OSPREY· VANGUARD 45

AMT ACS:
SAMPH BIO S
ASSAULTVE CLES
'4l1li

Steven Zaloga
Colour plates by Terry Hadler
 \'A:,\(;L' ,\RD SERIES

L D ITO R : ~vl ART r f\ W J :'\ D R 0 \ V

AMTRACS:
US AMPHIBIOUS
ASSAULT VEHICLES
{,'%ur plates I~y 'TERR Y HADLER

OS PR E Y PL' B L J S H J N G 1.0:\ DO:'\

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Author's Note
Thl' ;111 till JI ' \\ l)l tiel like 1I) :' cJ'd)()\\ krl~2l' 111,' ; 1..; ...;i~L;lI)('l '
1,1 sn'(')'al f'ril'lld " \\h(j~( ' ~licl m;lcl" Ihi:-. IH )t':' 1)() -~ il)I, · .
Tkll lb .~ I) 111 .Jim Loop Inr I ll;t ltTi;1I on l"~ :\rlll"
;1)))l r (lI':- , In \Iikc Grct'}l f(lr hi:- help ill Illc;llillg
pli(II D. in IIll' )-,\1(: ;I)'{ 'hi\'(', to ,'\mll1 ;n l h'i('(h ll an Ill\'
h is 1H'lp \,·ilh L"S \ <1\'\" l)md u niO/l li .~ I)rn. ;111<1 to
Sillll)l) DUll";! ,Ill. .IOt· lkrtllll(\r-Z . Kill .-\lInhd r h :111 11
C('orgr- Balill I( Jr hdp in lnt' al i ll ~ p llul():"-

Amphibian Vehicles
F('w rniliLIl"\ operaLioll' ~llT i:, clilfi(ldL Clnc! l-i:,Jy ~ I".
an ( mphihirlu::\ la nding aga illsl a COlllCSfCd IH"LlclI-
head, as \\ " il~ :dl 100 n "idcllL ill Britain 's ill-r;'l1ecl
Gallip()li 1;)lIC\ings in \\'orlel \\' :lr I. Til the I ~)'J(IS ,-IIHl
'5l:)():>. I:S \Luine plann/'rs ull1lcmplaLC'd n('w
soluLiuns lo LlllS age-old laclical prohlem " ~o(
surprisill"!2,ly , (he mail! j()CIL.'i or nC"vv equipll1C"lll
prngra 111 nws I,.\";)S on the dc,"t"!()pmelll of lJlod('rn
landing hOdLs. This quickly ('xl\;\lls[l,d the mC ;'lt1;L"('
runclin,e: a'"~lilab lc and prc'\'(,1 I u'cl mIlch L"xpnimCIII-
atillll v,"ilb tracked lalldill .e: cr:tf"t.
Th(' i l!1<lg-i 1IC:l t i\"l' anrl i r;J 'ici hie A 111crica 11 i11-
vt'lllnr , .J" \Valler Chrislil', proposed 3mphihiou""
Irllckf·d ,"chiclt':-i (0 hoth thc lIS Army iUHlIIlC US
\Iarilll' (:orps in the l';lrly I ~)'2()S . He ofli:T('d I)is
\r.J ~) '2 3 ;l1nphibious l;lllk \f) the \ "Itlrine Corps rOt,
trials. i.tnd il WC;l:-i U:-icd experimenlally during Ihe
lq2~. ;lrTlphihioll:-; C:\lTCisl' at (\1I('hra, Pucrto Ricl) .
Thl' l\l. I ~-)'2:1 amphihian could belter be descrihed
as II s('lf~pr()pf'lkd gIll], ;IS it) 7SrlH11 gun V",LS llnl
III rtTl-llWlllJ I ('c\' hut fi 11 cd ill lIw itu II. The \ :bri Ill'
Roebling's original Alligator, completed in 1935, bore Little
rcs("lTlbla.nc(> to the taler amtracs. It proved to be too slow and
'00 heavy, as well as unmanageable in waler. (FMC Corp.)
Corps, \\ hik li1l(ling the ("onccpl inl(TC'Ling. felt
that lhc Cllrisli( ' alllphibii1l1 \ova., UJISCi"\\.\"onhy and
Llllsatisf~1Ct()ry ill other respects, alHI (iccickcl a~ainsl
'lciopting it. II1S1c;td, the \"Iarilll' ('"()rps aclopteclthc
Si x-Toll SrH'ci;d Tractor (lhe US-huilt vtTsion of
lhl" Frellch Rcn;ndr fT lig"ht tank). which \-vassmall
l'1\ough 10 he landed rrom Iightl'l's or barges ror
altJphibiClIIS operaLiulls. The \larilll's \\ ere COI1-
,inccd or tl\l' ,",due of armoured ,'Chicles in
sllpponing beach lawlillgs , lllll in 1he I ~U(js lacked
sullicienl funding ror much cxpnim(,111<ltion with
armoured or ;lmphibi()lIs \Thicl('~.
In l~n7,all (lrliclc;lppcafcd i[1/, ili/lll~lga!"int'()rll.
tracked Clllipilihioll""; ,chick, till· Alligator, 'vvhich
il ;'lel bcclI dlTClojll'd for rC$ClIC opcraliolls in lhe
.",,"am ps or Florid.\. This attracted i\ brillc Corps
allclltio)); am! ,din illspc:niol] of" lhl' y( ·hicle. the
!\a,"y ,,"as ;1sk{'(llo sen liT piiOl Ill()(kls li)r trials , and
pussihle acqllisilinll,
The Allig:atol" was the result or private ('fforts by
members oj' (llll' cd" America ' ,'i mos( illustrious
The second model oftht' AlJjgator, cOJnpleted in J937, attracted
US Marine Corps attention and led to the LVT-J. (FMC Corp.)
enginfCTlng [~l}"nilie~, the ROl'l)Jing~. John a11d
Donald Roebling. lhe son and grand ...,on of' C()lont'i
\Vashington Roebling I:. builder or till' Brooklyll
Bridge) had built Ihe n'hielt', usillg their OW11 runds,
after "vitnessing the disastrous results or sevcJ'J I
hurricancs in the (.,wampy Okeechohce ITg-iOll or
Florida. Donald Roebling atlt'mplcc! to develop a
vehicle I,vhieh would bridge the gap hnvd'cn '",·I1('1'c
a hoat gr()umkcl and a car flooc1t>cl olll '. The
Alligat.or ''1'as Intendecl (0 serve as a ITSClW vehicle ill
swampy areas I hat were inaccessihle to either bO(1h
or \'chicks; he used aluminium construction to sa\"('
on \vc'igilL dnd an lItHlslIal track sllspension (hat
prm'ickd propubio[1 b()th in the w,lln' and on land.
The first Alligalor \Vas completed in I ~n5 bUI its
perforll1ance was disappoillting', mainly because ils
,,,'ater speed \VaS a paltry '2'::~ mph. A scrie~ (l
redesiglls ClJ IIn i natcd ill a \"i rL uall Y \ll'W 'T hie Ie hy
1~)37. This model \vas shorter and widn Ihall the
original 1035 {()rm hut, IlIon' imporlantly, used a
sllndin (rack alld suspensioll system" II ,\"cighccl
3, J nolb. less (B, 7oo1b.:1 and had a \yaler speed oUt(i
mph; and it was Ihis J~.)37 model thaI SI) implT~S{'cI
lh e l'vlari II e officers.
The Na\'y. \10"\ <.>vcr, \'1 <is UOI so ("nl blls("(L
4
('~pccially bf'C<lIl . . C of iLs clumsy performance al sea
c()mpared to con\TlItional hoats, so the lvlarill('
requcst was njccled on the grounds or ecollomy.
The ~rarinc,,, pnsistcd: and in Octoher I ~):)~) Cell.
J\;losf's, the presidcnt or tbe l\'larincs Equipmenl
Board, cOl"\\:inced Roehling to clc~ig'n a vcilicit-
specifically Ie)}' rnilitary lise. Tlll t1C\v J ~)il"() model
sometimes called thc Crocodile, \vas lighter ill
weigh I and pcrl()rn1ecl bet ter tha n earlier models.
Although it 'vvas nOl as manocuvrable as a I)()at or
comparable size il::; pontoon clc."igll made it more
sea\vorthy in rOLlg'h .,:-urf conclitions.
The o\llhn~ak oj" Wllr ill Europ(' led 10 Lll('
expansion of the LS military hudget. The liS Na\'y
Bureall or Ships finally succumbed to ~daril1r
pn's<.;urc and C()lllraClCd Roehling' to build a second
prototype wilh a nwrc powerful I Q() hp Lillcoln-
7"cphyr f'ngine. IL \va~ completed and cldinTccI to
(,2.1.1<1111 j cn inN 0 vcrnbcr 1q4 u, a \l d "':£1." used ill Fire I
Exercises ill Jalluary-- february I ~H I, I he .results
greatly impressillg both [\a\'Y and 1\1aril1(, ob-
. . ('r\"(:I"s. The 1\ a \'Y f<.' IL h O\\'(\·cr, t ha 1 tlw a Itt 111-
illillll1 cOllstructioll \\"as \lUI rugged enough for
military sen·ice. preferring' stcel. lind that the track
design would not C'ndurc the ahrasin' dkcls oj"stlild
allel sail ,valcr; Roehling 'Y;;lS cOlllr;1C(ed to product'
;t Tn'lsccl \Trsion illcorporatillg Ihc."<:" changT,'" /-\s
Rochli ng' el iel nOI ha \.(' aeu·s." to act \.I al proelllc tinn
 a ilities, IH' Lurncd lC> llle lo()d !\Lu-,hillcr~ ;lrnl()uJ' \ ';llllC : il \\';l ~: lIsec\ lO l)ril1~ "upplics ["rOlll
.orporatioll ( F~J C ) \-\,110 had I;t! Jricatul P,lJ'lS for ,.,hips IJlr.. sI1IJl'(' , 01111> beyond the l)fetc.hes, T11I'
i.lnd
th e earlier :\lli ,2,atC)r~, 'O ['his \\;l"; 111(' (irs! ILlCkc(; [rack S~Sl(,I11, C\'(')) \\ Ih'11 imIJro\'C'd. ,,'as ,' till \"tT y
m ilit ary \'('Iliek proicCI Ii)} ' F\[Co " 'hidl to(by '1I s('(.'ptil>l(' to d a fll<.lgl' \\'hnl 1I~t'(1 on hard g-roun d ,
produces more arJl)()lll'cd \'('hid('~ than (l)I~ ' other so tlll' IT \\'('1'(' Jl(l plill1" t () usc tlw ~lInl racs lil!'
ompany ill til(-' Clli(( '{i Srat{'s, p)'(>iOllg('ci pcriods OJ) lam!. Indced , lite ea rly
T he I\C\\ \ 'I.' mcl{ ' \';1 ' nl'liri;ilh' duhl)l'd L\ 'T (l[))lr;I( :- ollly had ~l lili" ('\:P('C't , lll( y oj' ahollt '2 (1(\

(L andillg \'('hick T" ; lCkl:C\;, in keeping willi thl' hours' l'ulllling lime due to th! ' ,"trcsse~ on till'
Nav y nOI1I(')\('I<tLun' s~'st('rn fi,)} ' Lillding n;d't. F~/l(: ('Ilginc. "II ' 'PCIl ::; ioll <llld track,
\ · (, S ;1\yarcll,(1 an illi(ial l,'1)\llr,ICl li)r ~ ()() L\'Ts The pl,lIl~ call1'd Ii)} the dt'l)iu\ 'I1WTlt ur a sing ic
b side dw LWI) I)l'OI ()l ypi ' S, a He! t he Ii rsl \\'il" amplrihi<lll [r;Klo)' lJ<lttalioTl with cal..' I , ~f:.1rin('
ompleLcd ill July Iq ,' ~I, The ('()Illrarl W<lS 1<11(')' di\'isioll, illiliitll\' IHllllLwrillg 7:) \ ('hielt,s per
incre ased, ICll' ;'1 lotal Ill ' J ,'2'.2,-) L\OT_I, p opul(lrl~ Laltalioll. The (Jr ' l LIse or allllrac~ ill il cOlnll;'ll
known a~ :\lli~d()I ' o thcatl't.' to(Jk pLl Ct' in . \ll.gU~t J ~ q'2. \\'h(,11 the 1St allel
The fils t J\L ri Ill' ;1))1 phi bi a)) l ractor 1\ ';lJ'iou"i \ '211d ;\ll1phihiall Tr:lctor B;lllalio!ls \\'('1'(' llsed 10
'ailed lImll(/{ , am/wI, (111d rlllljJ/tIWc ' lillie tlw pr()\ 'id(' 1()~i~ti('(\1 ~LlPP()rt at Guadakallal in lhe
Amphihia]) 'l ' l't:lCl()1' I kLtchn ((') l\ ; lS I()rmcd ill
0 \\ SOI()J1Wll IsLlnd s, 111 N O\TmIJCr ! ~ 14 '.2, .o\lli ga lors
;\,la y 1~J41 iii I)UllCC\ill, Floridao This Ullil I()nn{'( : "'jlh thl' [-,1( ,("t ~1(LriJw Forcl' \\TrC usnl l(l brin g
lh e llUc)nl ": ie-)r the Iilln 1St Amphihiall '('('aClo)' "upplics ;\slwrc (Iurillg 11)(' ltlllclillgS ill French
BaIL,lIion or (/1(' I st ~'1al'illc Di\'isioll , \\'hidl \lorol't'o ~lS part or
Operati(lr\ 'Torch', AlligillOl's
ompk lc I ol'gall i" tllinJ1 ill F('I) r ll; lr ~ l ~l " I '2 shortl : , ", cre lI:-.(·j ill a "imib r r/dc ;'1( ."ttl! i ll til<' Aleut iall
~f'tn thr {Jutbn.' a L {l til{' " ' ;II' ill the P~lcifl(', The
early C()lIccpli()1l of' ;11l111 ac opn;lllolls (,Il\ 'isillncd The LVT-I AUigator first entered service in the Solomon
llsill ),; Ill(' ;\lI.i ,~'llo r .... ()Iety a~ al1\phibi ( ll l ~ ~llpph Islands in 1942 at GuadalcanaJ, and laler at BougainviUe and
Rendova (,1 1943, As seen here dUl"ing the BougainviUc
vd il.'Ie :~ o TIH· 10\ ''['- J \ \ ';1. mack ()j' m ild ~lt'('1 \,, 'jlh no campai,gn, it was used solely in (he s upply role, .,USMC ,
 The iirst use ofarntrac5 in an assault role took place at Tarawa
lslalld~ oIL\I'ISk.l ill l\'LIV [~q:), at Sb('m~'~l hLlllcl ill in Novem be r '943, Here, one of the survi viug LVT-l AHigators
11'1(' Akutillll~ ill AlIgllS\ [~H:), Jnd at R('ndO\'~1 III is lodged again:,;r the {:oconut log st>a-walJ on Retill at Red Beach
lnrcc. The irrlprovised arnlour plate added to the cab i
the Solomol1 Island'" in ScpLcml)tT I~)~~:), 'I'll(' I'll'\\' clearly e",ident. (USMC;
:)rcl Amphibi;l!l Traclor Ibllalinn \\';~~ cmpl()yu.l ill
13ougaim'ilk in the Northern Solumuns in ~()\el1l-
bel' I ~)"I-:)' Llllclill~-".'i (l~ Iud prn iou.';iy IH'Cll ti ll' C<.l~l'. \i o SI or
lltei:--Ic>llch I;lrg(,'cllougl: In h(' Ilr mili tll !'y \ ,till!' It ,le!
11
~){'('l, I() n itll'd b y the .Jap,'I J(' ~ l" L \IH.lin ~s \\ll l dd
I u \'(' 10 Lak e pLlu' dinTtl > a~~'i.l ill 'it Il) rli I ini,J ~lpal H' '''(' I
Tarawa: New Tactics po:-;itiollS irll1<' i'illlllcis wert' 10 I>t' "l'i/,cr! , III add ili())I.
111(111~ <llilc i~I([lld,,, in lile atol ls WITt' l'iJIgcd Ily coral
Bv I q",1 J' the amll ac" had lls('liti
p)'()\'Cci 1'0 tw WTy l{'(L \',l1icl1 \\'('1"(' LO(J shallow f()r Hi,l:,,~ill.·, I)().tl~ likr

\'t'hiclcs in LllH:ClJ1LC",Ll'cl amphihiuu:-- landings: IJIlI llit' LCVP . . ,wcl LCrvfs ill ccrlain ticLd (,()llclili()ll.~,
fi)1' tr()op lamliug's ~lg~li!lst ('ontco.;tccl hl'<lcho, mon' '1'llC firo,;1 ol'thf'se lslancl f()rtrcs:--co.; to 1)(' allalkl'cI
COJlv('lllioJlal ('I ;II'L like LeV [)s WtTC l1~l'lI, TIl(' \\';1'" Helio ill 11[(' Tdra\-\(\ atoll. Ll(,nl('lll-; ()'I till' ,21'1(1
utility nl'amLrll(,s a,,,, ;\ss<1l1lt vchicles to cLlrry [l'()OPS \/l.lrille Di\'is)Ol1 \'('IT 10 sei!.c i)('lio, \\ilii(' ;\1'111\

