Talk:Landing craft, mechanized

I wrote this article from scratch for Citizendium in May, 2007. Louis F. Sander 14:41, 1 May 2007 (CDT)

Name of vessel type

I think you'll find an LCM is a "landing craft, medium". In World War II, the only landing craft I'd put into the category of "mechanized" is the Marine amphibious tractor (AMTRAC), which could be armored. There also was the Army's amphibious DUKW "Duck".

Howard C. Berkowitz 12:08, 13 May 2008 (CDT)

The government photo in the article and at least one of the references uses "mechanized." The word "medium" isn't there. Louis F. Sander 10:07, 15 May 2008 (CDT)

I have seen some recent Navy references calling using "Mechanized", but that's very new. The LCM-8 (Landing Craft Medium, Mark 8) was very common, although mostly used outside the U.S.

See JOINT PUB 3-06 DOCTRINE FOR JOINT RIVERINE OperationS at http://usmc.boats.dt.navy.mil/doctrine/Joint%20Riverine%20Ops.PDF, Reposturing the Force: U.S. Overseas Presence in the Twenty-first Century at http://www.nwc.navy.mil/press/newportpapers/documents/26.pdf, A CINCPAC Glossary of Commonly Used Abbreviations and Short Titles at http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/cincpac_gloss.htm and http://www.history.army.mil/books/Vietnam/northern/nprovinces-ch3.htm

The definitive answer for the current U.S. Navy usage would be from the Navy Surface Systems Command, but it's a change from long usage to call it "Mechanized". I'd suggest saying "Medium" is most common, going back to WWII, but that there may have been a recent change. Howard C. Berkowitz 10:27, 15 May 2008 (CDT)