Were on the move again, this time to Fargo Building, Boston, We were gainingĪnd appoint commanding officers it was a slow process. In addition, many officers and men practi ced ship handling onboard LCTs. Recognition, gas warfare and communications. Training was provided in gunnery, fire-fighting, Midshipman schools, armed guard and boot camps. We were soon responsible for144 officers andġ537 men recruited from all branches of the US Navy, including small boat crews, The size of the equivalent US Navy vessels.ĭeveloped and expanded, in October 1943 we moved to Camp Bradford, Virginia. (R)s were all British Mk3 LCT conversions , In-shore support and cover for the troop carrying landing craft. In addition to these craft, weĪlso provided for 9 Landing Craft (Flak) and 5 LandingĬraft Gun (Large). Iīecame Group Commander of the 14 LCT (R)s that became part of that group with Ltĭ P G Cameron as my executive officer. The initial assault phase of major amphibious beach landings. Were to train crews for what became ‘Gunfire Support Craft’ during In September 1943, a ‘Special Support Group’Īmphibious base near Norfolk, Virginia with a nucleus of three officers, Lieutenant Commander Louis E Hart, Lieutenantĭ P G Cameron and myself, Lieutenant (jg) Larry W Carr, (jg = Junior Grade). Virginia for Landing Craft Tank (LCT) training. I completed the course in March 1943, commissioned an ensign and ordered to the Amphibious Base in Little Creek, Where I was ordered to report to Columbia University in New York City for In August 1942, we arrived in New Caledonia, On realising the Japanese intention to sink us in the harbour mouth to We proceeded into the harbour but soon reversed to clear the harbour entrance This action took place one and a half hoursĠ755 that morning. Submarine and struck the first blow in the war with Japan. Since the Antares was unarmed we alerted theĭestroyer USS Ward, which was close by. We passed through the submarine nets at the entrance to Pearl Harbour atĪpproximately 0625 and saw the conning tower of what we believed was a The USS Antares, a stores issue ship returning from a mission south to Canton On December 7 th, 1941, I was a Storekeeper 3 rd Class on Of 69th Brigade, 50th Infantry Division, on King beach, Gold area. She is at anchor in the Solent, 3 June, 1944, On D-Day she supported the assault [Photo LCT (R) 440 was a sister ship of those mentioned in this account. Story starts with a brief aside concerning Pearl Harbour in 1941. (Rocket), US LCT (R)s, during operations off Normandy and Southern France in the summer of 1944. Previous AMAs | Previous Roundtables Featuresįeature posts are posted weekly.Personal recollections of Lt Commander Carr, Group Commander Please Subscribe to our Google Calendar for Upcoming AMAs and Events To nominate someone else as a Quality Contributor, message the mods. Our flaired users have detailed knowledge of their historical specialty and a proven record of excellent contributions to /r/AskHistorians. Please Read and Understand the Rules Before Contributing. Report Comments That Break Reddiquette or the Subreddit Rules. Serious On-Topic Comments Only: No Jokes, Anecdotes, Clutter, or other Digressions. Provide Primary and Secondary Sources If Asked. Write Original, In-Depth and Comprehensive Answers, Using Good Historical Practices. Questions should be clear and specific in what they ask, and should be able to get detailed answers from historians whose expertise is likely to be in particular times and places. Nothing Less Than 20 Years Old, and Don't Soapbox. Be Nice: No Racism, Bigotry, or Offensive Behavior.