I,... a~ (irsl (kl11()llstrillcc\ al Tara\\'a, ill r\()\'('tllbrT
rq,f)·
or
III r94~) Lhe s\\'i LC hill I he i"<JCllS II S l'lklrts. i'! 1,1111
Lll(' large I ropical islands oi the SUlIl!J-\\T , ltTll
Pacific to lilt, rocky lillie alnlls olrlw l'(-' nL r~t1 P;lci li(',
calk. d Ie)!' ;\ ~hill in ;lInphi hioliS laclics, Till' lill~
; 11 ( Ii i.-; d i <I )I ( I I ( )II(T I I j(' I ) I )( i (J 11 () r 11 11 C () r II t' .. \ l '<I
llllil~ -;('i/,nl Ihl' ks~ lH'i.l\'ily def('llc\ed i!-'lawl (Ii
i\Ltkill. 13f'lio \\ i.\.~ <;urt'ollllckd hy il c(jral ['('({ 1)1
IIllCit:lnmilll'cl depth \\'lIicl1 greatly COIH'('['JH'(;
:\ larin(' pl:'nll(,I'~, Tht' l\(\\'Y \\'a " «(lll\'i1lc('d tlld! the
!'IT f \\";IS :-;ui'f iciclltly ;.;ubllwrged to nnllii t ;'1 l (l~ld('d
H igg i liS boa 1 I U salc'l y pct)~ ()\'l']' i t: I he :\ Lt ri ll(' S \\ lTC
11 /) 1. :\ 1;1 i ' D;1\ -i rl \ r. oS I H ))111. tI II' '2 ! l( I \ L 1r i 11('
D i\rision operal iom. officer ,~1I1d later one or Llw
h ro ' or1 ,lrll\·\ d I \ had sen"cd \·... ith the division on
Guadalcanal and rtillembcn:d the ),cornan sen'icc
provid ed by the mntl'acs or the 1st ancl '2nd
\mphibi())) TraClor Baltalioll~. Shoup concluded
th at the Llllitrac:- \\'mdd he ide,tI {(-lr lIlt' Bnio
landing. Silite Ilw\ cOllld readily surmuunt til<'
f'rino-ino- reel' il' il vv a s indeed 100 shl1Jlm·\'. The
di\' ional Ctlmmanc\rr. eel). Julian Srnirh , prc-
nL d hi,;,: plan:-. to the \Ltrillc cOllllllanckr (II' lhe
r und eleme n ts of' thc amphibi()us forc(,. 1\ bj.Gcll.
H lIand ~.1. (' H()\vlin ' j\lad·. Smith. julia!] Smith
onvinced H. J\;'I. Smilh of'tlic Ile('d Cor tIl(' ;tlTltrac".
well ,IS mC'llliCluillg lh<ll the :'\a\'Y had little
Iith usiasm fCl1- I he Tlot ion . H. l\f. Smi th \'isi tcd his
I\ vy counterpart I()I' Operalion ·Gah"anic·. Rcar
Admiral Richmoncl Kelly Turnn, to rCCjuc"t more
mtracs lhan tlh' IOU "'I'()1Tl-OUt L V1'- I S or lht' '2nc!
mphibian Tr~lcl()r Batli:.dion al \\'ellington,
Austra lia. The C.llHallkc)'ollS Turner ('elIOt'll til!'
Navy's OPPO~ili()!1 to Ihc usc o('amlracs , ,~(lyillg' thal
lhe Higgins b()als could c1t'~lr ttl(' li-illg-ill!2 r('crand
thai lltt' amlrac:-. \vert' UTlsc;t\\'onil\-. Tht.' rn ; ~i()r­
gClll'l'<ll vievvccl Ihe Navy's ()lliluck a~ c;-t11()u:-,
inc1dkrcnce to the Jvlarin s rather 1han any scriou -
objection lo the novel use of a mtracs . 'Hm.\·lin·
~ lad ' Smith W~IS as ,'-;lubborn as Turner , and ., after il
hilltT arguJTH'Ill, concluded ·~u amtrac:;, nCJ
Ofll'l';!lioll!'. TUl'IHT rclenteci anc! pl'Omisf'd a rUrLi1n
1(10 Ilt'V\' amtr,.lO II'om the TlaviLi base at SO!l)o<.1.
By the autumn of' 1943 the 100 I ,\T- I amI ra e: or
the :2l1d Amphibi a n Tr,-lClO1 Rallalion had lo ng
SiIH.T pas.'Sccllhcir theoretical lit<: expectancy duc' to
tllvir lISC 011 Guadalcanal. .wIo::.l hll.d ~tlrl'ady
chalked up over -+00 hOlll. of' running- 1[tlIC
('o mpat"t'd lo thl'ir '2ot)-llOur an-rag-e li k 'xpcc-
tall (' ~, and only 75 cOltld \x sLlh-agcd . The (OrrOSL\'C
c!T(: C1'i of'sea \vater on tiH'ir suspcllsio!1 i:lnd
The LVT-:2 Water Buffalo saw its combat debui at farawa.
This L VT'2 was hit and burned along I he heach edge at Betio. It
has i.mpro\Tjsed arUlour on the cab fronr. In the background
are a sunken M4A'2 Shennan tank, and a number of d.i~ .. bled
amtracs. (USMC)
7
propulsioll, alld lI\t"ir gcncr~tI]y
\Ulrtl-OUt CUll( Ii! iOII .
w ere ,-0 S(' V(TC (hal til(-' ullit \,'as \\',ary or all~
rch f' arsa ls fo r the landing jAhich would further \\ (':~I"
L1lem clown, Unly SO (If' the 1\('\\' L\'T-~s \\'IT('
d, )i\'crcd bel()1i' tlw op erallUl1,
The LVT-2 Water Buffalo
Tilt' LVT-'2 had htTl1 cln'elo[>cC\ to O\'CITnllH'
shortco mings ill llll' ini!i;l] L\']'-l desi,:,ll, Lk\'cl()]>-
1lH'l1l bc!.':an ill '1111 hy I hl' Bureau or Shi ps anci
l-' 1\ IC, The L VT<' lIsed ;r II t'\\' tursi b stic sprun g
su'.pensioll \,vhich ofkrcd a In'uer rick on blld , IS
well as ~rt'aln dur~lhility, Tire powcrlrain \'\',I~
laken directly f'nllil tlw lvl:).'\r light Lank, illHI
prc)\'jckcl g reater pO\\,lT alld rc]i;:iJility, The L\''1'- '2
also ca llt.'d LVT ~dk,lr or \\'<1(('1' Bu/Lllt l , was first
ordered illl U pru duclioll i ll J UIK I ~H' '2, but did no t
n(lch 1.'0 III hal ul1il s ul1til !~)4:5' It had a lil i·
e xpcclallcy d inT I i nil' s cL high as the L \ "T- 1 I t) ( (I
\'S, 'l OU rUllnillg lu)ul's l ; bill tilt' lr~l(' k s had lo 1)('
replaced ('\'cry 1:'(1 h()lIr~ o r so . ,-s)Kcially i r rlllllJ\ 'l T
Il'lITI ltTr;lill,
The ('!)1l1f1l;llIdIT ()f"tlw 21ld ;\I1]pl)iiri all 'J'r:u II):
'l he Borg-Warrll'r Model A wa a paraUeI atTempt to develop
an improved amtrac alongside s Un,jlar efforts by FMC, h was
l'quipped with a turrel from an M3A. light tank, seen. here
pointed o\'er the rear of the veil ide. The Model A and Model B
later led 10 the LVT'3 BushmaSler, (US Navy,'
""
Hall~llioll, ~ h i, Henn' Dl't'\\'t's. \,\'a~ told I,y l ; t'll.
..I1J!i~111 Smilh lhal his arnll'llCS nnrld (' -" peTI to
{'I1(,()L1I1[(T \'n~ hca\'y lire in spite () f (\a\'~ p ro llli s ,
lo '()hlit(,),;,ltl" the Ja panese dd t.,I1 ('(·.. , u n 13(,tiu, ~1I\ I
~ug!"l t's tccl d l.tI J)n'\\'('S add <lJ'll'1()11 r p l< l (i JI g \(J III
a ll I t rat's, UI'('\\'l 'S sea rdlt'd \" (, IIi lI g LOtl (( )I' a rmo ur.
tllid filIall y /(Hlllei so m e rus tt'd ~ I rnnl pl;llt' olll::-.ide
thl' Cil~', wllicll wa s cut lllld prc'P;l],('(] In' Ihe
(;ellt,)"tI 1\ I()L orS pla n l in \Ydling l()11 dnd all ill'hed
10 tile LVT- [~, Tire [(:\\' ()CJicn~ \\'11" SUI'\'i\Td tile
;'I S~ ;llllt
kll dl<.ll lhl' ,HlllOUJ' ~~t\,l'cl \Ii;'\ll~ ' l i \'l ' s : l11 <LlIY
()f'tll(' ('T'1'\VS tll'gu('d ntlwl'\vis(', Illl( lI('clrly all ;rgrvC'l1
t hill i! was (t rr import all { m<)r:ll(' h()llSl(T. In
addition, IIll.lchilH' g,-ull m()unts \\'('1'(' add('d In tilt'
amtl <ll',: usually il ,50-cal. in rrOlll. illlcl t\\ ,j(J- c . !. {I
m~I('lrillt' ,~Ul1S ()Il the sick (Jr I'('cll',
'1'])(' ... 1I! )1'1 <.t gl· o f ;'llIl t ra c:; [i)(, () pcr ;1I i()ll .( ;;d-
"lillie' illt'\'il~d)ly HlClUlI Lkll ()111~ :1 pl'opot'lioll oj'
ti l(' tf()()P: \"lT C land ('cJ lI siTl ~ t h('m: ti ll' lil's! IllI T e
W;I\'(' S \\'()ul d Ix ca rricd in un the a nllra t'~ , Ii Jll()\\'l'd
In l'l'inf i ))'l(' Il1l' Il( S ill C\'ps Hi ggi ll :-' 1)()~l l S l , T he
fil':-.l \\'<l\'C Llsn \ -\,'2 ut'll1l.' a\'~liLLl) lc I ~ ~) ;l1nlr<l l' ~, Th'
iltlilek ()ll lkli/) Island 011 '2() :\()\,(Tll lwJ' 1 ~I,H \ \, L\
pl'('(,(,(lr-d hy il tt-Cll'.-;()Il1(' 1],1\':.1 :111<1 flir hOll1)ilrci-
111l'11(, l()tallill,!2.' s()m(' :~,()nu [illl"; I l 111l111i1J()IiS 1)llto
aTI isbllcl llllly 2q I ant',,- ill ;Ir('a, :\n-ntl1<'kss , [11('
,Idj)alll's(' fi))'c('s kId ample lillH.' lo li))'til'y I fH' isi<llIcL
~llld Lll<' (,OllllJI<lltcin had bn<r"tnllkll il \\'OLlld f;\kr
 a millioll men, a hunc1rnl years' 10 capture dl("
islllllclli-O\n his crack Sp('ci<lJ N<l\'aJ Landiug Forccs
Uapantsc marill('s '
The dlll'al)iliry or the japCl1lC'if bunkers hCCiln1C
all too ckilr as tllC ,lOll racs or L11l' lirq 'v\~\\'('
appruaclH"d lilt' Iwach ;I( ~l lllnlc na'v\ I. 'Tlwy
slIrmoLllltC'd the rring-ing rcc/"\yithntlt dirJiculty, hut
C;)nlC under an intense barr,lge ii'Olll heel\y 1I1 ;1(:1Ii11 l'
guns, rnunar.s and artillery ['rom the SLllyi\'illg'
bunkers, Eight of the amtrac.s were slink ()n tlie
approach, ~Ind mallY mort' sulk-recl .so Il1Llch
damage li'urll I>ullet.s and shr'lj)llt"! that they lall.T
sank \\'hell a1tcm]J1 i ng' (0 return IU ~ca (<'.11' rcluading,
The' addecl <lrtll{lUr olil:rccl mod('st pro[ecLioli
ae;aillst small arm.s ~ir(' , I)ut \\ ,lS inaucqu<I[C ag;lillsL
heavy machille gUll lire, The l1)(1chillC RlIlll)CTS U)l
board \\lTC particularly hard hit. sincl' 1I1l'ir
weapollS \VtTC Llrgely ullproLcuccl anclthcy had to
expose IIH'l11scl\'es to lire 1.1 I('m , By tIl(' cnd or the
opnalion oilly 35 arntr,l(,S were still operalional. i\
tollll Oi':}'2 LVT-!.s ;'\lld 30 LVT-'2,';; had hC('TI lost to
('nem~- aClio\l, ;111<.1 ei,ght LO lIwcilallic;.i\ f;lillircs, or
thc~c, 3~) hdd hcen slIllk directly by gunfire; '2ti were
disabled I)y ,~lIllIIIT a nd ~hrapl 1(:1 . iller 11<1 \'i n,Q:
surmCJulltcclthc rccf: lIine h<lcl burtwci onlll\,' fwach
;d'lfT I heir fl.wl 1<-lnks were hit: and \\.vo WCTe hlowl\
lip by mines, or tIl(' 3(1() arnlrac crnvnlcl1 , :3'2:1 \A;ere
killl"d OJ' \\'utl!lckcl, including the baltalion COlll-
manciL'r \lL~i, Drnvcs, killed by ,gunfire 'vvhilc
cOl11mctllding the {ir,st \\,,-\\T,
In spitt' of'tll<' lo~sC's, the ;'-lm[racs haclmanagccl to
c\cli\Tr a signi lieant 11 um her or tro( IPS to the
h('clchlwad ,sllccessrully , The S<\Jll(' was Jlot true (li'
(lll' Higgill,s h(,Iltts ill the Ii.Hlrth, flf'l.h and sixlh
As the t\-Lu'illc plan ))('fS hac! kareci, l he>
\\ ' <1\'( ' '-;,
f'; likcl [I) eivar tlll' Cringing rcrf< .. llId lbe marinC's
i Iisicle Vd.Tl' obligt'd I(J d j':;CJl) bit rk a \lei \vac! c ashore
Ii'om distillllTS or :)00 [0 H()() )',-Hds under intense
.Japal\( ' ~(' lllilchinc gUll fire, I L\\'as a -"laughter. with
,'>ingk J; t pat)(·sc lIl<lchilll' gun,,,, killillg or wounding'
('lltin' hoat-Ioad .s oj' llDl"iIH'S,
To support elK beachhead , a dOl/'ll M--1:\1
Slwrman 1~lnks or lil("· Is[ !\farillc /-\mphibiolls
C:orp,'i 'Llilk Battalioll W<Tt' hrought up on L(:1\1
1;lllcling' (T'\!'t. ,\.s \\'iLI1 lll<' t)'()(>P'i, tl\{' tank lallding
LVT(A)-IS of the Army 708th Amphibjan Tank Battalion corne
ashore at Saipau on D-Day, 15 June 1944. Neither the Army nor
the Marines were completely bappy with [he L ""f(A)-1 due to
the small gun carried, but it continued in service through the
end of the war, Notc the rear mac.hine gun tubs. (USMC';
 raft \' 'l n' ' t(lPPt'd IJY till' I'ringill g rn'r. O,lly tllnT ('(1II\(':-.I c:d \)e<[cl\('.'\ ill th e i'll \llrt', 'I'll(' \larinl' C orp:
Lan ks nnl tLl .. 11 h made tlll,j I" \\'a \ " .. tli: l, tu the l)Cach.
, "
Il ad cO}l('lu cl ('(1 th a I :lm t l':l l'S had mad e [Ill' cril ic ( 1
11 10: 1 hring lost in Ille \\alt T clut' to (Jl l g ifJ C [i[)()ciill g, c\d ic. 'ITIl(,(' be \ \ \tT I) \'icto r y ~lll d ddt'aL ~lt Tar~l \\'; l. II'
01" Sillkill g illlO [lte .',','''pill ,l!: .';\ wll cralers CJII'I'c\ hy ;111 t l)!' b llclil l.t.;: had b(Tll (' liIHlu l'l cd lISill ,l ( 111('
11 ;\\ ',11 .~l Ulfir(', \\'hilt- the l:tnb \\"(TC latcr l., 11l'fl"(" L C: \'P~ ;lIld 1.C:~ b . Ihe la ndin g \\'Cildd p]'() lJa bh
im '; tiU(lhlt- ill lhl' ('Ij)lllIT or till' isla ncl , Liwir ('a r l~ !l a \'c' hl'I'll a \ '(')'\' hl o()dy I;li l ul'c, Thc' II('a\'\' cosIoI'
dif"flc uitics n':lching tlw IJc:lch hi gilligillcd 1hI' Il<'c.' d the baltlc c<Luse d a ~ca ll r1:l1 hack ill th e l"ni tcd
1(11' irrllli ,<.li ttle fi re , u p port d uri ng lhe illi lial , t...,~ ,ltllr Siales, TI1(' i\hrint' had IHJ tlif"licu)I', ll\'l'r thei r'
ph ast'" prc/(Tll bly III the lill"lll or son1C S() rt () f n'<jllcSI I()]' l':\pilllcini pl"(Jdu('tioll or ~\!lllr C:t (' '', and
<l lllpltihioll : [(\Il k. lh(' :\' a\ '> \ l'Cl ll('l a llcl' 10 \l Si' amt r (l c," ill ;llllPhihi() u~
:\ftn 7t) hours oj bicJ()d~'
lig'hlill g, RetiC) \\':I~ i;rllciin,!2,"s n 'a p Ori-l l(,(1. The l 'S :\ rr llY, 1'(':-;pol}:-; il'/(' II)]'
t ke n . T he C():-;t S \,'CIT stagg eri n g : :', +(i() :" l ar ill c a lllp hillio llS (lplT<lli(JI1S ill th e S Clu l h-\,'l' Sl I' acilic.
l'a:-;ua lti cs, a lhird 01' lh e:-.(' killed ; ane! \'irtu,lliy til t ' paid l' ~ l rd'Lll cltll'lItic)ll to til(' k~~ lln:-. ut'T;lra \\, ~l, a lld
('mi lT g <lrrisull llr '2 . [j() () ,J apa ll (, s(' S:\ LV Ill ari lll'" Iwg"1I1 (','pandi ng i{~ ()\\ 11 ,l n ll J'a c u ni h ,
The lligilu Jl<t rish illlilf!,l" ()r
the siall g llll'l' ()r
d\(,
lIlarines \\'a dillg as\ton: fro m th r' lW<.lclwd Hi g'gill~
hOllIS lccllU lI SMC illSi;;1 ('I 1('(' o111he lIS(' o['al1llr;)(':-;
to carr\' out a ll\ ;lInphihi ( )( 1" lal'ldine;.'\ ~ l.gai ll "'L Amtanks and Fire Support
A pai,r of LVT(A )- I S of the Marine I t Armored Amphibian I J1 I ~q d uri n , rt he cJn'f i ()pm Cll l )1 [he L \ ''1'-'2, 1he
r•
BaHal.ion in action in (he Marshalls in the S UlllOlCr of 1914-
There wa1'O !'iOITlC controversy Ilver the use of a,mfa,nks, llnd desi gn \('ams v\Tl'l' a,..,k('d 10 ill\'l'sl i,1!Jlli' (hi'
whether thcy should conduct Lh('ir fire fi upport rn.i!'. 'iolls while pu","ibilit~ 01" l C'\T lo pillg all arnlC'd ~Uld a r mnured
in the wafer olT· shorc, a secn here, or on (he beach it:,;('"lf.
(USM C) \,(,I',joll or
I he I \{'\'\' . lIll t l'~lC, Til i s look pLtl'l' hd<,I)'

