On December 7th, 1941, forces of the Empire of Japan attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, beginning official American involvement in World War 2. This prompted the industrial might of the country to reach unheard of productivity and among the byproducts of this endeavor became the Higgins Boat. Production of Higgins Boats began in 1941 but would eventually peak during war time and ultimately tail off in the post-war years to which over 20,000 units were delivered (from Higgins Industries and other participants).
Higgins Boats were ultimately used in all manner of landing operations from Operation Torch in North Africa to the much publicized D-Day Landings of North France. LCVPs made the landings in Italy possible, thusly beginning the all-important "second front" in Europe (to work in conjunction with the existing Soviet front to the East) and dividing Hitler's attention. Truth be told, perhaps the greatest need for such watercraft lay in the Pacific Theater where Marine and Army elements were charged with uprooting fanatical Japanese defenders from countless island strongholds. As one can imagine, the fighting was brutal, bloody and intense - thousands of casualties could be inflicted upon Allied marines before they even exited their craft. LCVPs were further utilized in the landings at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa prior to the end of the Pacific Campaign.
The best visual example of the dangers of amphibious warfare were showcased in the Hollywood motion picture "Saving Private Ryan", a rather realistic display of the carnage inherent in war - particularly when assaulting a prepared enemy from defenseless positions. Consider that one LCVP carried a crew of three to four personnel - the coxswain (driver), an engineer and additional crewman or two - as well as a full complement of 36 troops, all mashed together in close proximity to one another, a well-placed burst of machine gun fire could do maximum damage. It is worth mentioning that not all landings encountered such enemy resistance for some notable actions saw marine units simply taking a beach without a single shot being fired.
Amphibious operations involving Higgins Boats generally included large-scale offshore bombardment as well as tactical air strikes to "soften up" inland beach areas. LCVPs were brought up along the sides of awaiting troop transports with infantry slowly climbing down into their boats via netting. From there, LCVPs were amassed into formations until the signal was given to make way for the shoreline. This approach was harrowing in itself for the crew and passengers were exposed to enemy fire and the elements as well as rough seas. The most vulnerable moment for the passengers were when the LCVP ultimately arrived at its designated beach front and the ramp was dropped. These troops then waded ashore and sought immediate cover - their ultimate mission to establish a firm beachhead prior to arrival of the main landing force which could include valuable armor and other vehicles as well as logistical support. The empty LCVPs were then called back to their "motherships" to collect another group of awaiting infantry. Sometimes, LCVPs disembarked their troops in deeper water than expected, either due to the rush of combat, extensive enemy fire or tides having changed the appearance of the beach - which meant that soldiers would have to swim, gear and all, in unforgiving conditions. In any case, it came to the individual soldier to work his way to his target beach as the LCVP could only do so much in support under these extreme combat circumstances.
All told, such designs as the Higgins Boat were something of unsung heroes during World War 2. Without their service, the individual exploits of the common soldier would not have been possible in achieving. Moving man, machine and supplies in war time always proved the greatest challenge to any war front and craft such as the Higgins Boat ultimately exemplified their worth in such circumstances. Such was the critical role of the Higgins Boat that it even prompted specific praise from Supreme Allied Commander (and future US president) Dwight Eisenhower himself - citing that the war would have turned into a very different scenario without the ability to land men on enemy beaches.
The war was finally over by September of 1945 and the Higgins Boat went on to see extended service during the Cold War, eventually being preserved in several exhibits around the world.
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