Navy lighterage pontoon

John N. Laycock Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) and used by United States Navy Construction Battalions (Seabees)[1] on invasion beaches and shallow harbors or harbors where the facilities had been destroyed or did not exist.

Carl A. Carlson CEC of the War Plans Office came up with the concept of NLPs in 1935,[1] but it was in 1940 that the US Navy looked at the idea more seriously.

[1] The Dieppe Raid in early 1942 showed that the idea of seizing a port in the face of modern coastal defences was either costly or impossible.

The US Navy saw the vital importance of being able to build their own port facilities and to deploy naval construction units trained and dedicated for just that role.

The NLPs were constructed of welded steel flotation units that were assembled like Legos, connected by special angle-iron pieces, called stringers.

The second type had one side that was curved or angled to make a bow on the front of NLP barges or a ramp as needed.