III
LIlt' Tar~lW<l 1<.LJ1(lin,gs. and Ihe rcquiremel!l appcars
to ha\,"{' he(,11 hased [hal a mphlhi(lu~
Oil COIIC<"Tll S
landin gs might l~lC(-, Japalll's' Lank units, Stccl
armour ur Ilet \\'(TlI 1)111 m and J '2111111 \\-as (,111pl()ycd
In place or llie sheet stccl usnl on the lI(Jrnwl
LVT- :2. TIll' ;\-1(; 37mm Lalli, gUll wa~ tht: br.l1,'t'.o.;1
anti-lank \\'(-'ap(lll that cOllld 1)(' adopted chI(' to
weight. and }"ccoi! reslrictiolls. Tile lurrel \v as
ada ptcd rr()rn the ?\I J :\ I S tu Llrt light Lallk Lurret.
an I was icknLicd (,Xl'ep l l(}r the delerion urthe rcar
lurrl'l radio huslle. T'\\,\) .:~()-c~!1. macllilll' guns \\- C IT
add ed (II) scad' rings lwllilld Iht' turret to pr()vide
additiollal fire suppo)"l. '1'11(' (lrlllour and tUITcL
added al)()UI three tOil." l{) lilt' \\("ight of tilt" \-chide,
bu t lhi,,,; did )1(11 snillusly ckgr;tck \'chicle hll{)y~IIH'Y
"iller I1(J 11"1 lOpS or .";U pp l i("~ \\"("IT to be carried. TIll'
nt\\· \'('hicl.c, thl' LVT ,::\ I-I. \\' a s Iype clas~di E'd LIllel
CllllTI·d p),Ilc111Clioll ill Df'fTrnhcr 1943. a f1WIII h
after Ihe Tara\'\'i..l landin g . Tlll·Sf.' ,,"chicks \-u'("e
usually ("illied (Illilrlllkl ': or (JllljJ/iltlllks 10 disl in~'lli:-,h
,J
Ihem f"l"Om the <ll11tracs. DUI illi!' the C\c\'cillpmlill or
lhl' L VT, .\ . - I" LIlt' l" S .-\ r rn y p I ~lC( TI a )"cq 1I i I"l'IlH '111
[i.Jr ,1\1 armoured l.1rnlr~l(". This \\-~I~ dnTlop ccl
COIIClIfTClltly ,,-iLh 11)(' 1.\"1',:\ J-;, ;l~ Ill(' T:.):). II \\' il'
a rross IWl\\'(-'CTJ the L\-T-'2 (I)ld Ihe L\'"j"(.-\J- f ,
ha villg' tlH' it rmoured hull ill Ie! C;t IJ or I he L \- r" ,\ :- I
;lI1d L11( ,e,'l'lltTitlstorage C(lll i ig u ra I ion (ll he L \/T-'2.
II fl1lcl"ccl pruduction ill I q.-I:~ fur thl' LIS Ann\ a s
Iht· L VT I:\ 1-:2.
TI)(' T~lra \\"a (~x p ('ri('n("e also pr()mptui I ht' l iS
:\rm y I () acc(' !era t c dn'(' I( JP))l('llt of" a 11"1. ph i hi (IllS
\'l'rsiolls or normal Lanb. 'I'his L()uk. L""O directi()ll:":
I Ill" ..:k\'cloplYlcl.lt ofimpru\"('d \vading gear li)r lank.s
dropped illLn sfullc)\,\' vv,tln, ilnd the ckvdopmcllt
(II' dl'l Ltcktl lit- POI.llO()IlS <lIlel propulsiol.) S~":-:Lnns tt)
cll ahlc IClllb tn s\\-im iJsl)()IT rrom sume cii,-;taIHT.
\"a r ious I YIW:-; or wadin g .~('a r \\"(TC \\'iclcly Ll sed ill
Jlll p hilli()u:-; 1(lllcJin~·,..; h~' bot h \ 1+ Shennan ,1I1c!
1\1.-):\) Stuart tanks. The IK)III()(Jn s~:~tcm s , such as
Ilw 1\·1 Iq (Ritchie T-h, SWillllllillg- D('\"ice filled 10
t\l-J- rlinlillln lanks, \v(')'(' !I(Jt j"{'ady ill Sigililic;lllt
ntlllll)(,l"s 11111 ill he lasl mil.io)' (,[wJ"ariul1 oC1.he \\';1)' (Ill
Okinil\\':I, \\'I H_IT ~() 1\larill(' She r tnans we re L:lllci('cl
hy m l a ils orIhese S YSl.l· Ill ";. Th e l)J) ta n ks: Dup le _"
Dri\'l~:, dn'dopl'cJ in Brilain lor tIl(' ~()rl1l(L1ld\"
il1\-~ISi()ll, \\Tn: Ll~("(1 I))" l 'S 1~lllk hattalilllls ill
r,\1l'O]>c, lall tI)('v U(:'\"C)" mac/I' all appcarallc(" ill Ihl'
Pacific. TIll'J'(' \,,"as \Try lill Ie int npla y bCL WCt'lI t 11('
L\\'() Ilwclt)'('S ill terllls (I!" specialised l'quipllWl1t
At Tinian, a coral diffwould have prevented the a01.lr.u:s from
advancing beyond (he beach, leading to the development of the
Doodlebug, seen here. This LVT-2 had a special timber ramp
to surlTIoun ( the obs lacle, a.nd six of t.hese were used during tJle
Tinian landing. :USMC'.
dn"('lopnlt'llt. ],ik('\ViSC, till' ilPllliC<lllilily of LVTs
I(l)" the :\O)"l1lilll(I\' ill\'a.siol1 W (l ~ hru shcd aside as
h('iIJ~ 11lll)l'CCS:-';lI·~. 'Tllc L S illCa ntry a L Omaha
Reach \\"CHlld he f{)Ilcd to T'Ckarll T' lr 'I"-~l \ bl oody
kSS(lil ()f'IIll' \'ulflcrahility OrU l.l pr()[('Cled inf"llIlln'
\\'adiIlQ" ashore I"rom landing; narl.
Aflltrac Organisation
U llder tlte E-S T ics Table ()(" ()rgi.Llli'.lliol1 and
Lq ll.i pmclll ,TOE or ,\pril J ~)" ~: ~ . (·i.Lch \larjne
1
J)j\·isiolJ had :-til organic ,\n1philJi~lll Trac\f l ]"
J:b II illi{)11 , \\·illl 1(1) ill11lrllCS org :H1i.'wd illlo Ihn'('
cOlllpallics. TIl!' L'S\IC nTlllllally ra ised I I
iHliphihiall tr,cll"lor 1);uutli()IIS plus ;1 l1umher' (lr
slnalkrc\ct'ldlllll'lIls. III (lw spring or I Q44 , bct\VlTII
lilt' K\ . . ajiLlcill lllld Saip,lll OptTLlliollS. tlte am-
phi hialJ trilclor I III 11. dions \\,(,IT ITIl1()\Tcl from
di\'lsional COlli )"01, ;\Ild rctaillcd aL corps InTI Ii)!'
beLlc)' co-()rdinalion durillg landing npnaliol1s. III
O c toher J ~),-U, tl w l iSjdC ancilhe US Army i:l('g-all
raising' their find i.IJlltallk baLlilliollS, Lhe US Army
eli rist t'll i llg I h(' III .,1 llIjJ/ii/;{afl Ttlll/, jJfll/tl/iOIl \', w ltile
tilt'· \IarilH's CIII('d L1lt-'ir lI.Illl~ :/I"IIIIJI"I't1 .. l J11jJliiiJirln
Batlalions" The ~larirt (' am ta nk hallaliull s had fOil I'
c()mpanir ~ of" I g 1..\''1" 1A 1- I S. I O l~llIill g 7'2, plus thrc("
I. \ 'T'-'2~ i)) b.lllal i Oil H (·.ldq uartcrs: \\ hi k till' .-\rm~
"att~t!ions iniLI.tlh· had [(llll' cOlTlpaniC':-, or I ~
L\"l·,:,."\)-lS, pit I," /()lI.r LVT i A j-:2 illllt}"<tCS III
1);ltLalioll HC.2,.. The :\["my ballali()IJ TOE \-vas lalcl"
('lJlargccl to III clJlltanK:-; allcl IW() iU)1lrLIC.'I per
: I
("om pall y, wi th kutalioll slrnun h r1SI ng Lo r)
LVf l ,\) amL-l11ks and /'J LVT arn!rdCS.
The nr"l (TS ,\nny amphibian tri\ClOr ballillinJ1s
\\"cre raised COIlCLllTt'lltiy \\-ilh till' 11('\\' anll.llllk
battalio)}s. The /\rn1\"s burvaucr;\(.: y had b(,l"l1
:-ccplical of tht' amtracs <.ther I..'arl~ tests in )!)-!-'2,
fillrlillg tl)(,n1 \ ery ("llIms~ to Opt:ralc. HOWc\(T, U S
;\rlll\' llllilS il1 the Pacific )"CCOglliscd !lwir utiliLY ill
[lit" .~\\ ,lin py cond iIi (illS or tlw S()U t h- \ ,'cst P,ICit ie,
l'\'Cll if ulll~ kl1' l(l~' islical support, and had hecll
ll'qul'stillg" amtr~lC~ {(-Ir "()1ll1' time. Priority or
arntrac tlrli\'(Tif'S W('IH to I h<: l'vlarillc~. hO'Wl'\"LT.
and the (irsl US ,\r!"JJY amll'i:lcs did II()[ appt'<'u ill
[11(' Pacific uillil carl\ [~).H .. Tlw (il'-':I two i-llllllll1k
Tbehru)"'s 2Dd En~ineer Special Brigade Suppot"t Batter),
modified some L V1 i A)-2!5 lDW fi re suppot"t vehicles, like this
one seen here firing intll Japanese tlug-outs on Schouten Island
in the Nt"therlands Indies in 1914- Barrage rocket projectors
were Illounred in the cargo bay, and a 371Tlffi aircraft gun (from
Ihe P-39 fi!,!:hter) was mounted on the rear. (tiS Army )
and (Wo arnlrac ha[taliolls \-vere I·,li..,l·d at Ihc '
}\)"1TlY\ /\rnpllibiou ... Training CentCl' at Ft,Ore! ,
(:alilc)]'ni,\. on '2 7 October I ~H.:) Oil tIl!' hasis of"
( ' ,i~ti1)g armoured infrllltJ'\' <tnd tank UllilS. 1'1)(' US
i\rmy amphihian tr,ICIOI bauali()lls W('IT o)"gi-tllisccl
slig'lltly dilkn'ntly frolTl lheir i\farinc CtHll11Crpdl[s:
lhere wen' L\·\"o c()lllpanie:-. . (" leh \\ ill"! :~) [ amI racs,
alld a (olal ()I I [q 'lI11tracs pcr battalion. ,\Ithough
the arnlrac is 0101'(' closely a s:o.oci;J\cc\ 'v\· j[11 tilt: US
i\,lllJ'in(' Curp . . , it is 'w ()rth 1101 il1~ thal Llw LS Anlly
llclllllily 1<,lt'llwd more amphillian ballillions dtl)"illg
I1H' \\ ar (han the ~·Ltrinn: Sl'\'Cll Army alld 1111'('('
'\1~H'il1(, dll1ti:ll1k balli.llion-.:: and '2:) ,\rm~ and I I
i\ lit ri 11(' iUll! r;'lC ball,·tJ inilS. Li kn\' is(' \ :'j :-) per C('lll (Ii"
;t11 ,ll1ltr(lCS v,:c'lIt I() Ill{' ArrllY, a[ld ()[!l~ 'I-() peT" ('Clll
to I hr !\'larill(,~.
Debut of the Amtank
The .\Jari[\(' l SI :\rTlphihi~ll' '1 ri-lClor I-Lltulioll \\ as

.... ,
- -,
.... ....
. 1"'- ... .
'of:"
~
--.... '
..
.'

... ,
__ Ill
. .. ..
11
used to provick logistical suppon during the
operations at Arm,ve and Cape Gloucl'stcr on 0kvv
Britain in Decemher I ~)L~3. 'fhe next major assault
landing since 'Tara\,\·a ". . ·as scheduled ror lhe
Mar'\haHs in February J q~ .-1, with hoth Army and
Marine a mphi bia n ba ltalioTls participa ting.
K.w(~ialcin is the longesl atoll in the workL
stretching ~ome 50 rnilcs vvith a :w-rnik-wide
lagoon. and ideally suited lo amtrac operali()Jls . lTS
planners fcaff'd anollwr TaravI'a, and Sf) prepared
to make eXlensive usc or tanb and arnlanks . /\rmy'
troop\ were as,s igned to Kwajalcill and a nurnhcr or
smaller islands in lhe- atoll , using' £11(' PJ'()\'isional
Amphibian Tractor J3allalion ,<;upporLC'd by lhe
I\1arinrs' new ISl Annol'ed Amphibian Battalioll.
The Prm-i.sional Amphibiall Tractor Battalion had
been IC)rUlf'cJ around the Army\, premier amlank
battalion, the 70Btil A.mphilJian Tank Battalion.
However) tlw hattalion had not J'CC(':iH'cl suC{iciellt
LV'f!:/-\:'-ls. and so was r('org'anisccl 1II all
improvised fashion \\'jlh J,VTI~/\i-I:-;, LV·I '( A )- '2...;
awl LVT-2,., . This opnatiol1 marked the combat
debut orthe LVT(i \ )-1 ill both Army and ivlarinc
service . The Nlarillt' 4th Amphibian Traclor
Battalion \",'as spli I to form lv\() additional
An LVT(A)~4 of the Marine 3rd Annored Amphibian Battalion
on the beach at Peleliu on IS September 1944. Due to rut'
aJT1tanks' very light armour, the Marines preferred to land
M#2 medium tank!; as soon as possible to provide clirect fire
support for the advance inland from. the beach. (USMC)
balralions ) I he I Ol h and I J th Ampbj bian Tractor
B(lltali()n~) causing' signif-icaut prohlems in the
conduct oftlw landing',., in the J\'1arshalls a~ the units
had so little time Cor training.
Usual \-[arilll' tactics /()r amlank dcploymcm
\H:Tt' (0 position an arntank company in Iinc in fl'ont
oreaeh W(\\ (' o/'arnlracs. l \;lIally, naval gunfire was
restricted ii'om firing jun close lo the landing beach.
so the gunfire of1.lw ~Imtanks cmTrcd lhi~ gap . The
17 or 18 LV'1' (A)-I<, proceeded in the lead to lhc
beach alld, vvhen in rangc, hcgd.11 to opel) fire with
their 37m!)) guns and tbree -:)o-cal. Inachine .g\ll1~.
The intention \\' as lO l()I'CT t hej apallcse defenders 10
kecp dlf'ir heads clown with suppressi\'(' fire , rather
thall lo piCK oIl' particular targels. There was "orne
controversy during lhl' inilial ol-wraliUlls regal-djng
the final approach to the beach . The inilial doctrine
c1n"('lopccl by lhe amtank hattalions vvas rhat the
(\ mtanks would rc-'i.IC h shallm\' \va t cr, l hen cchc Ion
nlI'to tllC' Halik 10 allow Ihe arnlracs lo pro('('cc1LO the
r I)
.J
Three of the new LVT-4S were converted into Bantethrower~
for the Pdcliu landings, and were used to attack bunl<ers, The
Rantegun wa~ Illounted behind a large armour shield. as secn
in thi" reae view of one of the vehicles,
hl',Wh. Thn \\'/lUlcl m;Jinlaill their positioll olllhc
coa~l, ill l11dl ddJl~I(k i,l tlw \\":\fer. pro\'idillg
CmTrlllg fire until lanb could be lallded III
su hs('Cj U(,)1l \\ ;:'1\'(''', The ;1 i m \\'as to kelp lhe
;1I11l;;ll1ks in lite \\'dL(T \\'IH"n' thn' \\'()ulcl 1)(' k,:-.
'dtincrahk \() ('l)cmy (lllti-tank g-UllS: on 1,-llleI LllC
L.\''!' i;\ I-1 WCl S Jikr' a lw,Lchcd whale, and it ... lhill
TIll' (,()lllr()\'Cr";.- m'('r the is~w: or ",1J('llwl' ;,mlallk"
,... ]wulcl Il" lIsecl lu SUPP0rL !vi;)rinl' or :-\ l'Il1 \
(lch'allcP' Iv: ()wl dw imnl('c1ialc /)(';Ich ~lr(';l
lill~n('(1 lOll,!.!, ancr lhe .\'lar"halls Ilglllillg ,
TIll' 1l(~' hlillg in the l\brc.;h ~ dl~ \\d" )}()1 d repeal or
til(" hlc)()ch' Tara\\'a ('\:pcricnc(', TI}(' ,J(\p;,tll( ' ~(
cldcndns \\('1"1' much rnuJ"c ~(,;'lll('r('d Ill;))) o;!
Lll';l\\',l. and the \l(1)'il1c-; ilnd ,-\r l11Y hild <1:- , 1\\ '\1
dppr()pridlC 1e",'()llS Il'om dH' (' .I1'li,') ck'h,')c II' , l 'llI'
~Iarilll':-' \\'l'\"" supported h~ ' 1<l11b. from til«' -I,lh
1\ [;'lrinl' Tanh. Ball<.di()11. (lnci lill' , \I'nl\' lilli,,, III

,11111(11.11 ' o!kr('(1 n() pr()tcction a,9;ail1s1 I)('a\'\' K\\';ljal('il1 \\'tTl' suppo!'u'd h~ lilc 7l) 7lh ' Llilk
mju,hi!l(' gUll lire ()r anti-lallk ,!:(UIl-;, Oil I Ill' 0111<"1' Ball;ilio)), The \.IS(' oftlw llmtallK:.. in it lin' SIIl)jlO),1
hanel, the \Lt ri 11(' illl;1l1l1'~' commallders \\ (Jlllcclllw n'de 1\(uilT\Takd som( ShOl'lCOlniu,!:!,'s, ho\\'1.'\ n , TIll'
aml;)II)...'" up Oil tI)(' I)(';l('h(' ,, so thal llwy could c()- :';/11111'1 "J(i .I2,'1111 \,\ ' ClS prr!('Clly adelJualc lo dc;ti \\'Illt
ordinall' llil'ir fj),(' 'iUPP()r1 \\'ilh local unils until lhl' lltc l'<'IITIY-ClICOUlll('lTd .JaPdI1C"1' lank,... , IHII il W;I"
unk..; ;lrri\'('d , '1'11(' \'Llrilll' cHnlank crcws nhjcc\ul II () 1 sui [; I hit' f'() r lIll a c kin g 1h l'
h U 1)k(' \':-. 0 I' () lit l'l'
lO mallY of the illLIIl!ry r('quc"Ls, /t'('hng dIal Ill!' /i)) 'ldicd [lI)SiliOl1s \-\,hieh \\'(TC' ~l 1l1{)1'l' C()lllTll(lll
inbllLry oUic<T,. . II(Tcllrss l: exposed I.hfiT (i'llg-ill' L1l 'g'('l, '-111<1 so 1line \\ 'as a d(':-..irc fi)1' a ldl'g-('r \\'('<.11 HIlI.
\Thlck ,,, 10 hO,'-lik ("ITT in rf)k~ helrer suitcd 10 T\\'(J clays after lile J\..\\'ZI,ial(Jill I;lIldill.~', Ihe jlh
Ilorm;.)I Lalll~" , i\lall\ of 11)(' illfanlry nn,ccr~,ill1p!~ .\b r ine Di\'i siO\1 allackt-,c1 Ill(' adjacenl isl;ll1(l . .
1\\'0

didn'l ulld(,],~Lall(1 ho\\' lhillh- ;.nJ)1CJlIl"cci LI1(' Ill' Roi a!ld i\T;'ITlHIL ll sing the _;lh and l(lIlt
amlallb \\'('['(', .1)l(11C'11(lf'd In L1~e lhem ill lh(' ~;ln1(' .'\1l1pltihiall TraClor Rallaliol1s . Sllppo[,I('c1 I): till'
\\a~ Ih~H llIl'Y \\,otdd usc ;)11 \1 ~: \.2 SIl<'rIl1dll lank , 1'iI :\rrllorcd :\ll1phihi;m Ballaliol1 ,

I ~
The LVT(A)-4 AlTItank Jla II j(' ;un I )';'ll'S h: })I ( lUll! iIlg ()l'd i Ild),Y ill Lu 1I ry l11an-

Dn '('jopnll'l1t Of;l ilion' IW;l\ ily ~lrnwcl ~lll1la1\k, lht' pack \ 11 (b lIll'throwns ill a "mall ()pl'njn~ ill I\)('
I ,\' T ' :-\ ' - +, \\"as i I) I ~l( ( a lr( ' ~ld:- Il(";t ri I1g co III PJc Ii (HI. !.lO\\' ul'some L\ ' f, . \-,] S ;"t1)d L\ 1" \JI~, Thc~('

,Iuq a~ Ihl' L\ ''!'I,,\ I- J hacl blTl1 ~lrnwcl \,\ith Ihe we)'c' llsul c!\lring tlw K\\'a,illlcil1 opn<ttioll, l)LIt
tll)TCI l'ro[}j !lll' ['..-1 :-).-\ I light L;ulk. '\0 tilt' Ill"\\ WCIT HOL "(T\' llsdltl ," IIlCt' lheir ral1,~(' \\'~L';
f.\'Ti,\ '-+ \\'as ;lrlTwcJ Ill<' l'dH
\riill Ihe IlliTPI fr()lll inaduj\,ICltr', The .-\rmy 's .:!llcl En,~il1ccr Special
r)mrn I f(lwilZlT ~:r()lor (:;lrriag:c ! hasl'cl on I hI' Bri,t:;i.\c\c Suppnrl Ballery J1')odif1cC\ a t1tllllhl'l' or
\I:~),\J li ,!.!;ht Link chassis l , .-\s ill the CI~l' or LIlt' L\''j', ,\ '-:2~ inlO fin' support \Thjele, Lach "l1lllr<ll'
~1 5 :\r : l\tH Hi'dC , the 1....\"'1" ' :\ :-,4 required;1 Lll'~l('I' ),l'CCi\Td I()\ll' J\Ik VII -+ '. l ilKl) I)~lrr~lge r()cket
turrel ring, which meanl I'XIl'l1ding' thl' superstruc- pr<~i('C\ors, Ihn'c Nf'l , :>()-C,ll. h( ·i.l\'Y III,ll'hill(, gllllS ,
ture b~ld, Oll tIl(' l ,\'T ' . \ -", . (()\Trillf.-:, ()\ '(T the t\\'() alld a pec\c"l a l-r110 111l1('d ' ,Ik r\" 371l1Tl1 iHlI(llll;:lir
,carr rings cd' thl' ll}c-{chiIIC ,Q'Uli Itd)s; al til(' lime il C;,l111)()11 dike that lIS(' c\ Oil the p -, ;~) 11ghtn , The

