Penarth Dock a United States Navy Base was established at Penarth Docks under the command of Captain Arnold Winfield Chapin USN for the Eleventh Amphibious Force. A painting of Penarth Docks by Captain M. Leszcynski - 'Preparation for D-Day at Penarth Dock in 1944' was presented by Captain Chapin and hangs in town council’s Kymmin House, Penarth.

The images above [092] are from the post war period (c.1955 - 1962) with the pontoon and engineering works of the Penarth Pontoon and Slipway Company Limited unharmed by the Luftwaffe. The pontoon cranes are still in place but only one of four of the electric cranes remains. They were installed as part of the reorganisation of the dock to serve the American service base for L.S.T's.

The paddle steamer "Queens" of Bristol and Cardiff appear to be moored up, side by side. Their twin funnels set them apart from their predecessors!

Other warships and merchant vessels are laid up, possibly awaiting repair on the pontoon or their final trip to the breakers yard.

On the southern side of the dock, records of plans and proposals relating to the building of ferro-concrete stages above the old stone jetties are at the National Archives (tip no.4 of April 1913 and no.12 tip in August 1916). [142]

At no 4 tip, in the upper image, the ferro-concrete stage may just be seen together with a tipping station. The concrete stages, which appear to have been built in pairs adjacent to each other, are present at tips numbers 4 & 5 and 11 & 12. Their construction was obviously to enhance coaling facilities at the peak of coal shipments from the dock as there are further for the supply of hydraulic accumulators etc.