Drawing of LCT MKIII
LCT 326 as surveyed in 2019
Multibeam sonar data collected from a known shipwreck site off Bardsey Island by the Bangor team using the research vessel Prince Madog last year has recently been identified as a World War II landing craft reportedly lost off the Isle of Man.
LCT 326 was a Mk III ‘Landing Craft Tank’ designed to land armoured vehicles during amphibious operations. These highly specialised vessels were built in large numbers in the last years of World War II and were extensively used during the D-day operations of June 1944. LCT 326 disappeared while transiting from Scotland to Devon in February 1943, with the loss of 14 crew. The Admiralty listed the cause of the loss as bad weather or collision with a mine off the Isle of Man, however this new research now places the wreck over 100 miles away off Bardsey Island, North Wales.
Dr McCartney said: ‘The wreck of LCT 326 is one of over 300 sites in Welsh waters which have been surveyed by the Prince Madog and the aim of this particular piece of research is to identify as many offshore wrecks in Welsh waters as possible and shed light on their respective maritime heritage. This aspect of the project has resulted in many new and exciting discoveries relating to both world wars, of which LCT 326 is just one example.’