was no! c'vide-1l1 10 I he clr-.:ig'lwrs I ha I 1he (\('1('1 inn or
IIll'S(' lll<Lchine '::llli positio[), \\'Ollld \x (lIIC of' till"
lnc),q SlTI()lIS l;t('\ical shortcomillgs or Iltt' IH ' \\'
L\'Tli\ l-+
;\s \\TII a,' \\'ork on up-gulln('d \ cr.;jOllS of'tlll'
cuY}tallKs, \H»)'I.: hael also begul1 Oil other J()rm~ ol'fil'e
-uppnr! ;lmlr ;.lC~ and ~1mlallk ,-.:, Prototypes or
L \"r. ,\ 1- b wi I h E 7 a)lel E 1.1--7 R'1
\\,fTCcl(" '('iopcd, hut v\"(')'(' I1n '(T acc{'plccl ti))"
ckplnYllll'nt to the Pacific, Ir(,nically, Ih,' lacK (lr
Oamclhr()\\'fT amtracs hael led Ihl' :\l'Il1y'S IORlh
Amphibian T,L1il-: Battalion 10 hllil<l fi\'e il1Jpl'O\'jsccl
~' Lll'iJl('s dc\'t' lopcc\ similar rockd-fil'in ,g am!r"lCS in
the CClHr: ,1 P;' cihc r'l g-hliw2', but g('nl'1 ';tll~-, bllclil1g
cr;l!'1 \\c: rc US( 'rl in Ihis rt)lr r;lIhcr than amlrllCS,
\Vitll lilt' I'MTplioll or a "111,111 lIull11wl' oj' /\l"lllY
LYT I,-\ -;2S. illl ilmll ' ac~ \\: l'!'C
buill un a rl11()und
dl'spite Ll1l' implic()t ions c1rav,l'! lj '<.>111 Tarawa, The
Nan' was reluctant t() ;'11"l11()tll' aU arnlracs, sin('l.'
flamc-ll1rO\\'(')':. ,
A wave of Marine LVT(A)-45 advl-Incl' towards the beaches at
Iwo Jima, The- l~ast popular feature of the LVT(A)-4 was its
vulnerability to close-in infantry atrack due to its lack of roof
armour, and i.n:,;ufficienl machine guns. By the time o( t.he 1wo
jima landing this had been ameliorated bv addin~ more
machine guns and gun shielcis, as seen here. (USMCj
m all\ \\()llI d CUlllIl ll H ' to 1)(' 11"(-,( ] ill a I()gi . . l ic .. d () ]JcralioIIS , 'I'l l(' : \ r IlI Y'" j llBt h ,\ l1I phibia n T~lI lk
:\I.IPP()J'l l'('dc \\'hel"(, more :Irm ()lll" 111<' (l1l1 1 h al !I 'S ~ Ball ; tlioll I If; 1.\ ''1' ,\ - ,I S, iss uillg each l;!l l k
h;1
(,~ll X() cou ld Ill" car ricc! , I nstea d , ~ l a l1 d<l n li:-,('d c I lllp Cl. ll ~ l i )1I 1' T,\--{' ,-\ -.f . . ~lI ld I:' T,\"T :\ - J''':
arm ou r k il~ \ \ T .1T c\ n "{"l(l pn \lr) 1)t' w ddn.ll () allHrac . . \\·hi lt- llll' \ h ril1t < !It ' \\' ~ 11 c1 :\ rlll llrl'd : \ mph i hi a Jl
u:-oc<l ill ;l··'~;1UlL 1;11l<lill.~S. Thl' kit." 1'()111 :lilll'<! ('ul Ibl[:'lli(lIl \\a s <lI IlIOSI (, lll' in ' l~ ('<]uip]ll'll \,'ilb tll<'
·,hl'('lS ()rklll~ aile! qlli.ll"ln-illl'h SIPt ' l. Th(' ktlj~illl"li 1)('\\('1' ,111l1;IIlK. Opcralil.ll1 T(lr:lgl'l" , llll' a(L .it·k IIIl
\\' c! ded LO III(' h l) \\ aile! {"rol ll (, ' I h. \\' hi!e ti l('
. . \('(·1 \\'<1 :-. Saip a n, lll'g,IIJ I~H , . ,\I)I) ll l " )()i.lmll"<t Vs
nIl 1: ),jUIl C

qll ;ll'll' r -i ll c h pane ]:.; \q' rc ,l(lded 1() tI ll' POIIIO!)I l. '. \\"('1'1' ll~ ('(L illl' lw lill,e; a III [;LlI k,.' 1'l'()J1) tlte .\rllly's
So m c uni t:-. in Ihl' fie ld ;Lcl ckcl ;Id d iti ll li al plait'S or 7(IHlh :\ n lpltillial l T allk B all :t1 i nll Cl lld il l(' \I<trill(, '"
lilc ir ()\\I1, B C,!!,·j ll lli ll.t.: in ;\\;trc h I( ll l . ;111 1.\·'1'- .2 . . 21ld , \r l1l()J"('d .\ mphi hi a ll li-tll al i(l n. aile! si, ' a mtr:'ll'
11;),] cll) ,1 !'mOLll' ~lrl d n l ~Illh(' t~ lCL ()l'\ · . 'I' ll(' ;l rlll(Jl.il" 1) ;'l lLtli()ll~ illClllclil lg- Ihe :\1'111 <:-' ,~l:)' llll. 7 1Stll :1 11( 1
11:-'1 'd () II I. \ 'Ts d 11 r i 11 g tll(' V\ ; II ' \ \' a s () III Y :-. 1I Jlw i ('III lo 77:-;nl ;']JI(I tll(' j\\;lIint< '211c1 , .ph ill1c! IIHIJ
prO\(' I'l ; Lg(l iIlSI : lll:LlI ;11'111 , lil'C, Sl l l'tlP)I('1 ; l lld hl ·;t \'~ .\r11phil)i;lll 'I'rael!"il ' Battali()l l ~ ,
JlI<IChill!' g Ull (ire c( lldel PI·IlI'll.llt' dll' POlll ()()1 1S, <lIl d B~ til(' li llie ()f lh(' Saip:lll ()]l I.'J' ~lli (Jll . Ja p; l ll l':--('
l"1'('\\'S had 10 can-!"lIliy l ' h('l ' k L1l(' .'i(1t- pO l llnOll s (~ lt"li<.: s cl n llg ill g:: they had dl'( 'i dnl Ln (;\ n )id
\ \(, 1'( '

IWjC lr(' 1' l1lnin g t he \,'aU T again tCI pr(' '('Ill lh,' p b c ill ~ II l o:. l or t li('ir dl'kl1~i \ T )J()-,;Lli ou:-. 011 th('
n 'hide lill ill g- \\'ith \\' a l e r and sinking, C:r('\\':-.
fro m I)('ac\l<'" r(';tli"illg 1h at m al )~ " 'Ollie! 1)(' losl lO LlI('
"\"('IT iss lled ha g or \\ ' ()()(kll plugs 10 h:lmnHT illl()
;1 1ll';I\ 'Y l'S lJ;I\ ' all)l)l1l'-)~lrdllh'1I1. I I1 S lf '~ td, on 1;11'.12.'('1'
; 111\ ' hllil's Ihe y lelllllcl, isla nd:--, d dl'IIC( ':-- \\tTC pbl1 I I<'d til l ak " : l( h ' aJ1( a,~ t' (II'
1l'IT~lill k;il11l't ·S ild<.LIHI. l'Il(' b lldill:· · ; ;-ll Saipilll
"Tn' ll()t l 'Ollll'stnl iIJ tll~' S ~lllll' i:L s ltion lls ;\1

Battle for the Marianas Td r<l\\' d , h I li t I ll' ,/ ap<-l I I (, --: (, !elfn'" l<ltl llclH'd ,I
l1umlwr k,' ag'dil1 <'; 1 lhl' l)('ac h - h t' ad ,
(J r (' e> II11I I T-;'lll a

T hl' In:lil) C<1 ])I]J a igll in lhl' C"II Lra l I',,(ill('. jill'
k ( ' ~ \Iari,tll (l:; i :-- Ia lld " () r S ~lip i.lI l. C ualll alJ d
\ \ ;IS sc hnllilt' d fi,l' ,/111 1(' ,lIll y. H)-H' Th('~(' (1 IHTCl -
llnlls "'Tn' lo Iw 11ll' I;lrg('sl ;llTlpllihiollS lalldillg'S
IISi,,::. ;[11111";ll 'S to <1;1\( ', '1'111 ril'~l L\ 'Ti .\ -. 1;IJlll ililks
,11)(1 1.\'']"- + a m l r (lC :-' \ \ (')"1' a\a ilahl!- ji ))" tlH"l'
ti l(' ill('lll d iJ1 ,~' W ll k ,1l 1 ~ IC b , T hl' 7nH tl, :\rnphihi all
T illi <1l1 . T ank Bat l.ll i(l1l p <lrticu b l'ly <ii, t i n .~' lli . he el it self'
The late p r oduction models of thE" LVT-2 huill after March
1914 had an armoured cab and prol<:ctcd rear .. ir intakes, This
version is vcry difficull to distinguish from the Arnl)' LVT(A)-
2, which also had inlegral hull and bow armour, 'This is a
l\'larine L\'T-'l. on fwo Jirna, 'Nllb added g un !-.h.ields, (USM C)
during [he lighling, eamillg the Prc~idcnti,-d Unil
CiLalioll, Saipan \,va~ dccl,HCd SC(Ul"C Oil 9.Juh
Iq+-b ancl on '<' .July (;lli111l ;ll1c1 Til1i;!!] \\TIT
<Illackrcl. As at S,lipan, Ihe i[lilial lalHling~ vVCIT
conciU('l('(1 llsill,i!; arntrac s. The ;:1.1 LIck 011 (; ua m Oil
'2 1 Jul y 1 ~ ) ++ il1\'ol\"ed :).:IH amI )";1(",-; and ,-ll111anks
[i'om the rvlarint'.'" ist <lllcl ~Ilcl :\rrr1orcd Am-
phibian fbllaJions and the '_~rd and 4th ;\lI1phibi<111
Tractor Battaliolls. The <IliaC" Oil Tiniall incllHkd
(ttl initial a.ssauit 1)\· +()S .\I'I11Y al1d i\'1aril1c arnLr,l{'::
a no 68 an1l a !lb. Ti II iatl '-, heac Ill'.; prou'd 11101'(' of' ;-)
prohlem due to the preSt'IIC('> or {"()ral ("liJ1~ al Lhe
,I
ccl g:e of" (1)(' beach rf'a, so a spcci,1i S('CiJc(" \'('rsio)) 01
the L\·T-:..>. the J)oodl('11u g , \-,'as 1111cd \,:illl ~l (il11l)(")"
)",IIllP ()\'('f the lop ofLiw \'chicle to pcrmil l<dtO\\'in g
amlracs to ~UITn()Ullt [he barrier. TCI1 J..)o()clkbu g.'i
'\"("C built by [11(' I\i'arillt" 2nd :\lllphibi~lll Trall()),
I:htlaliot1, pro\'ing to Iw quite ~IIC('CSsrllJ durin!.!:
I Ill" i r I) ri d' «:: [ll pI () Y[j l(' 11 t ell Tin i aI\,
The ALlrian(is (",II11P;ligll I'd-kneel ~ ,'~I;ldlltll
l1l(-lI11rin,~ or a.",s;lLtll amphibian doctrinc. :VlallY nl
tlh." (lmlrac h;llUliol1 nriiccrs pn.',sl'l'ltecl detailed
"uggL'sl ions ror impro\TI)·ll·nt~ 0\1 (\1(' \"('lJidc~ ill
Ill('i1' <d'ttT-actioll rcporh. The sirndf l1los1 Cnrl111l011
en Ltc! Sill COlletT! wcl ! Iw la (' k or a l"m () II r on tl)('
il rn 1r{lC~. iilld II H' lac k or il rmoll r k i IS 10 prntcCl
l11achint" gun posilio1l." on tl)!' \'chicles . ..:.\~ <lI1
in terim solutioll arm o ur ~ hi("lcJ:.. \\TIT irnpru\'isecl. or
N<l\'Y slll,tli cr~-tfi. or li.lnclin.~ tT~ln shit'lds \\TTT
oblaincd. There \"as also s01l1e clissa[isEIClioll wilh
lhe general ("ll lil i L,Ll l or
<LtiOll Llw exisling L VT-'2
~111111-ac: 10 d i~ ( ' I I \ I ) ,lrk, the Iroops had to leap OUT
th(' sides- ~1 d;\IH~"('r()llS pr()(Tdurc ill a COll[cslccl
IW£lch-IICacl. SoILlti(Jll'\ to '()lIW or tl]("sl' problem,
V,('IT alrrJ(h'. lIndt'')"\\';I\'
. back ill the l'l1itnl SL;III'S.
The \.rari~lll;lS ii.t!,'hlin,g hi,~hlighl("(1 pr()hlcm~
\\'it h I he a lnl anb . 'I 'h(" L\ '"I ...\ ,-) \,'as g<'!1cr;llly
\'iC\\'('d a~ being Ull:o.llltab!c: tlw :)/T1l111 g'UIl v,as not
\"('ry lIseCul ~lgdil1st 1)lll1k(T,'i. <tTld .Japanc'ic lanb
\\-Tn' so rLlrt"I:- Ct1ClIlIt1l<.:rcd. Oil the iwach [hal 11',
{lilli-armour ahililY \'\:as SC!clOlll llc("d(·'d. The OIH"
.gond f( 'a tur«' Id' tlw L\'T ( A, I-I \-\ a~ tile prm'isioll or
the l\\'O scarl"rillg rn(l\!Il\s l(j)' <)()-("' ,1 1. 111;I("hil1(' ,t!llTlS
on the IT;:lr hull. Tlw.J;[palll'sc inlalllry lacked an)
;lr!\'i:\IlCCc! anli-,ll"T1l('llr \\capn ns likl.' bazookas, and
~o \\'tTt' obliged tn <ulde k ta n ks lIsing suicic\allaClics
\vi 1h 11l<1.r:nc[ ie mines. Close-ill defence or the
':1l111'.11Iks a~ ail1 s t such ;.lltacks \\',L"; \·iL;t!.
The L\"'ri:.\,'-.q. wa~ "'('!cornecl tCl]" il s large]" ,gUll:,
the .'ill()rl 7.·Jllllll howitzer W<t.'i ~l mllch more 1I,'ici'ul
\u'apnn rhall llie :n rnm cUlti-Lallk g un Oil the
LV l"iA:,-1. Ho\'\T\'(')', Ill(' L\ : T:,:\ ) -,~ had IW(,II
cln'('loj)ccI wi1h lil[I(' apprcci;ltiOll or th e Iy pe or
liglilill g la killg pi a ci' ill the Pacific: il I,\c kccllhc LWO
Anny troops of the 7th Infantry Division in an LVT-4 move
towards the beach at Okinawa on D-Day, I April '945. The
LVT-4 had a large rear ,<in'lp, as seen here, which permitted
easi('r loading and unJoading oflhc cargo bay lban the. earlier
LVT-J and LVT-2 am.tracs. (US Army)
17
I'LLI' 1ll.1ChilH' ,~lIll lUI):; oi'lhc L\'TiA>1. (illclll,lcl 1IH')llkd tltal II\(' LV'l .. '\;-1 he \\ 'ilhclr.'Wll 1'1'(1111
llO cO-;l:-.ial ':,)IH 'al. m achilK ,~lIl1 filll'c1 I)csi<i(' til(' -:\'1'\ in', and tilat an irllpr()\'('c\ \ '(Tsion 01 lite
75111111 hO\\ il"l,l l , [( S olll> "dr-dc-knee \\T:lP()1l \\';h (I 1.\''1''1;\ ,-I, UK C it ~ place,
,.so-c a l. \1 '2 I-IB h l'~ l\ y ll1achit il' gun liw'cll() ~\ ril"J'< 'I'll(' (ritil'i.'dllS or the- L\"r ' ':\ I-.I, \\TIT l akt'll to
1lI()11l 1l o n I()P 01111(' tllTT(,1. From Ihis positiul1 , Iht' h( 'art , a lth(lu~1t Ilot all I lit" !'('C()lll nl (' lld;lIiOll 'i " 'tTl'
m achilll' g lllllHT w as C()lllpkl("l~ (')\PO~ cI 10 ('IIl' m~ .lppru\\'d j( l), prucltlctioll \'('lli( I<-~ , ,\1\ impr()\ccl
~ rna ll <I rm ~ lire, The L\'T ,-\ 1_; \\ a~ thu,.. l1luch \('r-; ioTl or Ihe L\'T I,\ -.+ \\' as Ie \ ·Ioped, 'lll(.l
l1lolT dilIil'lll l lo<ldl'nd lkullhc 1 . \'T : ~ \ ' - I: aue! in (dtll()U ,~ h it \\' ,l:\ lInt giQ,t1 an olhcial clcsig na li())l. il
f; l('[ maJlY <I 1l1tallk C1T\\'S li.- It Lhat machill!' g- UlIS \\'a:-; popularly c;t1kd Lhl' 1.\''1' (, \ 1-,1 '~LI1'iall{) "
\\'cn' ;\cltI,tlh' 11ll' J)I()Sl \ ' alLl~lblc ekmClIl or the i\locl('I', al't('rllll' campaign "'hidl kl(l prompled its
,llll!;lllb ill 1lI,lll> Cirnlll)sldlK( ." , ATI()lhcl' UI1- cl('\'l' lop t)ll'lll. The rear or
the l1I1T(' t \\ ' ,1\ rll()<i i fit'd
P() 1)I II (I r r(' a ( LI n '
n Ll H' L \ 'T . ;\ ) -,I \0'" (l:-- (h (' Ia 1'1.; I) r
(J I)y n'nt(jvillg Lite ~rtlall {lanial r()of' ;lIlcl the rirty.,
()\('l'hl 'ad aml()lI), ()Il (h(' lurrcl - a parli( 'ldCl), I1I()lIl1l ,d()II ,l.!, willI th(,' -:')()-Ci.:ll. h("I\': I1lclcllilll' :,~un:
SI)()I ' IC(lIllillg il) ,lr(';ls or hC;l\ ' Y (l)liage " ,1)(')'(' illit" pLl(,(\ t\\'o pinlle-moullled ,:)()-( ' C\L 1I1~I('hjllC
( ())I('( ' .. lin 1,1 ap<'III(' .e I r(){)p~ ~\Tlcl sn i )In,,, COLl lei Iire 01 gUllS "'CIT aclded, cnmplrll' \\ ith gUll shield" , ;\ 11;111-
till ()\\' gTt'lI;I<i(''i illlo the IUITd , 11l()l\llll'd -:;ll-cal. machillc gUll \\;'lS add('ci ill tlte

:\pClrt il'llill li:--till,!:!.' til(' ('CJuiprnCI11 ,' i\tortC()llUll g:" SlIpnSI nH'llln: li'ollt all hOl]~lJ 1hi" fl"" tllre IJ,lcll)l'CII
1

dw off lC<TS 0 1' 1Ill' 708 tlt :\rnphil)iall Tallk HaLt;:tii()11
Sll,t;g('S( ' d thaI tl1l' l'(\k of £.Imtanks Ix ch a ngcd lu
(hat Il l' I\)ol;ik 'IrLillny , ;)11([ lh at furthn t),dillillg
, ,houl cl hl' prm idcr! f()1' £l llll a nk C!'C\'\S LO p),epare
t! W Ill J(I!' !lll' lise of' I h(~ ir \'L·hicl es in an indirect fin'
r('de. Th (" ~ ' ,dst) n()ted lkll once Ill(-' Iwach \\';1'
S(Tlll'cci ali(I 1(lllks landt'(I, tanks would he twtln
dn'cluj)cd heft,l Ie the ~larj(]lIa~ c a mp ,\ ig]), allcl had
1)("('11 addld Oil ];ll<"-p1'o' iu( linn LYT i :\ 1- I ~ ,IS \'\TII ,
h ' \\ of' t!\(' 1..\'T ' ''\ ,I -4- \lariaJl<l,' \\(ld('1s \\('1'('
a\ailahk in (he Pacific ullLil r~l-l:); dlill <I" ([ l'(,~ldl
I line' \-\" l. ' a good de a l or
imprO\ 'j S<l lioll Oil L \ 'T : :\ '-
,1\ 10 pJ'()\ 'ic\c pro(cClioll for 1!Il' tlll'rl'l 1l1<lchillC
gUIIIICI', ~lIHI tIl ,1dc1 addiliollal l1\ ,lchill(, guns,

"uilnl In c1il'('Cl-fin' i.ICliollS and c\()."c iJlf'alltn Furliwi imprO\TTl1CIHS, including a P()\\'IT tl',"\(T~(,
"upport tlieLiI Iht' tllinly armoured amLlllks, TIll' ~~~I{'nl li)r the turre( and tl gyru-stahilise)' IClI' Ih('
,\l'tn-ani!)l] r('p()rt~ i'rol1l thl' (llI1lank unit-., I'('C()III- I)()",il'/.(')', lecl ill Iq,{.') lo the LVT~:\)-;l ' Develop-
111('lIt Of';111 amlank with C\'('II 1)('(ltT ann;ltll('lIt, llK

