Although the popular image of landing craft such as those used on D-Day has them full of troops, the LCM ('Landing Craft Mechanized' or 'Landing Craft Mechanical') were designed primarily to land vehicles like the Sherman tank included in this set. Airfix also included the above three crewmen, who all wear heavy duffle coats and steel helmets. The man in the middle is intended for the armoured wheelhouse, where he is controlling the craft, while the other two are presumably supervising the loading or unloading. As poses go these are quite generic and so usable away from the LCM.
The sculpting is not particularly good. While the somewhat bulky feel of the figures is entirely suitable since they wear thick coats, the detail is only reasonable and the helmets in particular are not a great representation of the real thing. The coats are much too short as they normally fell close to the knee, but the overall proportions of these men are a little off anyway. There is also a noticeable amount of flash on our examples, although this may well vary as you might expect for such an old kit.
More naval figures are always welcome (one man even has a beard, proving his membership of the Royal Navy), and these are unique in terms of their dress, so are useful. Not the best figures ever made, but could still serve in various naval situations as required.
Below are examples of how the completed kit was illustrated in Airfix catalogues.
