Landing craft

Landing craft are small or medium sized boats made to land at a beach. They help military troops move from their transport ships to the beach, when they cannot use a port. They are also used to deliver supplies and vehicles for troops. To get onto a beach, the landing craft has to be flat-bottomed. The lack of a proper keel makes them uncomfortable in rough seas.

Troops walk to shore from a large landing ship in wartime

World War II had many invasions from the sea including Operation Overlord. Landing craft were less used in earlier and later wars.