The new L VT-3 Bushntasters were fir-Sf used in com.ba r on T)Hi :\rnphibian Gun Carria,gl' , \\ as l>c:gUII h~ lhl'
Okinawa where they werr: use-d to land troops of the 6th
Marine Division . '[best' Bushmasters have the optional "rlll~ in )~J+ :)' TJlis \'\ClS 1);I "jcClllY.ln aLLunpl lO
anUOur kit liul.-.cl on (h{" how, ~USMC} de\'C·lop an amplli hian \ cr.:;ioll (JI' 11)(' l\ 118 l~lll k
ell -,I ro~ ("I , :\ C( IlTC"Pl lllci i Il g ho\\ i t7,er
\crsinn \\ it h .-;
[05lnn1 hm"'ilzrl', the Ul 7, abo rntrhcd proLol "P('
fc)rm. 1-1 O\\'('\TI , by III(' t illl<' tllat these \'chicle:~ \'\"('re
ready j()1 pl'odl!!'ti()11 ill lall' 1 ~-)J'H"Liw]'c was lillJr.
/-\nny or l\.Luil)(' (:()I'p:-, illt(T(''\t in amtanb,
New AlI1tracs
The 1.\"1 (:ol1ti1ll1ilL'_' Boare! had (llr(,lldv ITC -
og lliSt'd till' "h()lt("ol1lillg s ill <lJl1trac configuration
ill J~q. ~ , Tht' IIced 10 lise a cr~'IH' to load and ulilo a d
carg() rr<lTlI ti l(" ('('1111'1..' ho ld orthe L\'T-'2 limited i (~
utili t y, hut due to war t ime fJl'lOl'ilie.:; L\'T- '2
prnduct. illll c()lllillll Cd, \,hile L1u' L\'T COl1tinuill g
Board ;.Illcl IlIt' :\.l \'Y pl'()('('cclc'cI ,,'jtll impn)\'cd
\'a nalll s,
III til(' sprillg oj'! ~')'1-'-2, the L \''1' COlltinuing Board
was spnll'\()['in,~ t\\'o dncl()pmcl1t progralllJ1lC; 10
impl'm'(' the <'lUt()moti\(' per/(-)rmallCC or
11)(-'
L\,T-r, The pmjl'l'l by FT\-1C, wbich Icd tu II\('
1.\ /'1'-'2 design, ('11\ isioul'C1 kCt'pillg the cClltred caq.!,'(1
holcll ' ()\1hgLlI'~ll}()Jl, hm gr('all~ improving Ihe tr;lck
J.lld SlISpCJI Sioll . Th e LVT-2 "'as rt'ady lell
proc\u(lioll at LIl(' cDd of I~ ) '2, and \\ cnL into s(o-rit,S
production ill ,JaIIU<lt'y 1~)+3- \\'ilh Ihe T.\,T-~
dc'-\igll completed ill th(' sprill,!!.' of T(J-l-2, F\fC
t Iflwcl to till' d n't'l ()pnWlll of' a tun her ckri,"ari\ 'l'
\\'ith ;t ]'c (, OId ig lll"ccI c{l r g o hold, \\'hiell \\ '(111lcl
The rollin~ coun{.:-yside of Okinawa pcrn-utted largc-si'a.l ,'
mechanised operations, AnItracs and ant tank s, like t1H:~e
M.a rine L VT': .\ :htS, were used to trdflSpOr{ and support th('"e
Mannt> drives, (USMC)
('\cnlu;t11y hl"COI1lC Lilt' LVT-+ This Il('\\' \'l'hick
haclthc (,Ilgill(' Ill()"cd I(wward LO permit the car,~()
hold 10 Iw located aft.. accessihle h~ a large- ramp
door. 'j his conflgurati()n pcrl1lillCc\ Ilil' LVT -,l tu
IlIaci ::))0 ulll()ad ca rg() rapidJy, ~lIlcl il l'oulc1 easi ly
t'(lrr~ \\ lwdc:d C'quipmellL :5l.1ch <1: jccps ur sl ll a ll
;Inilb-J"~ pinT:. The hr'iL ~argc vrdcl Jlli Ill<' L,\'T- ,-t
Wi.l~ pLl('cd ill i\' o \f'mh er I~l -I' T til{' (il"l scric:>-
prodllrtiull L\"r-~s \,:ere co m pktnl in f)(' ("( ' m lw r
r~1 U, and they fir sl Clnned sClyicc' a! thl,timc of'lhc
Saipall landing' in ,June I~J +- 'The LVT- -l- \\.a :-;
]>l'I,clu('nl ill L,IJg'cl IHIITlhcT'.'ltklll any oLIier ty pe or
"lllll'at' dllrin,b!,' Ihe war, rcprcsclllillg ;llmosl 11;dr or
;t11 ;11111r~IC production . HO\-\'('\'CL il arri\'('c1 Oil dl('
"';(,('Il{' rl'lali\-cl)- late. and ~() only sit\-\' wick sprc;.Id Ll'i('
III I q"I-:-) , Tilt' ('vbrine,,> ancl Army disCll-":l'cI
1)ILl[)lIl~lcturillg a versiun l'on:--.LrUCli.'cI or a)'))l(] II I'
s lt' ('1, cPl1l p al':1hle tn tlw L\'T {i\, i -~ ,untral'. Thi s
\\, ; l ~ c1csig'[),ltcd Ihe L\"1,,;\,I-:3, hUl il \\' as 1)(' \ '( ' [
illlpl'm'('d I(Jl prod'lcti()n, and opticII1al ; trnlOllr kit s
O
\\'(T( iSSlI l'd in it s place to arlllou r the n :,gld a r
LVT-+,
'I'll(' S(' COli el proRJ'arnmc being :o;pon 'ul'l'd 1/\ Illl'
If)
LVTC()!llillUillg B()ard \-'-;1" lO emerge a~ the L \ '1'-')' t(','il~, hut it WilS not appro\'t,cl f()r proclllclioll ~i1LCl' il

III I q,~'2 I he ur
N a \ y 's BLll"t'~lLl Sh i p~ a ppro,lciw<i lltt'
~ I()l"<';C Cha ill Com p;'111~', ;! cI i "i~i()n uf Bor~'- \\" a rlln
Corpuralioll. to cln" lop a 11C\\' lrack and Sllspcl1si()11
~y~t(,ll1 10 replace lhl' pril1liti\l" 1 ypc llsed 011 L1ll'
LVT- J :\lI iga ull", BlJI"f!-\\'arlllT sLlggC"'olccl Lllal a
[IlOl'(, prude) It (·ou rst· \\'(Jldd be to }"edesi ~:n [1H'
\Thielr' (,l1lirel:', lo \I'hieb tllt ;\a\'y agll'cd, Thi-,
I"l'sltllec\ il1 the H()r~-\\'arner .-\mphibiall, ~l(l(kl .\.
1\ hiclt \\'d~ deli\ (Tcel [0 the LVT COlllinuing guard
il1 Fluricb ill ,\ugusl 1942 Itlr trial". "The Rorg-
"'il)'lll'r Amphihian, ]\Tllcicl A ""as c1C\;c]opccl ,L~ ;1
C()lLVlTtil)k <l1ll(J'(lC,',lflllank. /\ \,"'capon~ module,
mou1lting the tllrret Iron1 ;\tl f\.-'I:)i\1 Stuart light
()ITcrnlllo ~i,C;lli[icallt impr()\'CllH"lll m'(T [[II' l'xi~1 i 11;":-
1,\"'1'-'2 \\'atcr Bull:do, or its ·; 'H1HdI1K cI('l-;\ {lli\'c. 'hl'
L \ "' t' I .'\ ', - [ .
j\! CI"lT hflcss, the ~Io(k l :\ h,lel displayecl (I
!lunil)t,)" (Ji" ill 11()\ <'ltiol1~ in track and sll spc lL" ioll, alld
11)(' :\<1\) <.lulhorisccl Borg--\\-arll c r to proc( T ci 1\ ilit
,Ill impr()\'('cl I>pe, the ~loclc'l B, The ~r()eI('1 B
progTillllmC "wrIed at the '<lnw lim(' lhl.lllhc LVI'
COllt i Illl i I1g Boa rei had bee)) spunsuri tH~ llH' L \-''1' "~"
\\-'ith il~ ("lliphasi~ un easier ({ecc-"; to till' l',ll"i!() hulel.
Likcvvisc, the l\Jodcl B \-I',l~ cicsiglH'd with <l ]"C;U'
[,~II!IP lor ,l('cess to tIlt" rear-mounted Llrgo hold.
Otlt' nethe lllaill innovations in LlH' l\.-iodcl B desig1l

lank, ('Ollie! 1)(" hollul 01" 1l1lbollCclto Ihe cila"sis to \',IS tllL" shirting (If the t\\,O I I() hp Cadillac l'llginl'.'\

COJllin it lO ancl 1'1'0111 a cargo carrier or all lj"rOIn the i\1.r)/'i\'ijAI tank) illlO thl' hull ";P(lllS()ll~.
el111plli hinll~ I all k. '1 'hl" ~ rockl .'\ prm cd "ll( n'.;~llIl ill Iva "i n2; lllore span' i 11 1 he int('m~d cargo h(Jld, Tri<tls
or the l\llJclel B lOok place ill C;lmp 1\'lldlcIOII.
Altbough the amtank battalions had suggested that (he CaliJol"lli;1. a ~'e~lI- la ter il1 ..\llg'USt l ~)'-I:). Tfw inilial
LVT: A)-I be withdrawn from service due to its shortcomings, IHOI (JI ~T)e \, ' ;1. ' cons tru c ted \,'i I h a rrn our pl a ll" hut
il was u",ed right Lhrough rbe Okinawa caIIlpaign, as in the
case of (he~c late-mudel LVl(A)-JS near Chatan on D-Day, 1 ;tlir"]" t)'j(lI~ lhe i\a\) rCljucskd it hr
tl),l l
April 1945, Tht' late-model LVT"A)-Is had protf'c(ed engin(,
grill~. a how machine gun, and addiTional armour around {he
rn~lllul~l ctll rcd wit h ~h("l'l ..;tec L with a n {)ptiul1,tl
rear machine gun rubs. (US Army) <.Irmllur kil. The modit1(:'d i\lnricl B \\"'-1:-- ,tlTCPlCd rnr

-,.\
Pl"Odllctioll ill \:Ltrch I qcl.\. ;1I1d ,Ill inirial orcin \\'a~
placC'd i()r I J ~lX) \T h ie k~, I t \\' a~ t ~ ]Jc-cla:;si fled tl,'i
th~' L \'T-:"), Thl' l\iarillcs kll that productioll or ,1
\V hull Y !lC\-\ t ""pc \y as j ustif inl clll(' tn I hc stiSI H'I1SI011
<1.lld pO\\TrLr<'lill imprO\nllC111>; ()(kn:d I)), dll' LVT-:)
BllslllnCl~t e r (JUT th e ulrkr L\'T-'2 'LVT-I \\'llICI
BuiLtlo fc.ll11ily, The L\' r-:l did not s('c comhat until
I q+,") at Okilli.l\-\·tt,
Late-War Landings
The Palaus
'I he neXI taq.;'ct ill Ill(' i~lalld-hoppin g ca mp'lign in
(he Celltral Pacific \"\'(i.~ the f\dau group in the
C;IJ'olillc lslalld~, ThemaillJ<.lpancse.lM.il. a t Pclcliu
wa~ a'i~igll('cll() the ?vbrilll''', while thl' Army hdpe<l
[a 'kk 11t'ip; hIJOuri!1 g i\Il,t;ll<l1 lsl.lllC.i. Peklill thn'lll-
(,lIul to he llilolltn Tar;t\\.t, \\'jlh h(-'a\'~'Jap(IIl(,'it'
ddc'IlCL''\ and l(lrlinea[i()Jl~, By the time or Pelcliu,
Jap;ITlf'il'cld(:n,'iiv( tactics had continued lh<-ir shin
,I\ovay li'om I h(' reliallcC' Oil hl'Ll\'~ heath d('renc('~
a nd \Va~Ldll l /)(I.1I ,: O{ charp;('s against th(' be at 11-1H".ld,
JllsLr ad, Ihe Pcldlll ,g<lrrisol1 jeHU time" the size oj'
,l
Ill(-' Tara\\ g;\nison -hlllTo\\TcI inll) lhe r()ck~
ridg'cs f'ul'tbt'\' inland,
By this ti me p.farjllL' I ~l('[it~, tOo, kid grcatly
Illl))rO\Td, l'lw Tllain prol)ln11 \\'as th a t d]('rc \\'(:'1'('
1101 ('nmlgl, arnlrilCS 10 :,'.' , 1l1'(JLlllcl, The J"l l\L-lrine
Di\'isiOI1 hoped 10 bd\T OIH' flllltrac hattalioll pcr
rq.?:i1l1l'I1t against the three hI ~lChc~, plll'i all Llmtank
htlttalion to lead tlw \V;J\C, It had Lhe )'il and Btll
,\nlphihian Tractor BaLl(lh()ll~. and tlw :-:;rcl
.\nnorcci :\rnphiIJian lbltaliun \\'ith L\''j' .\ -Is
(Jl1d I ,\·T,:\ I- ..IS' ,\t the L:tS1 momellt, ;] sl,ipnll'llt Ol
ahOUl 50 or 11](" II['\\' LVT-p.; arrivcd; tllCS(, \Yt'IT
LI.'i('(1 t[) fell'Il1 a prm'isiullal hatlidioll, causing a
certaill amuunt of di sruplion. since one uf lhe
h(tl(~lli()rL~ \\ <I S r('l<ttj\.'(·I~ Ill'H ane! incxperiellced,
.11)(1 rTldll> o{'tlH' (I\'\\S ill the prm'-isinnal unil were
CO III I )l(-'[~'I Y U Illl'ai I It'd ,
On I:) S('p!(-,11llwr Iq,I._I. Ihe three LUlllrac
hatL~tli()Il'> \-,'('I'C pn·'ceded 10 the b(,;ICh 1)\, Lhc
~IIlH~lllk IJatt~tli()ll alld by rO( kCl-ialll1chill,~ lallding
<Talt to '>ollt'n lip .JapalH'sc PI)SiliollS, 'I'll(' illilial
(lpPl'(\~ldl \-va.'> far ks'> custly thall at Tara\·\;1; hUI
(1I1C(-' tlw ~llIT()lIlldillg n:eC \\'a~ rcaclwd (',l~ualti('''
Itlfllll!l('d, ('\(,Illllt l ll y tot a lling '. .dJ ~lmphibialh, The
tnrain ()~'Ih(' hcach (11'(';\ \\' (-\S h,Hll~ torl.lu]) hv llll'
lld\',ll hOlllLardll1Clll. and \\as Ihus unslIil.tl)k for
l Ill' usc 01 ami all k.'i. /\s a rest! It or I he (';.11'1 jer call ti()llS
Il'i(' nLllllt<.1tlL,> nil Saipatl. th(' 1st l\,·Illril'll' Dl\'lsion
ill..;i:',LUI thi" liTllC '111 ha\'ill g tanks lan cl a" .'i(lUIl as
po.",sihl(, ralhtT lhan depclld c1Hin'l~ (lll the
~ lInl all ks f(ll i Iliti;d fire .'-ill [JPOI'I, !\boll t ,)() SlltTIll<.lllS
The LVTP-X3, designed by FMC in 1947, was one ofa nUDlber
of experim.ental aDll rae!> developed i.mtnerliately after the war
in an altentpt to Exaln.ine new approaches and configurations,
None of I hese enlered production until the Korean Wa r forcc-rl
[he Navy to replace rhp LVT-3G. :FMC Corp.)
'21
The L VT-3C Bu~l1Jna !> ler had rhe rt:ar cargo uay covered over, I II ti ll' .\1 : l l' i llC di \ ·i .' iuil :-' (hc ' nb(' I\·c "; . \\'il]) lil t'
and a [urre[ added in th e fronl. This r ear viE'"" sho w~ Ihl' d("laiJ
changes on (he LVT -JC. (Author) in lall k \"acl illg equipmellt. (" url-
i lllpr(l\TIlH'llt
\'( 'Ilt itli l al tall ks could I)t" landed on the ])c a ch ("
() f ll l(' l sI T a n k B~ll l< tli()ll \'Tn ' LU leln!. Cl lld 1))"0 \("( 1 \\'ith ill h,lI!" ~111 hOll)" or the initia l b lld ill g s. l\'o (lilt·,
ill st rtlll1clll a l ill securill g til<." h('ach, ( · ~ p l't· i < dly Lll(' a ml ;lIlk C)"( ' \\ 'S , q ll csri()I!(,c1 11)(' ! ~ l ' l
P)-i()r J) till' IcUlding:-. , thrc(, ()f {ill' 1lL"\' LYT-,l' tku Ilw ~l--l"\ ~! S l ll'nn <l ll ~ \\ '(,), t· m uc h bC:IIlT Sllitccl
had I)f'('U mocliJicd ,IS 1l ~Itl l('thn )\\" IT "('hi ck" to p rf) \i d in ,~ cl n~t' -ill di re ct tire s u p p ort I()]' th t'
Ill OUllIiJl ,!!; :\ (l\" ~ ). Lk, I I R OIli'OII '-1,1I1It' gllllS. TI \l' : )'I arill(,'i 0]]('(' a" hore. T he iUlj)(l!' t<:L lln' 0 1' ; I InL<.tn b
stood IlIlll:--Ct! ii»)" thl' (irs! [\\'0 da ys (l li t;h ti lU;: 11111 il l ampli ibi ou s ( Jj)(' r ali () lI ~ tit (' ["d()I T c Ollti llul'd til
Clll d w third da y tlw y I)('gan u) he h roughl fC)r\,' aro (\crli lH' as l Ilt' r()I(' ot' C{)Il Y(,Tlli() l1a l l<.lllks i lHT1J<l:--nl.
In r(lllt (jIll japillll'SC i()r( if!(';!1";OTlS. ~l lld ll l1'Y \\T IT Once ;I", hur('. IIH'Y wen' Il s'('(illl il inl y illti\(" illd irc l"l
Llsed lalcT i n the campaign \\ hell a slllall ~Lllllrac allel <Lrl il kn Il rc ., u pport n')l !' \\'hil (' c t)ll \ '(' nli(J lI <d t <l nK. ·
<lllllank t~lsk j(lJ'C(' W~l S sellt oil" 10 IJcig ld)()urint?; \\,(, 1,(, (Iscd /()I' dircct lire SUPP! 1I·t.

~ g(, s\ JllS i_ 'laIld t (l <.u ta l' k t ht' .J <qnJl(-,~I ' garri'oll

111t'T"c. '1'\1(' LUldillgS ill Al 1,1.;'11:1)" j',,,ltlllci 011 17 The Philippines
Sq)(('m l)(T wcn: l ·(fIH\W·tcd hy lIlt' .-\ rlll\ \ 7,2( )th . [' he l;trgt-Sl ~ing k li se o i" amtr;ll· ... .1Ild c.trntalLks in LI Il'
:\mphil>i;lIl Tr;IClo}' B;1((a\i(lll., supported b~ (lie P;,l(,:ifil' \-\·a r. tilt' JJYl l' l(lilclill g-s nIl ',2() (klo\)(']" I ~).H .

