WWII Tank Landing Craft LCT7074

Paint research was undertaken on the last surviving tank landing craft from D-Day

  • Tank landing craft simular to LCT7074 in 1944

    Tank landing craft simular to LCT7074 in 1944

  • LCT7074 in 1972

    LCT7074 in 1972

  • Undergoing restoration

    Undergoing restoration

  • Historic paint research as part of the restoration project

    Historic paint research as part of the restoration project

Built in 1944, LCT 7074 is the last Tank Landing Craft from the D-Day landings surviving in the UK. She was designed as an amphibious assault ship to transport tanks, personal and other vehicles and kit on to beachheads. 

Although minor works were carried out in the 1990s, by the 2010s she had fallen into disrepair and became partly submerged. Following a grant by National Memorial Heritage Fund, in October 2014 she was re-floated by the National Museum of the Royal Navy and stored in Portsmouth for much-needed conservation work, which we were commissioned to assist with. 

This involved analysing the remaining paint layers to determine the original appearance on the D-Day landings and to record how the vessel’s appearance has changed throughout her unique history.  

The original grey and cream camouflage scheme was identified, as well as evidence of being repainted for her intended use in the Pacific, showing just how close she came to serving here. Remnants from her use as a nightclub were also found – included fragments of gold padded-fabric wallcovering!