The LCM (Landing Craft Mechanized) saw more than 8,500 were built in American yards between 1942 and 1945. As Britain had no tank-carrying craft lighter than LCT (Landing Craft Tank), LCMs were also readily adopted by the Royal Navy. LCMs could be either carried on ship davits, or towed across the English Channel. Due to the danger of swamping in rough seas, most LCMs were towed across the Channel and not loaded with troops until the morning of D-Day. LCMs could be readily identified by their unique perforated bow ramp.