77()t h .\ rn phi l ian T~u lk B atl~dion . <lIT jl('rilap " he l l.' <.l:-il l ~\IlHlU ~ . T he Li ,' ;\ I'm ,' uSl'd
f\L.irill(, c aslI<tllil'" ()II I\·klill \\('1'(' c\Olti)\t- th().'W lIillC ililltrac ;illc1 I\\() , l[ lIt<tllk I) ..ll( ' llio]) s I{)r 111('
Oil T ara\\·,!. ;ll ll l it p ro\'('d 10 l)(' a \Tr~ COlllr()HT.'iial lanciing, but tl1(' f(' \\ as 110 c Oll tc s liur lite bctl.: i1l's . ,\ :-,
()lll']'iUioll. IIu\vT\·tT, c!c-knd(")'s ill l(lUr lillKS ll1(' ;1 result. the :\n1Iy ill11t!'<lCS \o\"('J"l' !'('(Illcnl 10 [Iwi!'

sln: ll,£;lh o f till' BC' l io g;l )" ri s() 11 had 1)(,l'1l ( l\ tT CtlllH" , init ia l ["( 'l it- or lugi:-.t ical . Ilpport , aw l lit de ' U l ClHioll
<llid tlll' Ltllding s hac! lWl'J) conducted \\·itlllltiL \\';l,'i Jlilid to Ill(' blldillgS. Thl' .-\rmy )"I'laillul <llargc'

_'( T i()lI ~ 1) ]U I Hlc ]"'i , III lJlallY ['('spect ..; , Pd e liu lIlark(,d 11 11 m 1)("1' of a rnl rac. [()r li St ' in bnd il1 .l2;~ (Ill t hl.mall ~

111(' l'llhllillillioJ) ill tile dn'('l()jllll(,llt <Ji" l1l,ll"ill(' i"land s ill til(' Philippill('~, usin g l\\'() ,.tllllr;)('
,l lllp hibi a ll aSSrll Ji l o Pt-TCl I iOl1s i ll \\' odd \\' ,t r I I. B\ h att, Ll illll: ill l lll' la no illg al ()r Illoc h.bncl u n J
Lhis stage, tlie n'lllra l ["(')Ie of' tht' a mlr;l CS in t Ill" IkcI'll11)l']' I~J'l-'+ : llIci 1()l11" ;ll Lill g a v cll (~Lllr Oil
illili~t1 la ndin g had b -Tn \\T li esti.d)li sfwd b~ till' l. UZOll nil ~t .Ja n llilry I~H:) '
SllCU'ss('s ;ll (;U <.I Ill, Saip<1I1 a ll cl Pcklill, all(\ tlw )"r)k
oJ" a mla llks ill IH'()\'idin g- il1 il i;d (i re SIlPT o n \ \' (1" ill . . ,) Iwo Jima
:lcccptc I. T he importance or in ~1I1i­
;llTl t itll ks rr th ere \\"('I T qll CS Ll Ull :-- a huut tilt' ll l'l'cI to u kc
piI i b iolis landi ngs \,'as \ ' i<'\\'t' d \\'itl l sonw a mhi\ - I)l'!ciiu. t1 lt" )"(' \ \,('1"(' I lO sll c h d<Jul >lS a bou t ,I\\(lji m il.
a kl H T\ 110 \\1'\ '(' 1'. ] )o th i ll [h e , lnl tallk b a t[alions ;\11(\ 'I'hi,-; s m ~tll , '() lca llic island \\ ' (1\ \'invl'cl ,1 :-- ('ss{'llli ;t1l( I

2 :2
 help 'iuppnrt b(l1l11lCr ()pcr~llioJl~ ;l,g-ainstJapan"" ami
the n"l'ntucll mainland landing's planned [(II I ~)4.f>.
:\ l o tal or ":l- R2 LVTs m ac k tllt' inilial Iflildillg"",
incllldi ng the _pll {tlld .llil ;\rnphihian '!'I"i ctn ]"
13(lllrtlj()ll~, allci Lll(' LYT L/\ 1-,-1-" (,rlhe ~Ild :\I"1l1l>]"(:cl
Alllphilli;1n Bi1lLdiull" A,~ al Pell-liu, the japanc"('
hac! S h d'tce! tu cl 111 ( liT ca lit iOll ary cI CkLlCC", P rdc'l'ri ng
to wage ro"tl~ c! "(l'llSi\"(' action, I"rom 1(.II"ti /1C<:lli(]rt"
and bu 11 kcrs Cl \-\, ,\ Yl"rom tll<' I)("~lcll rat her t h;~ Il I;[L"<' Il
hailsl()1"Ill orrin (1) lIlt"" hc'cH 1-1 il'i('IL As <l I"l"Sldl, (Ilt,
;lITII }"flCS \'\-"('1'(' a h II' 10 1n,I kl' 11){' I )(:';}(' h \-\'j 1llClIll
su fkri ng scri ()U~ lms('~" OllCl' I h("~ \\' crt" on I Ill'
I)('a(' h, hOV.,T\'Cr. (he j a pa lJ(''>C d rt i J I('r~ and 1110!-u'r:--
took lheir loll o[ "l'hiell'," and m e n; so lank :-' Upp01'l
\\ ..1" LIllckd ,-Lim()Sl immedii.lkl>, and pla>nl ,I
U'IIIl',ti rtllc ill roillill,~- OUI j,tp:tIICS(, hunk('rs" 1\\"0
.lima \\Ll_" ulld()lIl)1('(II~ Ih(' (oIJ .l!,"IIC~l !\-1flrill(" hallll'
01 Ill(' \VaL IOLl~"hl rlgainsl a ga rri:-;ol1 ll.'11 linlt''' l lll "
"jl.(" 0/ Tarawa ,Inc! ("\"('n b 'un l(JrlificcL hut. tllC
Cl"sauh lanclin,=,> did Hot malC]1 T;u"(lvva ill 1)lnod,
/Cr()ci 1y, The T'()lc of'arT1(anks C(JIII i 11IWcl to di Illi I usll:
\\"il h a n adequale supply of LlTlk: . Oil [\\"o.Jilll<l Ihey
""('IT rcl egal('cI (0 <lTlllrlillcry Sllpport rtlle, [()[- \\"hicll
I lin" ""n"C' hCll cr S II i lcel,
Del.-'c1optncntof a snlaUer alntrac, the FMC LVTP-6,
paralleled dcveiopnleJit of the Borg-Waruer LVTP-S' Based on
the Army MS9 APC, the LVTP-6 never entered quantity
producrion" lFMC Corp")
Okinawa
Okill;-l\-Va pr()\'l"d 10 1)(' the ('lim<lClic bauk or Ihe
P;::l/'ill(" \\"<.H\ pLtCln,!.!; l S {(wee's Oil dl!" doorstep or
thC.J;lPt.lIW S l" Homl' I sla ncl s, The lnili;i.l Janclin,~_" Oil
1 :\prl! Iq+:) \\"IT(" prccnll-'(i by <l num!Jt'l ur
'llllphibiollS ass;llllls rtgflill~l sm;tllcr islallcls ill Ill('
R~'IJkyll~ h~ US Ar1Tl~' I)"OOPS \vho s('izecl ,l1lchor-
ag"l'!'. /(lr Ihe LOS ~;t'"~' and cl('l-lrcd OUI ,JapaT[(,S('
"e:aITI"(»)lS on till' Okina\\ ,I ~lp p roachc s , Th e
Okin<"l\\ a ];-Illdill~~'. \\ hich "..-cre 110t C()l1lC lCd- C
'HTe (:lITicd OLll hy li'lUI di\"isiolls, lWO Arm) and
t \'\0 \'Llrin('. sll]lporlcd hy Il(,~lrly a dOl,CII arnlr,ll"
rtlle! dnllallk hdllfllioll<;" :'\nHr,ICS pl£l~('(i all
un (11) lie i pa lcd rtlk i I t l hI' fl glll j n g , bf'i ng 1I sed h~" I he
~Llrillc s t(-l)" pro]oll ,t(Cc\ mech<.tniscd inf~l11(ry oper-
a(ions, a kin to the Army's lise in Europe of
,ll"lIIOUITd jld~llliry Il,tlf"-tr;:lcKs, Okina\\-a\ ]'nllill!.S
hills IHTrHiuerl Ihe lISe or ,~ml}"llC." ill Gl.IT'- troops
decp ildfltld"
OJ,;ill<t,,";1 \\ clS 1101 I he lasl 11:-.(' nj' ;}1l1Ir:1CS ill t lw
Pacific, though it \-vas cer[ainly [he lasL major
operation. Thc·y \-vere used in the "t\!Iindan(lo
landings in the Philippines on J 7 April I ~H5; at
Lake SantCTllC on l\l'\\' Guinea on ~+ April I ~)4:); at
the Bongac Channd on Sull.l on :2 7 Apri I; at Ct'bu in
[he Philippi l1es 011 2() 1\,/1 a y I Q4."): a nci finally, ina
large operation invoking t \,,'0 US Army amtrac
hattalions al Balikpapan in Bornco on I J Illy 194:')-
'I'his last operation also marked onc or the only uses
(If'amtracs by other Allied troops during tile Pacific
fighting. The Australians had /(xl1lcd the 1St
Amphibious Armoured Squadroll using nt'\dy
arri\'(:"cl LVT(/\~'-/ls, ;lnd !he 1st AU'itralian Tracked
/\mphibious Vehicle Platoon /\ASC in fehruary
J ~H<). The US supplied a total 0('30 L \,'T(A;,-+s and
ahuuL 300 L VT -4s to /·\ustralia ancJ China in I ~4~).
Although ncither ullit 'vV;1.S to scc aerion, Australian
troops im'olv<:>cI in [he Balikpapan lanclings did ust..'
LVTs in srnall numbers; as did Bri[ish forces in
Burma.
Amtracs in Europe
Although amtracs arc rnueh more closely as:>octa[cci
\-"ttll the (ighLing in the Pacific, t.hey \"'(:TC used ill a
numher or operations in the European theatre a~
well. Howe-vcr. priority \V(lS aJ<.\:ays given to the
PacifIC units, and LVTs ciie!llot become <l\'ailable in
Europe in signlllcant numbers ulltil the late
summer or 1944. The C-S supplied :.200 L \.''1'- "'I
to
Britain in I~·j43, which \"WI'C used mainly for training-
allel cxp{-Timcl11 (;l[ion. These wcn: {(>llowf'd by
I no L V'1'-2s and '10:) LV1'-4s in 194+, and :")0
1.. . VT(J\)-4S in Iq4,) under the Lend-Lease pro-
gramrne. These v\'ere callecl Bufblo I I i L \,"'1'-2) and
BUn~11o 1\/ (:LVT-4:) in British sen'ice (or Fantails,
in Italy:,. I\ot surprisingly, the IInit most clo~cJy
a<,sociated with amtrac t'mploymcllt ill tht' Eur()-
pean thcarrc \vas the British 7S)th Arlllournl
Division, \vhich was already rCIlO'vvned 1'or its work
\vith ~pecialiscd armoured vehicle". In October
[~.)44 the 75)(h Armoured Division """as as.;;ignecl the
messy task or dislodging German ror('(~s in the
Sclwldt estuary \-vho \VCI"(' bl()cking the approacht,:-;
to the vilal porl OrAlltvverp. LVTs orLhc lsI AS~;ll.llt
Brigade, Royal Eng'i Ileers were ll;;ed to la nel Lroops
on South Bn'clan cI lsi anel on ~ :-$/14 0(( 01 )('r,
:·24·
followed \)\. all attack O[l \Y;llclwrcn. V\'alduTcl1
was protcc[ed hy dike-so \vhieh the AlIie~ ruptured LO
complicate t he defence of the German". The I 1 til
RTR and the sth As,~ault RegimenL RE \\,('1"(" fittecl
OUL ,,-i[h LVT-'2 ancl LVT-_~. Bumtloes 1'01' the
operation, 10 carry troops anu equipment in [he
assault. Alter the [ 1\"o\'Cmhcl" I ~}.:14.1allcling·, it look
a 'vveck of hloody f"i2.·hting to seclire the island. The
I I th RTR I was again employeel \vitli Rufbl()e~ aL
the Rhine eros.sing on 7 .tv-larch I Q4S. Bfsicifs Llsing
the LVT-4s ill {he conventional rt>k, the di\'isioTl
dcveloped some spcci(liiseci dcrivati\·('.o.;, including a
mal-laying LV1'-+ which coule! place a carpet or
win-'-linkeellogs on the muddy shore-hanks to belp
DD tank:, alld other amphibious \"Chic!o transil !lw
river approaches \virhoul be-corning- hoggecl clo\Vll~
anc! the Sea Scrpent, an LVT-4 filled with two
small turrets and Aame guns. In \·iew oj" the
possihility or Liw British ;\rmy b(~c()l11ing mure
invoked in amphihiolls opercuioTls in the Pacific at
the cOllclusion or l he Europc;lll \\'ar, a rcq llirc:mcnl
j()j' a Bri tish arn [r<.lC hecame' appareIlL a nel d{"\·clop-
ment began in the spring or 1 Q44. Designed by
~lorris Cornnwrcial Cars, it \"(lS heel"i Iy hased on
the L\'T-4., bll[ \·vas somewhal larger. It \-\'as
clubbed the ./.! mj;!libia17, /wc/a)t/, 4 lOll GS, better
kn()\\"ll as NqHUl1C. A total ()r 2,000 were orden"d,
along with a recovery version r Sealioll'l alld
\-\-"or1-:~hop \"Crsion ~Turtk); but with till' C'l1ci oCthe
\\"£11" the con [raet 'i were cancelled ann on IY "I
handrul had hccil compkted,
The US Army u~('(1 LVT-:2s and L VT-..l.s in small
rt 1I III hers in J 94-1- allci I Q4,1 (I)}' ri\"(~r cros~ing
opcr(Hiom. One or the laJ',~;(':;t JOilll tiS l) K
operations using am[racs in Eur()pe took pIcHT
along ([1(' Po Ri\'Cr in Ital) in ~lareh·-April 1945
uncleI' the control of" the British ~)th ,.:.\rmourec1
Brigade. The lJS 7;")](h Tank Battalion \vas
COll\TrtccJ [0 a Fanrail IIni[ with 1 I~) L\ "Ts for Lhe
()pt"[";llion. Liknvisc, an RASe unit and the 2/'71.11
Lallcers \"ere outfitted with LVTs (i-om US sources.
The I. . VTs wcrc llsed to cross {looded areas ~()utb or
Lake Comacchi() a~ part or Operation' Impact' un
I [ April 1~)4:1' j()llmH'cl by Operation 'Impact
Royal" I W() days lau')": and OIl ~:q-·A1 April,
Corllpany c: of' [he 75;,)lh Tank Battalion wa:\ used
ill landing operations acrnss rhe Po RinT.
 J: LVT-I, FMF Atlantic; Op. 'Torch "
Fedala, Morocco, 4 Dec. J942
1 2: LVT-l. US Marine 2nd Amphib.
Tractor Bn.; Tarawa, 20 Nov. 1943

A
- - -- - -- - - - - - - - - - - - -
1: LVT-4, Il th Royal Tank Regt.;
Elbe River, Germany, 29 Apr. 1945
2: LVT(A)-l. 708th Amphib. Tank Bn.,
US Army; Saipan, 15 ,June- 1944

B
1: LVT(A)-4, US Marine 2nd Armd. Amphib. Bn.;
Tinian, August 1944
2: LVT-2, US Marine 4t.h Amphib. Tractor Bn.;
£wo Jima, 1945

c
I: LVT-3, US Marine lslAmphib. Tractor Bn.;
Hungnam Harbour, Korea, Dec. 1950
2: LVT(A)-4, French Amphib. Asslt. Gp.;
Port Fouad, Egypt, 6 Nov. 1956

o
1: LVT(A)-4, I" Grollpement Autonome, 1rt REC j
Annam, Indochina, 1952
2: LVTE-l, 3rd Amphib. Tractor Bn., US 1st
Marine Div.; Vietnam, 1967
1

E
1: LVTH-6, Taiwanese Marine Div.; Taiwan, J983
2: LVTP-7, ROK 1st Marine Div. ; Republic of Korea, 1984

F
 1: LVTP-7, Transport Co., Battaglione Marina
'San Marco'; Italy, 1984
2: LVTP-7~ Argentine 1st AJlIphib. Vehicle BIl.;
1 Falklands, April 1982

G
1: LVTP-7, US Mari.ne 2nd Amphib. Asslt. Co.;
Grenada, 26 October 1983
2: LVTP-7, US Marine 6th Amphib. Bde.; Italy, 1985

H
 Post-War LVT
Development
By! the end o1'(h<: war the Navy had ordered :2'2,683
amtrac~ alld amlanb 0(' I he standard proc\uctiOlI
models. 1-10\·\,('\,('1', in late J q45 the Navy cancelled
many 0[t11<''';(' COlllract ~ , and a tOlal or I B/) '2 ! LVTs
,,,,,ere delIvered . The accompanying charts provide
more comprehensive dct (lils of the wartIme
production of LVT~.
Fullmving the ",aI', lhe Army gradllally withdrn\
from amphibious assault \Thicll' dcn'lopmcllL and
cli~ballded its amphibian tank and 1T(lctor hat-
talions. l\·'lany oCtht' amtanks and amtracs that had
been supplied to the I\rmy \-",ere turned over to
allies, not-abl'y to China and francC'. ~/laI1Y ~larin('
and /\rrny amI raes localed OVt'rSfi;lS \'.'fTC' slrnply
broken LIp 1'01' scrap .
The US ~/larinC' Corps, realising' that budget
limits mack thf acquisilion ornevv amtrac\ unlikely,
decided to hold on to the newest production
vehiclc~, notably the LVT-3 amtracs and L \ 'T (A)-:,)
amtallks , most of' \vhich had not beell shipped (i'orn
the US before Lilt' war ended . III (049 plans \-\'('IT
begun lo modernise the LVT-3 h)' adding OH' rhcad
armour LO prolC'Cl the lroop bay; and thi~ was
carried out In ) ~)50 on I,..WO LVT-:-)s hv
Continental i\\'iation & Engi.n('ering (CA&E .;·,
rcsllltiJl,~ ill lilt' LVT-3C. These formed dll'
hackhonc of l\1arinc amI rae ulli r:-. in Korea. Tlw)'(:'
\-vere plans LO c\n'C\op it lwa\'ily modernised
LVT ;\ )-:), and l\\'O \'cry c1i1krCllt prototypes \-\·'('IT
compicrccl hy C/\&1-: alld FMC ill (~).+~) . 1n I~F)! a
:;mall Humber of L\''1' ( A ''-j~ \'\'('I'e modified b~
FNfC wilh a II("W bo\\:, ll.llTCL r()oi' armour, and
other changes ; allcl SOil It' or lhese saw scrvict, in
Korea.
i\part !'rom thC' modcrlli~atiol1 progTamme OIl
existing LVT:-, in tilt' itlVCllU)r), the US Navy
Bureau oj' Ships wa~ abo l'ngag'C'c1 in an actin'
programme or L VT tt'e hnolog:y d t'vdoprnClll. 1n
the !a tc I 9'i.os a .<;ni ( ' ~ or L VT prOLOI yp('~ were bu ilL
by \'arioll:-' matlUfactLlrtTS ullcln Navy (OnIract to
exam\llc 11('\-\' hull, ~Ll,:,pcnsiol1 aIld propulsioll
concepts. ~11any prototype vehicles, including 11('\"'"
arrHanks, ,Ulllri.lC':-' and spf'ci,tlised cargo vchicles ,
\'\-TIT buil! allel l'c'i(cd , none or them progrc~s ing
beyollci the protolype slage. 'he intelltion being
merely to ('xaminc nn,,: 1.V1' t(,chllologies . Funding
t()r actual productiun was -;ilnply not ll\·ailahlc .
The LVTE-J 'POlato Digger' was lIsed for engineer support and
mine-field breaching. It is fitted with a combination bulldozer
blade/mine rake jn the front. The large stTucturc on the roof is
the launc.her for the rocket-propelled demolition line charge.
(FMC Corp.)
33
LVT s Return to Combat lIlt h()11 which dJ"all1dlicllly alkC1t'ci {he ("OlllSI' of'
L VTs \\"('l"\, I )~l<." k ill ("Iimhi.ll :-.ll()rrh- afr !.T LllC' ('11<1 ()I 11](' \',11"" L\"T-:-1(:-" also li "~ lI)"('(l p],()l1lilll'[llh in
ti l(' Sccond \\"()rld ""(11"" T hc C o m JT1uni Q a nd ~LLrill(' (I ll acb ()\"l.T lhl" H elll Ri\TI" LU I"!" ill lh e
:'\a lioll alisl (:hill (, ~ (, \\ "~ lg(' d l.l bru l<I I ci\"iJ \'";11". lil l <.dl~ 11l() lllil, ;tIle! ill "Il<" n~l("ll(tli(;ll oi" J-iUll,!..!,I)<UlJ
cu lm i ll<ltillg i l) 1l11' (' XP 11 1...; iol) or \ll(' :\at ioll a li:--l l-i;lrlH II I l" li dl () \\"ill g Ilw Chill(":--C 'III}"~ illlO 11)(" \\~Ir.
Chill l"S(" IClITes Il"()llllht" 11l;)inllll1d Oil to Ll w i ~":]a n d 1)1 l~l:-) () ;d,,[) m ar ked tlw CllIT~ (Ji" thl" l.\'Ts inlu
"1"h(' !\ ati()l1ali:-'1 Chinl'"T fi)] "(( '" \\ "1")"("
"j "a i \ \ "ll ll" ,ll)(lth cr .\:-.ian \,"ar" French fo rces in In d ochilla had
pro,"jck cl \\"ill1 ;1 1111111fH"r of L\"T~" IYI"illl~ tlj~' Iwell ll~ing CS l\I2~)C \\'c asc]:.;, 1--))0\\"11 ~I~ cra bfs to
1,\ '"]"! .'\ '--i ; lIl d L\"T-I" ir()1r1 l"SA\nl1~-;l1Hll\I<lri1l1' tht" IITIKh. in tilt" waItT> terrain of" Ihe cl('lta~"
'Iockpik" \, hit II \-\IT(' ll~ccl ("xtr')l~i\Th" ill ("oIYlb<ll" 1)(")"h;1 ps t hI' IK"-.;t kllOWl1 ur l 11(:,(" fortllal iun,-; "a," Ill('
1l1;UIY btn Iwill.L!, t"<lptlll'cd I ,mel 1.\.~("(1! 1)\ lMlLtliull ["<li::-l"d by the J" Rf!~lJnml 1~"t}(I1IJ!)rl' dc
COIlHllI III i..;( (:11 i I 1(,',1" 1<-mTs" (;oml"}",,, in 11)'IB" Unlil I qj(), Illl' r IS had Iwcn
Thl" (l1lll)]'(';-lk Ill' war ill Korea caLl,~hl til<' L;S tlllwillil1,~ 10 support llJt" Frel1ch dlc)J"\ ill 1llciocilil],l
l\ lar-ill(, (:()rp"" ;lllcI :\rm>" 1IIIpr('par('d" :\()t "l1lvri~­ Illili1;'lril~", \"iC\,ing it a~ (1l1 ul1d('~ir;1hl(' ITfnll<llll or
i l1 g l~ " , t1H' U S \L\ ri lll" j( I],C{"!'l ill E.IJl'CL1 ITCjUC"l <.."cllh,11 ,In"hilil cld(JniL!li~m, OTlc(, 1h(' hccllme
SU"lCS
d ll'ir ; 1l1l 1J' 1lC" iJ a ll:liiolh 1)(" hrl1l1gh l back up lo ('I I 111 ( ,!Jt'd in the \, ar in K.OIT~l" hO\\"('\"I'I, the
sln: J1 g1 !t, ,we! t ill' l SI :\nlp h ibiaTi T r au())" BZllta l i o l l Ill d oc h ina flg hling \,"a::, sudd('nl~" ,inH"e! ill a new
\"\"as ("q uippcc\ \\"illl Ihe 11C\\Jy ll lf)(I ("TJ1 i,,,;('d 1.\"'1'-:)(: , li g"hl : a: another C'·lf'TT1 C llt ill the C()Iltllill I1W[I I or
Oil 15 SI: pICmlH"J" Ihi s U11i l. ~u pp()rt ("cl l-n C(1I11Tnllllism" "l he US hegan sllprl~"ill g- the Frcllch

