D-Day Landing Craft Markings

I have noticed that every type of landing craft on D-Day had these white diamonds painted on their sides, yet I have never found out what they meant. Does anyone know?

 

IIRC, craft slated for OMAHA had a blue diamond for identification, whereas those for UTAH had a white diamond. It was similar ti the colored bands painted on the bridge of craft assigned to the Commonwealth beaches: green for SWORD, red for JUNO, and blue for GOLD. In black and white it is often difficult to distinguish between colors.

 

I see, very interesting. These 2 photos are taken from Omaha. So these diamonds would be a light blue color?

 

Yes.

 

Just a side note, the LCA 1063 in your photo, was from the 551 Assault Flotilla, assigned to SS Empire Javelin

Source: Green Pages, 5 Jun 1944

 

Operations Report that Empire Javelin was part of during D Day. Empire Javelin was carrying part of a RCT, of the 116 Infantry Regiment, 29th US Div, 5th US Corps

 

Hi Rich,

The Diamond was the distinguishing marking for Force "O" alone, whereas ships/craft of Force "U" did not have any special marking. The Diamond was in light (usually white) or dark colour depending on the background colour of the ship/craft, i.e. British camouflaged craft such as LCT(HE) or LCT(A) would have a dark Diamond over the lighter background, while US dark grey painted vessels had the white Diamond. A few examples in colour:

LCT(A)(5) 2487 (dark Diamond) left, another LCT(5) (white Diamond) fore:


LCT(A) 2273 (dark Diamond) and another craft (white Diamond):


An LCT(6) with white Diamond:


(almost certainly) LCT(HE) 2049 with dark diamond with white infill over RN blue camo:


Michel