1944
  • Sunk after striking a mine off the Normandy Beachhead, D-Day, 6 June 1944
  • Placed out of service, date unknown
  • Struck From the Naval Register, 11 December 1944
  • LCT(6)-703 earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, lost from sinking, 6 June 1944
    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
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    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LCT-703 472k LCT(6)-703 was mined, strafed, and hit by Germany 88's off the beaches at Normandy on D-Day. She was abandoned by her crew. About a half a minute before a mine blew a hole right through LCT-703 crew member Lewis A. While, MoMM3c, USNR, seen here, was standing right where the hole is located.
    US National Archives photo #80-G-244775, a US Navy photo received at the US National Archives, 11 September 1944.
    Mike Black
    LCT-703 286k LCT(6)-703 crew members looking at one of the many holes in the craft. Kneeling (L-R) Francis A. Droullard, GM2c, USNR, Willie S. Jones S1c, USNR, Charles Barone MoMM1c, USNR, Roy Raynich SM3c, USNR and Harold Shook BM1c. USNR, Second Row (L-R) Norman M. Burrell S1c, USNR, John E. Shultz S1c, USNR, Scholas R. Madden F1c, USNR, Tyrus R. Newby S1c, USNR, Edward E. Decker S1c, USNR, James Black S1c, USNR and Joseph Grossman SC2c. USNR, Back Row (L-R) Aiden E. Andry QM3c, USNR, Lewis A White MoMM3c, USNR and Frank Lynn CM2c. USNR.
    US National Archives photo #80-G-244777, a US Navy photo received at the US National Archives, 11 September 1944.
    Mike Black
    LCT-703 235k On spot being looked at by members of the the crew of LCT(6)-703 there was a jeep loaded with 1500 pounds of TNT when a shell made a direct hit on it as the crew was abandoning ship. Left to right are Harold Shook, BM1c, USNR, Ray Raynich, SM3c, USNR, in the shell hole in the bulkhead is Willie S. Jones S1c, USNR, Charles Barone MoMM1c, USNR and Francis A. Droullard, GM2c, USNR
    US National Archives photo #80-G-244776, a US Navy photo received at the US National Archives, 11 September 1944.
    Mike Black

    There is no history record for LCT(6)-703 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
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    Last Updated 7 September 2018