J,\"T :\ 1-:") " 1)1' Ihe :")! )lll ;\mp hihi an T an k a lit!
1" 1" ~ ll" t()J" B ~\ Il" tli() ll, \\ ("}T LI.'i('cI
The L VTll-6AI "e;un c arrier wa~ fi[(ed ....'ith a I05lTIm howitzer
to provide artillery support during amtrac operations. If could
carry 151 rounds of amnluni'lon iI"racks, plu" J50 cao.islcred
round,; in t he cargo hold, during land opera lion 5i but for
3lTIphibious use a total of no ITlorc than 100 rounds wa,;
considered safe, (FMC Corp")
\\"ith ('q uipnll'I1L th a t h a d prc\"iullsly IW(,}I dcnied,
ill {I ll' Ll i ld ill "&.!. ;11 illCluclill g LYT--l- and LYT I A '- ~~ all1phibian~" 'I'he
first of thest-' arri,"C'd ill No\"("rn\)et" I ~i5(), and \\"~T('
usr'd hy I he Fon"igll Legion ca \";'Ilr~" I () li})"n I 11](' J
SII/1"I-grnllj)(J1lm l amj)hibif. Lhe fir.-.t ()f" a llumtWI" of"
;lmphihiollS as",nlil groups" The LYT<.; prm"('cl (() be
i<i(,(llly ,..;uitee! lo the delta; prO\'icling \\ ater-horne

""\ !
l rall~p()rt i 11 decp \'\-;-Il('L clcccptabk l1lohi Ii l ~ 011
Glllel
Lhc nHlrk> SOli or ri(('-]>(Jclclit"~
and ri,'nh'-lTlb. I II
[~).11, when rnorc "l'hicle', IwcalllC t:\\'ailahlr, l he ,"
fU';C f()1'Jrwd [lAO.: m ph i hi()ll~ !--!rou ps, com pri~l'cl or
I \,,'U Cr. d) sC!llad ron.'> \,'i til T) mac hi ne- g u 11 a rnll cl
Crahs ('aeh. three ;\Iligalur squadroli~ [c)r t ron]>
rransp(j1'1 \\·jth : I L\'T-+" l· i:tch. anel ,1 SlIppnr\
pililOOIl. ,\jlh "ix L\'T I,,\,I-..p-i. T I1<.: FOf('igll Lq~ioll
CiI\';tll'Y \-\"lTf" particularly S\llTc~.,;flll in I heir lIse 01
tlw"l' Illliqlw ullilS, cmpl(» illg- them imaginali'Tly
in spil<' or Lile poor terrain. To pl'Clvide (,\'L'1l l110re
lin·pO\\'l..'l". some LVT-.l~ \\l.TC mllclif'icti LO carry
~.()11l1ll BoloI'''' anti-aircraft gUl1~ kJl inbn l r\
"lIpP(1rL \los[ or tlie Frellch L\,'1"-_1-" WCrt· al"llll"d
\\ il 11 shi('ldf'ci rnacltiTll" gUllS, ()r I"('coilk':i rifles III HI
morl;l rs. I
The elld or LhC' I lldochina \\"ar did not <;ig'nal (hi'
l'nci oi' Frcnch amtrac npnaliolls. During Lhe I ~)')(-;
plallnill,~~, I'll)" the "I.'izurc (Jr the Suez C~lILII. til("
,\ll g t() - .F rcll c h planning l"(>lflTllill(''(-' decided to 1I :-.1'
;llll [)"ac s to ["ll'cct a l;[ nd i 11 '~- ;ll Port Lwd ..-\s R,-i t iLi II
no IOllger had any Lcnti-Lt'~\s('" amtrac.~ £\,'ailaIJIt-.
lh(" French Na\'y imp rcJ "isccl all amphibious <1:,'llull
The LVTE-7 wa~ accepted for servicc, but rlid not enler
production. 111(~ de,.:jcc on the rear of till' ""cbjcle is the rockct
launcher assembly wbich was used to launch demolition line
chargps for minefield breaching. (FMC Corp.)
.~·r()up Ii-on; the former :-\l1lphihioIIS CCIll(T al
.\rzc\\. thcll ill lht' proce:-.~ orbeil1'.~· rc-ii-)rmcd as tIll"
\ [arine Brigade. They \vere llsedll I lanell he 1 Rl-:P
and ,.-('" JJmw( COlilmando oppo,..,iIC lhr police and
coaq-guarri SI~ILi()IlS at Por( FLUId during ttl<"
landings. BOLli L\T-·~ Cll11lraCS illle! L\'T, \1-1
dTl1L<lnk .. \\'TIl' (·mpIcJycc1.
The LVTP-S
\\"ith tile C()llclusi()n of lht' war III K,OITi__1. ~tarinL'
aml-lhibi:lll Il"aclor units WCIT ill pOOl conclitioll
'" ith Zl loud or ."'):1~) LVTs or ,·;\I·iou!-, m()del~
returning li'om Korea in a parlicularly had \V;l>.
The~ \\'( 1"(' n'huill yet again at the i\larc Islan d
:\an Ydrd. Illlt \\('rC bst approaching lhe end or
tlH.'ir Llschd lik. 'r'hc L \ ·Ts Lll a.t w ere in be-un sha pe
\\Tr(' dcliw")"cd I() allird nlarillc forn',", llnder till"
!\:JAP pr()gr:lnlmc notahly In lile T;liw;tllCSe and
Soulh KO]"Ulll m:lrincs. Il \,',IS dCilr that a lie\\"
LVT wuuld be required.
 ;\[ thl (l utbn' cd, ur th e K(IJ"(' a n \\·ar. Ihe \: a\ \ \\, {1:-; Ct >lll p l('[ccl III .-\ U .~U~ l I ~ I :)[. 11 )lITf':o; till gly
l~ll r(" ; llI ur S h i ps had decided to pn" ,'i a hC lld wit h ,I cllougl l. F)'I c: su ggt's\t 'c1 1he d( '\'c lopm(,lll (II'
ill 1 ~)~) I

11('\\ LYT programrll t' b a~("(! (JIl lil t" lc c llll Olo .!.!,. ~l s11la lkr ;'llll\r~l(' 1~ 1l1 1 il~.
calk cl the ?\kdi lllll-\\'(' i.~ht
dC\"l'lo[JlllCIll dlC)ns it had [W(, ll (" ()UciII Clillg: ~iJlc( ' L\'TP-\:' ~ _ Tlw F.\IC l'l lll'~ \\'£1 .... 1'.:-;seJlli a ll~ a
I ~q() . Illlkcf"l1lhn l~ ).-)n il i:-: ~l )(" d ; l C IlTlt)";l t"[ 1( 11 )(' n:l \-;discc\ \'( T:-;i oll oj'ttl(' arllloli red troo p (';t ITie r il
111 ,~' (')"s o ll Prclclu('( ."; i)i \ ' isioll (Jr BClrg- \\';ll"IlcT C()rp- "',,IS <ksi.l.!,'lIing· /()l' lhe Ar my. awl \",Iliell \\'ollid
o rati! III to dcn:l () p a 11t'\\' Llmily or .a n 1LLll"S. . [ 'II C l' \·cll \u(l ll y(~ m('r.~l' ;I S t he \1 :)~l. \P C . T lw .L\rmy \\ ' a~
.1im \\'a.· 10 dc.'iign .\ In 'il l' (n I! IJ ca rrier' L \ '"1" 1'- :-) . il l:-i . . ti ll g lh a l all ()f il:-' 11('\" L\'(HlP car rin's 1)('
;111 anjlln~ ' lire :-\u ppo r\ \'ch ick L\'TH-( ; . ,I ("()11 1- am phil)i(lu :-,. 'lllcllhc J\t) ~ ) wa:-. (';lpabl( ' ol s\\'immin g
11lellle! ;11l(1 raclio \"(·hicll' 1l,\·TCI{-I .I . ,m :Iir ;l('J'OSS sllledl ri\Tr ~ or bI...TS. I-! O\\'(' \'l'l' , Lhl' Arm\'

(kkllce \"('hick I.\·'I" A ..-\- I '. :1 n ' (" O\"(T~ \ T h il'lt · n 'qu in ' I1l ('[ 11 1( 11' ~1l 11plt ihi(l tls capahil it y \\'a~ I ~lr k s:->
: 1.\'TR-1 I ;IIH! (i "()mlnl cn g-iTll'('r /minc!iclcl d(,111 ,lIldill g Ihall Ill(' 1\;\\'\' rCCjllin'llwl1L. The Nan'
lHT(l( hill g "('h ic k 'L\"l'E-1 . \\'ha l \\' (\ ~ remark- :-. la nd cll·cJ:.; rot' (l1l1tracs i\lsi··jCc! 111;11 11](·\· 1)(' ,tlJI(' 10
;,[Jk ;1 1 (lUI [he 11("\\' ;ll111r a<: \,';IS il" : il.(,: it \\"C ig !l\ 'd Jll' g nli~lll' lH'~I\ - '.' sllrrancil() stllyi\· (" sllhmcr ~c t)('(' in
:-i .l 1ons 11 n[oaded . i.I nd wa'i dl'"igned to (, i.lIT~ :3 " :-;_\. hcm ~ . . l·a c m ciitilll1:';: li'll'Y (ll ·o l' \pc ('tt'd br hi g-hn
C(lInl)(:lI-;IJ'I11Cd tr!)op:-. n(,;lrly d()llilk Ill(' l'()I1I- \\,un spl'cds, and hC\'ll' l !1lclll()('ll\TahililY ill \\:;) UT .
pl t'lllClll or prn'jo ll s <lllllracs. .\s a result. L1w J\1 ..)~) had t.o be .. ub . . la llli ally r(' hlliit
T It{' fi r.' 1 pfO lO ly pl', or
a ll I .\ 'T H-(; .l ;1.I1 1 cilrri( ']" , 1(1 illlp r()\'(' it.· "l l( )~- Cl n(' y alld its " ' a l lT prnplIlsil)ll
( haraCln is\ ie . . .
Tri;!ls Ill' IIw Bllrg-\\'arllCl' ;lmtracs \, ' lTC SllCCCSS-
Th e LVT-7A r new productio[l "chid s are easily di ' tingu.ished 1i.1I. and in lQ ,=-)2 pro duni o Illwg <lllOlll lw LVTP-.1
from the LVT-7 se n e and the LVT-7A1 SLEP \'cbjcles by the
squ~re hou. ings for th(' f.-onl headlights and the rai5ed I roo p 1';l r ri rr t1 l1 rt t i1l' L\'TH -( j gllTl c a rri er. I II spil t'
comnu..nder···. cupola. Thi!-o is an LVTC~7AI. evident from the (,rIlle d(Ti . . i()11 p ress al1L'ad \\'ith produ Cl iull o[ ' the
lO
cxtrd. r:adio antennae anrl rhe lack of a ma('h;n(' ~n turret.
'FMC Corp.' I.\'·I·P- -).11)(' J\Li rill cs ckc idcc\ 10 COllI illlll' c1c\'('lop-

-
ment ol'tl1(' "rnalkr ;, and cheaper;1 FIvfC LVTP-':\"2.
feeling thai such a design mig-ht complemellt 1!1l'
LVTP-;-)" As ill d)(' LV'1'P-:) farnily, a gun curicr
and air defellce \'('rsinn \\Trc clnTlopccL as well a" a
troop carrin" r i l l 9,5(i tile F 1\"1 C design \,"as
accepted ror }darine service as tllC LVTP-b, but by
this time the produclion orliw LVTP-:-) 'Y<.!S almost
compluc and so the L VTP-() \"vas lW\"C1' placed inLO
prod uCliol1" :\ total or I, I 2-\ LVTP-5s and :l J ()
LVTI-I-(is \\"('IT huilt durillg- the plTiod lip to 1~) :")7"
Once prod l1uion was cornpktul. 110\\"'C\"('1'- i I \'"as
decided tu C"un\Trt .1H or (he LVTP-.')s i1lto
command ,"('hicks. designated L \" .1"P-:") (Cmci ).
Snlallllllmbcrs oi"L11C L \ "1'E- I ('UgilH'Cl" ,Thiele and
()5 LVTR-I l'l'Ul\"ery \"chicles ',,""CTC also 1>uilt~ IllH
no L \/'1';\;\- I air ckk'llcC \Thicles ,,,'en' huill apart
['rom the pr()totype"
/\ lluml)('l' of sllspcnsiOlI and pU\n"nrain prob-
lcm~ plagued dw l'arly L VTP-5 Lund> . and dela ycd
th("ir illilial deploymelll ulIIlI I~) :)(i " The LVTP-:-)
series used Ill(' sarlI(' transmissioll as the \1+7 and
M'lR tanks , <\!lei due: to (he pov\crtrain C()I1-
figur<ltiutl til(" tlnal orin'S Vd ' n " about ";1"1 bdow tltl'
l rammission out put SilLI f'l~, l"l"q uiri 11"2. a d rop,2,(,;l r
assembly to couple the fll1ll! dri\"(~"" lind tr;II1S-
missions" The dr()p~"('aJ's and c,l1'ly filwl ell'in's were
a ll"CquClit source or l11('clianical I ~lilur('s" I rnprmT-
1l)CIl[S to Ihe P(JvdTt)"lin a!ld sllspellsioll , as ,q"1I a"
nt her mod i fic,ll lOllS including the acid) tion or a hox
snorkel and top deck \Tlltilrl1ors , sO"Tel:-\()tnC ()r
Ih(',,(" prohlems. alld the modilled ,chicks \\TIT
dcsigna teel J-, V~I " P- ~)l\ I, L VTH -h.-\ I, l "ll".
NLI ri I1C am phi hi all fractur Il<.lllal i OI1S or I It i"
pcri()c1 had ([ tOLd or '2() LVTs cach " Till' tv.-I.l
I
Ir~lrt(Jr compallies had /()uJ' piatC)C)lIS eacJl \\"iLlI II
LVT'P- "-) ;-\!s" The 1)(1IL"diull HQ_It;tellllrcf' L\""l'P-
:-),\1 I,Cllld; cornrl1(]lId vchicles; Ol\( ' LVTR-[ ;\I
n ' CO\Try \"chide: ;1 l1Iine' clC;lrallCC" pi:.lt0<l11 \\"illl
cigh t 1; V' l"L- I . !lota to Diggers"": a rnaintl' n~lll("("
piatO()11 wilh one LVTR-IAI; ,"mel (lll alllpliilli(lJ)
pi,ltOOll \\"i(h three LVTP-,-).:\! (Cmcll and 12
LVTP-JAI troop c ~ lnj('l"s" III Ihe 1l).'J(lS <\lId ' bl)s.
tlH's( ' bat(;diollS ""CIT orgi.UlIC lO the IVLl.l'inl '
di\'isiollS "
The LVTR-7A1 is t"be recovery version of the LVT-7 sedcs . llle
hydraulic c.rane has a 3-tOIl capacity, and the vehicle is al~o
fitted with a recovery win(~h of Ts-too capacity. (FMC Corp . )
:';7
Vietnam Thes(' LVTP-75 ~\" rc U'iccl during .he tnab of the nFv.' C<Hlillac
Gage [urnr which will be rt"lrofitted to lhe AAV-7A1 s
J)urillg" tile Vil'lIl:111l \Y,ll, Llw 1:-;1 and ';nl beginning in Ig8,. Th e ncw tu r ret has both a '50-cal. machine
.\mphi hiLIlJ Bat talil Ill," \\ ('IT deptl JYL'd \\'il h
'Tr;l('[o)" gWl and a 4 0fllOl M.k 19 aut o m at.ic g renade launcber. (CadiUac
Gage )
the' \Ln in cs' :-;rd ;-jllc! 1,1 l)i,i:-.i()J):-;. 1'1 ](: mltuft' 1)1'
thl' liglHil.lg in \"innam \\ ~l~ iii-..;uill'd to lr~lcli[ iOJl~tI
arntr,lC ()1H'ratinn", ,!lId dui' [011](' b ck orcout('slnl li,0, IlI';lli(J11 of tlw Il)('l c("lls ill the flnol, In \'ictJldlll
Iw,]c1 1 a s.'a Llll~ t 1)(' L\'TP- :-):\ l ~ \\"(,'T e llser! , as orte l] bnd m illt·~ \\'l'n' I he pri mary d a n,~cr 10 a r mou red
a~I1OI, a . ligh tl yaITllotll'ccilroo p cll'ri(·')'s. I-f() wC\·('r. \"(·hic lcs. a n d ;1 mi ll!' Cict(lll<ltiol1 unde r (Ill I.\ 'T P-:-)
the amtl'(IC" \H')'l' \'tT;' large and hulky LInd \\'('1'1' (JIlI'll <;cl 1I1r 1111' petr()1 ll.l1lb. L·;lll."illg ,l lien'
hardly a~ suilabk lor lhi:-. rl-)Ic ,lS LIlt' !--' l11 a lkr :\nll: hullWdll,";l in 11)(' ern" (()mp'lrlnH'llt. Arlcr ,\ ft'\\
\1 i ':1, 1':"\"('\1 tho ug h LlH'Y \\Trt' ( oll sick r a bly llIC )['t' le lhal experlell ces \-\·il h this d a n ger , i\ Lll-i lll' ullit".
dural dt' I han ,1l111r.tt . . ol"Llw Second \\'urlel \\'dr. t])(' q lli( !i.I Y \ l('C1I1J(' d(" U"WII wei (() ridin g' ()II t lit' ()lll :-.idt,
L\'TP-.-).\ \\T1T lIO[ illiCIl<!crl filr prololl gnl OPl'L"- OJ' t h(' i'l ll)! rae..;. It '('I Illg' I hill cxp OS UIT t () sma lJ It rn J~
atjoll Oil lane\: Ill(' lors il<i sl i(' <;uspcm:i()lI:; .' u !l(:T(, cl fin' \\'a :-; a lc ~sC' r ri ..; k lil a ll l lll' ci a n g er p o..;cd by l1l ill( '~ .
rrnlll (':'\c('~sj\"(' \IS(' fe)l" whic'h [h t' y \\TIT lIot (ksl (!," lLt'ci. : \ :-; ;l rc. ·u lt (,r" tl w ."l' p r o l li(' ms th e 1I "1' 01 :l llltl"'ilC"
The p()\\'(']'train, llsin g a [;tllk cll,f..!,'ilJ(' fInd tj';IlI~­ \\"d~ n'~t rine cl , <lllel clrun~ \\'('1"(" rnadt' tl) Llil()r their
missiull I" ilthcr l klll a PO\\'tTtr;lill c:\pj'l' ."sl ~'dl' s i g ll ('( l u.'.("' 10 til( 1f"I T<ti n -~tl('lt ,IS p at rollin g ;tl(\n~
Ic)r '1.l1 1l r a Cs, \\'as lInt iell',·1. and \\' c\:; clilficull t il r i" (Ti>tlll b o r ~'( n~tlin t', (II" \\ jLll Sp( Ti; d L:llicii ng
S('l"\'I("(': ;1 \\'nrrl-Olll cng;inl' u1' lraIISnl;'i,~i()l1 t()ok '1'(,;'1111 .') IClI' C(),lSla l opera tion s. '"1"11('\ \\TIT abo ll,..;nl

