Hi!

So, LVTs. Landing Vehicle, Tracked.

#So what were they?

LVTs were the staple of the United States Marine Corps during the Second World War. Essentially just landing craft, like the Higgins boats before and alongside them, but with tracks on the bottom, allowing from sea to land travel.

#How effective were they?

In short, very. The main difference between the LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel), or Higgins Boat, and the LVT (Landing Vehicle, Tracked) was, of course, the track. This allowed for full landing onto the beach. The craft could pull completely out of the water and reverse back into the water after dumping its cargo, whether it be soldiers or supplies, or returning casualties back to hospital ships. Higgins boats couldn't land completely onto the beach because, in essence, they were just boats. LCVPs often got caught in the shallow waters just off the beach of many areas both in the Pacific and in Europe. Also, LVTs could easily get over coral reefs in the Pacific that LCVPs couldn't go over due to a risk of sinking and lacking the power to cruise over them like LVTs.

There were downsides to LVTs, too, of course. According to the 788th Amphibious Tractor Battalion research page, the "[LVTs] could cross reefs that blocked boats and could make their way on soft sand, through swamps and through underbrush and small trees, but they were stymied by rough ground, thick mud and deep craters and literally stopped in their tracks by obstacles such as large rocks and tree stumps. Their sides were so thin that rifle fire could penetrate them and if they ran out of gas at sea because of their small capacity fuel tanks, their bilge pumps died and they sank quickly. They needed constant maintenance because of the pounding they took on land and the corrosion they suffered from the salt water."

#Approval or Objection?

Unfortunately, I have never heard anything about opposition to LVTs, considering they are so much better than LCVPs in almost every way, except of course cost.

#Additional Info In case you were curious, here's the classification of an LVT-1 from TM 9-2000, from 1943, which holds reference to several separate government regulations which should aid you further if you so choose:

"STANDARD MILITARY MOTOR VEHICLES LANDING VEHICLE, TRACKED, MK I— LVT (1)

Technical Manuals: TM 9-784, Parts List: SNL G-156

TM 9-1784.

Manufacturers: See additional data.

RA PD 45420

Classification :

Purpose: For use in rough terrain, swamp land, and self -propulsion in exposed waters. Also used for landing on beach through surf.

SECTION l-AMPHIBIANS AND LANDING VEHICLES LANDING VEHICLE, TRACKED, MK I— LVT (1)

GENERAL DATA

Crew, operating 3 Passenger capacity, including crew 24

Weight Unloaded (lb) 27,500

Payload, including crew and

passengers (lb) 4,500

Hoisting weight (lb) 32,000

Shipping dimensions (cu ft) (sq ft)

Track width (in.) 14^

Ground clearance (in . ) 1 8

Ground pressure (lb per sq in.) 10.25

Electrical system (volts) v 6

Capacities Fuel, 70 octane gasoline. . . .(gal) 80

Cooling system (qt) 44

Crankcase (qt) 9

Brakes Mechanical

PERFORMANCE

Maximum gradability (percent) 38

Turning radius (ft) Right Left

Angle of approach (deg) 46

Angle of departure (deg) 58

Fuel consumption, average conditions (land) . . . (miles per gal) 3 Cruising range, average conditions (miles) Land 225 . Water 210

Maximum allowable speed (mph) Land 10-12 Water 5-6

Number of speeds forward 3

ENGINE

Manufacturer Hercules Model WXLC3

Type In-line, 4 cycle Number of cylinders 6

Displacement (cu in.) 404

Governed speed (i*pni) 2,900

Brake horsepower 146

Ignition type Battery

ADDITIONAL DATA

This vehicle was produced first by Donald Roebling, and later in mass production by Food Machinery Corporation, Borg-Warner Corporation, Graham-Paige, and St. Louis Car Company. This vehicle is now out of production."

edit: formatting