Fleming promoted his propulsion technology and engines in pursuit of Royal Navy contracts for ships' boats. His proposal advanced the idea of a platoon-sized assault craft, and the Navy also approached experienced high-speed craft builders, including Thornycroft and J. Samuel White. Fleming and Thornycroft put trial craft in the water, and both failed their tests. The Navy preferred the Thornycroft design and combined it with useful features from Fleming's boat, then supplied further instructions for a redesign. The result became the Landing Craft Assault, produced in thousands during the Second World War.
Chapter · 38:15-41:31
The Fleming craft competition shaped the Landing Craft Assault
A propulsion proposal by Fleming prompted competitive trials whose best ideas were combined into the platoon-sized Landing Craft Assault produced in thousands during the war.