DD012 LVCP US LANDING CRAFT BY KING & COUNTRY
Overview
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Introduction to the model
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History of LCVPs in Normandy
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Collector‑oriented notes
The King & Country DD012 LVCP US Landing Craft is a finely scaled 1:30 mixed‑media diorama piece released in 1998 as part of the D‑Day ’44 – Americans collection. Featuring a lead/tin alloy and polystone hull, the set includes three U.S. Navy crew figures and two .30‑calibre machine guns, all factory‑painted and mounted on a pedestal (lastdodo.com). It captures the pivotal role of American landing craft—especially Higgins boats—in the Normandy invasion by transporting troops and equipment under heavy fire onto the beaches on June 6, 1944.
Historical Background
In the real world, the Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP), famously known as the Higgins boat, played an indispensable role during the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944. Designed by Andrew Higgins and built mainly in New Orleans and other U.S. shipyards, more than 20,000 LCVPs were produced to support amphibious operations (en.wikipedia.org). Each plywood‑hulled craft measured approximately 36 feet long and 11 feet wide, had a shallow draft for beach landings, and carried a crew of three—typically a cox’n and two gun‑crews—and could deliver a platoon of soldiers or even a jeep and trailer directly onto the sands under enemy fire (en.wikipedia.org).
The craft’s front ramp design revolutionized disembarkation by allowing troops and equipment to exit efficiently, a critical innovation for the scale of Operation Overlord (reddit.com). On D‑Day, LCVPs landed soldiers from transport ships at Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches, confronting machine‑gun nests, underwater obstacles, and bluffs. Their ability to quickly unload men and materiel directly onto the contested atoll largely determined the invasion’s early success. Though overshadowed by larger operations, LCVPs embodied the logistics backbone of the Allied beachheads, enabling sustained troop influx and bridging sea to shore for follow‑on forces. Without these workhorse vessels, scaling the beaches under fire would have been exponentially more difficult and costly.
Collector Notes
Collectors value the DD012 for its accurate portrayal and provenance. Key identification points include the serial number “DD012” and the original factory mention: “LVCP US Landing Craft incl. Three US Navy Figures & Two Machine Guns” (lastdodo.com). The scale, 1:30, mixed-media materials, and inclusion within the 1998 D‑Day ’44 Americans collection help authenticate the model. Common variants are minimal—since the set is factory‑painted, differences in paint wear or padding in packaging are more likely than casting variants. Packaging originally featured a branded box marked with the manufacturer, title, and series details. Typical secondary‑market prices range from moderate to high rarity; examples in mint condition sell between approximately US $250‑$350, depending on provenance and condition.
Inspect for chipped polystone edges—especially on the ramp—and paint loss on the figures. The pedestal should have clear factory text and minimal glue residue. Overall, condition, box presence, and intact figures significantly influence value.
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