Princess Beatrix and Queen Emma show how amphibious vessels can disappear behind generic labels in campaign histories. Some accounts of Operation Claymore mention only two unnamed landing ships, even though these ferries carried the assault force. A Royal Institution of Naval Architects paper preserves an unusually detailed record of their conversion. Following the ships by name exposes their capabilities, personnel, and operational roles more clearly than a broad order of battle.
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The overlooked Dutch ferries that became landing ships
Meet Princess Beatrix and Queen Emma, two little-known Dutch ferries converted into Royal Navy infantry landing ships.