Eight Second World War concrete replica landing craft structures

Eight Second World War concrete replica landing craft structures were built in 1943 for the American forces, intended to allow them to practice vehicle and personnel embarkation and disembarkation in preparation for the D-Day landings. Six replicate Landing Craft, Tank (LCT) and two replicate Landing Craft Mechanised (LCM). They are designated ‘A’ to ‘H’ running east to west.

The structures are located approximately 800 metres north-west of Broad Sands Beach, situated roughly north-south on the south side of a former military track (‘D’ Lane) that runs east to west. They are deliberately offset against each other to simulate the potential uneven approach to the beach.

The two easternmost structures replicate the decks of the Landing Craft Mechanised (LCM). Craft A is a concrete base approximately 12 metres long by 4 metres wide, comprising a 4-metre long rear flat panel, a slightly ramped 4-metre panel, a further 1.8-metre flat panel, and a downwards ramp at the front measuring 3.4 metres. A 15cm raised lip, 7cm high, runs 30cm from the edge around the rear three sections of the base, with adjacent holes where temporary sides would have been attached. Craft B is overgrown and partially demolished, and is assumed to be of the same dimensions.

The remaining structures replicate the decks of six Landing Craft, Tank (LCT). Each concrete base measures approximately 36.3 metres long by 9.8 metres wide, including a 3-metre extension to the rear. The north side of the replica craft features shuttered concrete walls, up to 2 metres high, angled inwards around a downward-sloping, textured concrete ramp approximately 3 metres long. The bases contain various steel rings and post holes used for lashing down vehicles and attaching temporary sides. The front walls of craft C have been partially demolished. Craft H’s rear concrete extension is inscribed with ‘Co C 1st Platoon 146th Engineers’. Craft D has a dug-out trench at the base of the ramp, sometimes containing water; that to craft E is infilled. The front walls (or ‘jaws’) of craft G and H have been demolished.