The first purpose-built LST design was . It was a scaled-down design from ideas penned by Prime Minister Winston Churchill. In order that it could carry 13 Churchill infantry tanks, 27 other vehicles and nearly 200 men (in addition to the crew) at a speed of 18 knots, it could not have a shallow draught sufficient for easy unloading. As a result, each of the three ("Boxer", , and ) ordered in March 1941 had a very long ramp stowed behind the bow doors. was converted to a 'Fighter Direction Ship' for the invasion of Normandy.