ncarh' cl day \() ["('pLuT, The ~il lg lc g-rc;ltt"sl ill Jl()I1-('ol"'nl){lLlllI )'()ics, ~l!l'h as Il"lT~'ing :-;Ilppli{'s
\\T a KI)(, ss in ill(' i.\-TP- .-) d(':-;i g'lL \,·a ."; ti l(' ("Clll- from \'(' il l' ;.!IT, !."i , \\ '11(' 1" (' l il eir sp(j('i()l l ~ !loki:-; prm"('cl
lIseful. Rc"iclr:"\ the hasic Iroop ('''nrler, till' olll<'r
ialll' or lIw L VTP-:") seric,' also Sa\-\, empl(lymcnt
\ . 11
in \'jclIlam. The LVTH-(i:\ I W(} , irH('IHkcl I()!' llSC
as all indirect anillery fire slIppOrl \T hick , hIll ill
Viculd III 0\ cr half ()f i 1" III issi ()T1~ \-\ifT(, ill I hI..' (;11 II.;
rt)lc of' clinTI fire SUppOl'1 (II' i\:[arinc Llllil · .
The LVTP-7
The pl'Ublt'l11s \\'iLh till .' L\'TP-5 ill \"iCl!ld ll1 ,
adnliu('dly cau~cd in LlI'gc nlC(lSUrC h\' il~
empl()~ n1ent in r6k-: 1()1' \\ lIich it had Iiol benl
dc~igll("d\ led 10 cOIJsicl(')'atioll or a rcplllccnwlll.
Initial dc'\ign "vork fCJI' all LVTP-:-) rCpl,1(TI1lCIlI had
begun ill I ~)6 ' I" ~incc tl1l' original design spccifi-
ca liuns fen' (hc LVTP-.5 had re-quil'cel J. 15-ycilr lik
expectilllcy. ~!ll ct the \'Chicle, had (tIH'acl~ becll il l
sen'icC' since I ~ l ~-l.) )j , llli L i ~ll d ":-, ig n SLud i ',' were
corn piC'll'< I h:. Chry:Jer and F \ I C, and ill r ~ ) b .)
F\[C WOll llie (kn'lopmcllt C()IlU'; UT , The Ill'\\'
\'(' h.icl!·, inil i;t1I> dt'"i ,l!;llalcd l.VTPX-I:2 . rn ertnl
IJack to tlH' cariit '!' Se( 'ollel \Yor1d \'\'~Ir L\'T de:"" i,I2,Tl
in terms or size, l ise oC lhe LV" P-.l:\ I in Vi('lll a n1
Ill:tc!c it c!c;lI' that ,o.;lI ch a Llrgc \ 'chicle \\'as hard ly
i 11.." 11 f( ))' 1 ~ lI ld opcr;ll io n: and lhl..' ( 1'1..' \ \' comp lemen !
One of tbe more UDUSUal derivatives of the LVT-7 series wa~
[he MTU (Mobile Test Unit), a US Anlly test~bed to conside r
the feasibility of a mediwn energy la~er for air defence. Th e
circuL'l r tu r ret conta.ins the laser beam projector and o pt ical
tracking equipment, and the large container on me rea r
contains the ~eo(: rator needed to supply the prodigious ene r gy
requirement-,. of (hp laser, (US DoD\
The LVTEX-J was 00(' ufa nUITlber ofarn'tnpts to l""plon' fire Il('v\" ,'i('l"lt' S Wet S c1('~igIlal('(1 LV'1'- 7, \\"illl Ihe
support versions of the LVT-7' The Marines had initially
planned 10 acquire Lh(' L Y'n-1-5 lOSITlITl gun ca rrier in (97 2) but ~1; lI1d<lrd 1['(l 0P car r in I)('i rt ~ dc."i g ll <l\ccl I. \.'T P- i.
t.hi ... never progre5~.-d beyond the drawwg board, The LV T E X-
3 maled an experirneDlaJ Na vy Jos mrn low-recoil gun in a 'I hr' '2 nd ,-\ l1lphihi o ll '. T ra ct or '-b Ll a lio ll <ll ( :alll]l
>-Iurplus ArITl)' i\1:,~)1 Sheridan tan.k turret. h ""ias not aCL:(,pl~d L(:il"lllll'. ~ ()]'lh (:ar()lin ':-"l )"('("('i\"('c! two P"ol()(\'l)(""
for service usc, I:US Navy)
(i)1 (;lmili,)ri-'clli()J) ill ' ~) 71. ' 1 11(1 initiill d('li\"('ril" lJr
PI'OdU Clill1l \ {, hick . , he,Q, a n ill , J <lIl Ll a r~ [~J 7 "2.
\\ as rcclu cl'C! fr()m :)() to '2 ,-) [r()o l s ' and a l hrl't" - lll<.l ll ,\ s \-\'itll til<' (' arlicr L\·TP-.-) ser ics, l lil'l"(, \\'tTl'
ClT'" I, or <L f i\'('-IOll pa\ load l 'ap<lci l y. O i l Li lt' tic\ \ - pla 11 '" 10 d n "(' lop a l ~lll1i\y (\ /" 1'("l a led SIIPP0 1'l I~'r)('""
\t'h ic k . (; IT'-1lC l' (' lllpitasi s \\ (IS ,tlso p irl("('d O il la lld 1)(IS(" 1 011 the 1.\ 'TP-7 . T h (" ~ l' ifll'llld cd lhl' 1.\''1'(:-;

pn lo rJllcull'(', ill .'l()lli(' mC;lSIIIT ()\\"ill'.~ 10 \ 1)(· k~~[)11 o( ('(lll1Jllrlllc1 \-("hiell', LVTR- 7 ITC()\"tT\' \'('hicle,
\-'i('tlla)II, 1.\'TE- 7 m indLl'l d brcachill.!:!,' \ chiclc, ;lJlcl
1-'1\I C :'.,,'lcCl vd a COIl\ ('IHiIlIL.d (or:-.. i()11 bar L \·TH-.-) gU ll CLlITier. T Il<' lir:- \ d In T 1"l" l CI1C'd
~ US I c llsio l1 ill li eu () j' the wl.'iLt ~li l· .'u sp cllsiPIl Ih a L pn)l () l ~ IJC lill'l ll. ([ w I lile L \-'TP-j a nd LV\ 'C-7
hacll){,(,11 em p loyed ()\1 <lIlllrl.l ("s SillCC III(' },\-,,1'-:2 oj" ('111('1'('(\ l)!'ociIJCli(j11 ill l he ('(\r1y I ~) 7 (1s. Till' Ilo\.\ il/,(T
I ~J , p , The ell g-i lll' \\-a s LI \\T II-pro \"(' 11 I)ctroil I)i csc l \'('l1iel('. J,\'TH\:-,-), \\'as Il ('\ 'l 'l" c (J mplc[('d. By III('
I r ltc k d iesel l'l lgi l )(" m a l (' d (() a [)(-' \\. lra I ISll1 i :-; si()ll . Iq/()S Lll(" '\iaril1(" s had (()ll l ' luc!ccl lh<11 it :-. li r e
Prop ui:; ioll in \\'a lcr \\',L"; P]"(I \ ickcl by a l" o l1l bil lat ion ~llP P()rt nO de cC.llrlcl IH-' fu lf i lled lKlLCT 1)\· l\[()O:\]
or t h e n o rm ; :! lr-t c k prupu l.'-.i ()11 c(l upleci \\ i lil ,l Il t'W t([lIb in ti lt' direct fire r(~.de, an d ~II{) ~) ~(" lr- p r()1 ~' l k I
I\ydn~i(,l s ~ .'i H' m. T his o lhTecl ("ullsi (kr ~d ) l\ im- I ,:-l."-) III III h{)\\'i lz er s illll)(,'-1rli l k n I-irc s Llp]>()rt ["('dt' .. \
pJ"m'cc! TlI<-lII()('U\T,lbiliL\' c()lll]>al"cd In III(' slll g'g-ish lOLiI ()r~ H- :2 1.\''J'1'- 7s, ~).:) f .\.'TR - 7s and Bol' LVTC-
1)('Ii,i \-i Oll I' or P IT \ '[ O li S amtrLl CS. T he I ll'\\' \"(' h ick 7 ' w c rt' bll ilt ill til(' init ia l ()r d{T ~ f()r the \ lariIl("
1igh 1cr I ha n I h(' L \ ' P- ,-)' D('\·c lopm en t
\ \ ;lS J j l OllS Corps b Cl Wt'Cll 1~17 () and 1l) 7 1, T he {"[IIT ('11 1 .\ss cu il(
\()()k '7 Ill()lllh s. ;11lc1 (ilt' (ir st \' ~ 'hick wa s n'"dy ill . \ll1phihiill1 Batt;:lli()lls ~ln' ;l ::;()()c1 d ca l br.~{'r than
,") {'IH c m her I ~)t)7 ' ,-\ tOLd I d" 1 :-) protol \"p( '. \\'('IT Ltll~ pj"('\'i()(l~ (irg~llli'-.~ILi()ll, II;l\'ill g ~lJ) HQ awl
(" () Il st r Ul"l n l. ;Ill d 1 (" ~ Li n g {,(HlI in u('(1 l li r () ul!;it o u l S(' I'\·in"' COJllpa ny a nd (ill!!" ,\ ss<.lu l l ;\lllphiIJian
I qtiq, Thl' I.\-'TP-:\- 1"2 IIl l'l ()r sur p assed all (d' it. C ()lllp;'ln ic<.; , lOl,tlli ug 187 L\'TP- 7s, 1:-) L\'TC- 7 ~
I ('<j u in'lIt(' I II S (' :\("(' 1)[ for Ill l' Il1rn' ( w('apo l1 sLati o ll : i.IlHI (i\ -c 1.\·TR- 7s.

n'q uir(, lll clll I.' ;LII (·cI 1; )I";t ~?/)lllm ('an ll ()jl
Ih c ill iLi ;li
;lrnLHIlC'1l1. but p rohlem s \\'iLlI lh i" \\'~'dl)(Jll Il'cl to Ll
r('{I('~i g Jl n i' litc turret \-\'it b ;l , .:-)(I-C<ll. I W l \ ' Y
gUll jn i t ~ place . T Il(' Ill'\ \ n ' lIi( ' h-" wert' I-irs! i'und ('(1
illl i w FY il ) Fi :-.ctl Y ear I~) ? ) ' d ell'lIlT ])(ulg l ·1. T he
Th(' 1.\ ''1'-7 nl mil y p rm Td m o re cll lra l)k a nd
('Ikcliv(' ill .'-.t'["\·i("(' Ilian tl\l' L\'TP- S SlTi('s, 'J'!ln'
Tll acitinc \., ' [' r e che a l CJ" lo () Pt T~l Lt'. hac! much hcLLIT lall cl ~\1Id
\\<ll<T pl'r!i1nJl"llHT , an d could Iw dri\ '('n nlln!,'lrl -
abl~ all d IC ll' pr(1 loll.l!,"cd peri()d s Oil Ltlld \\'illwUL lilt'
ad\\TS(' C()II"l·(llIC'll('C.... lku had ai'fliuccl dw
L \ '"I' 1'-.)':-, Lo),j I~l:-.I it' 'LI~pell "i OIL 1n bet, Lhe I, \ 'TP-
i .. SlIspctlsioll l<ll'I1H'd the hLl,is {<)r tilt' \lL'i[H'IISio}) (1)
L1w new ~d '2 Bradley rrlr.trltr~ FighliTlfr V('llicl(,1
\"hid) l'lltc)"cd sen 'icc \\' jlh (h(' Army ill th!' l'Rrly
1~}B()s , The LV'l'-7 seri('~ \-,'as Llsed operationally I)~
l'S ]\darinc f; llTC:-. d uri! 19- IHilCl'kccping OPl'/'£ltiOtb
ill Lehanon , (t1)(1 in (\w il1\'asi()11 oCC;"cllacia ill lQB3,
H<lsc'c\ OIl prn iOllS e"pcricIH (-' \'\ it h lI11l1 r; ll'S , I he
J\,larillc (:())'ps (','\lKCl('d Ill(' I,VT-7 serjc" to L,tSI
al)()Lil ten >"(,;11 ' (lillil til(' mjd- I ~)8()s, ancl Ilwl'd()1'('
lH'.I!,'iHl dnTI()pmc'111 ora ~ucn'''isor in I he mid- J r)70~ ,
The i\lari1Je Cprps c()n~idcrccl a J1urnbcr or optiOlI:-',
illcluding 1IIlc()[nclltiollal ~'I-)pr()aclws stich as Lhe
LV/\ <ll'1ll01ll't'l1 air cllsilioll ass<'lLllL vchiclc, ;1))<1 the
Illorc' C()1l\'l ' llliollal I,\"l'rX, Lrad,ul dSS;lldt
\Thiele. TIl(' 1,\ ';\ progranmw erl\ i"Jntlcci al) un-
orthodox :-:uspcllsioll that \\'oulc1 usC:.' all ail' <. ushion
system for I1(HlIli()1) and propulsion un \\,;lICT, and
a Lrack .'.\ 'sIClll Oil land , HO\\'('\Tr. tht' programme
\\-as dropped ill I ~17q. I wf' )IT a protot ypc was
The LVA was an advanced amtrac prograDlDlc aimed at
developing an assault amphibian which would use air c.ushion
propulsion at sea, and tracked propulsion on land, This
illuslrdlion shows the Bell Aerospace concepl of the LV~
showing {he air cushion con6..guralion in the background and
the retraC[cd air cushion , tracked land configuration in the
fOl"cground. The programtne promised (Q be costly and
technologically risky, and consequently was abandoned in
'979 before prototypes were completed, (BeU Aerospace)
rhe less c()sLl~ and
(,()llslru('[ccL jlll i\\ 'Ollr O('p"!''\llin,l!,
risky I,\-T (X .! , Three cnmp«nir..;- Gclll'/';tl D,'-
Ililrrlic'i, Fi\,tC ami Bell l\cl'()spac(' received con-
Ir<lct~ [0 cit'\.c\()p lilt' iOlpro\'t'd J.\'T(X ,
Into the 19905: the LVT(X) Decision
The LV'1'I::\',1 progr;lIl1mc CJ1visiollf'e1 an amtrac
Iwller :)uitcci lo lanel combat thall the LVT-7, It
\\'ould he bClltT drmnurcc\, ;111(1 better armed., wilh
all aULomatic C<.lllllon in the '2 5-:-L)mm 1'(lIl':!'C. In
lTIiilly )'("sPCCI.'i L1w L\'T:.X ) was pbnllcd a!'l a
~' I;\ rifle rq uivaletll of' the Anny',,, nnv \''[ '2 BLuJ lc;:
l))l~lIltry Fighting Vehicle (I FV), Like the Braclky,
til(' !r()op~ in the LVT "AI cuuld hght II-om inside
IiI!' \dllCIe , ()r dismount. To lxrmit thl' (('I)OP"; to
figll[ li'om Wilhill tlw vehick led lO some ilHtT('sting

The General Dynamic!> LVT(X) proposal is seen here in model
form. It was armed with a 3srnrn b"-ln, and had two remote
cootro\ m.achine gun turrets at the rear hull corner!:>, (Author)
lk~igll illllO\'<.ttlons: BradkY-~Lyl(' firing porU;
l"urTlpJiC<11Cd \ he design or ~l water-t1ght hulL so
some of' 1he d("signs !'t'lied ()Jl {\-vo n'nl()lc control
machine gUll tUITf'lS at LIIC rear or the \'('hicle to
permit the 'quad lo engage enemy positions. The
~;Iarine Corps con~ickrecl LWO clilkrenl LVT , X ',
("(H){l~l1rali()w; : a small I :")-lrnop \'crsion , the
r,VTX-1J, and a vt~biclc TlI(H'(' similar in si/,l' lO llll'
!.VTP-j, (';111('(-1 the L VTX-'J I,
The L \' 1' 1X 'I promised lO be a I~lirly ('xpensivc
\'Chicle to dn:rlop ancl producl'. and mallY Marine
l<Ll'liciallS had gL\\'C mis,(~,ivi\)g'-; aboul the \'("hick's
vaille , Il i.o,; difJ-icult to I);tlanc~ tt\(' c()IIHicting
l'll'l. illcerill'.,~' d('mallds {'or good ~1mphibi()lls capa-
l)ililY 011 till.' one hanct. \\'illl ,L;oocl bncl pnl(_lrIn;1I1c('
nil the olher, The LVT X I \\'()uld IWHT he as good
an infarllry lighting \'t'hiclr as an J FV designed
prinwrily {(>I'land operalion , l-'calllrc~ Ill,(,l'~sary for
;lrnphibiolls pni'orrnallC,(" slIch as ttl(' Sib' require-
lllC'nts for buoya ney and ! he \\Tigh l consl )';1 i IllS {C)l'
notation, conflicted v. ith fealures t()r I;wd combaL
~uch as a smatter size and heavier armour', Some
\LLl 'ines Clucsriuut'cI whdilcr ~lll amtrac V'i.L'i Heedecl
any longn. I I was DO 1()IIl!lT clear \\ hnhef lhe
Pari fie: islet Ild figh! i ng of tl)(' Scconcl \ \. nrlll \ \: a r W,IS
al all re!e\',llll lu (he I'()lcs which the ~ -Ltri[)e Curps
\-\:,ou lei t~lc(' in the I ~)90S, The L VTP-j \'vas ;1
perfecriy (lckquacc \'Chick Il,n such COnLe~(l'd
Idl)(\ing~, and Lhere \\lTC other mcan~ ;I\ 'ailablc fIX
seizing a l)Cach lhat W('f(' Ilot a\ 'aibhk ill 19+5,
R;,11 her lhan di)'ecLiy ;lSS<1l1ll a heavily dd{~ndccl
beach , lht' tvLtrinfs or J~)8:) could skin tIlC clcfcncc:-:
by llsing hclibornc assault. II' beaches coulel be
~('i/.I'd \'\'ilhnut a direct ;1s~(Llilt using such lLl([ic...;.
olher type~ o{'craCt \HTC f~H' b('lln SuilCcll(w landing
4,'2
troops ancl ~upplies (han the arnLracs , For (' ,'~'Imple.
III(' NIarill('s \-\'('IT acquiring- LCAC air clIshioll
landing cran whidl could rapidly ferr;.: 111el1, lanks
allel suppli<::~ ashort:,
'j'hc cOlllinMcncy which IrIOS[ cnnccl'Ilcd j\,\arillc
planncr~ in the early 1~)8()s was Ih("~ p()ssibility Oi ;.
C~Htlpajgll in the ~/licldlc East- such as a war ill Iran.
II) this circUrrl!-.l<.tflL'C, amtr;-tc." were irrelevant or ill-
suiLed; landillg agaiJ\~l Ll CUlltcsted beach was
unlikely., and Lil(' LVTI-'-j or LV'!' (X, were nOt
ideally suited Lo ('oncJuClill,l!; IOllg nwch;H1i~l'd
operations in a desen cll\'ironllWTlL TIl(' ivlarint'
C()rps Iud f~tlkn behind the l S Arm)' ITl
nH'chanisi!l,!4 il.'i fi)rcc:, Cur pr()]nl1gccl LllId opn-
alions, sincc its tradilioll~d Illi',ston fc)clIscd em
I)l'(lch-hrad assault. The .'\rmy had gone I hrough
lhree generatiolls oj' armollred in[lI1tl''y' carriers
si llC{' r 94.1, \V hile the ,\'1 ari IlL'S had II('\-cr heen
('quipped ""ilb ally, The lhoug ht or ligh[illg a
~[iddk Easl LlInpaign as 'leg il1ElIlll'Y" COIIClTHCcl
~' Ltri nl' pI (\ IHH'rs: it bCllCT :;'01 UlL(Jn prCSl'lltec\ i lscl f'i n
the Corm or 11IiXt'd mcchanis(llioll or lh(, ~-- LlrinC'
clivisi()ns ,
!\o,; the L \,'1'-', had pro\'('11 so <illral,k, it \V~l~ Ln <l
position [() IH' n'huilt in a Sen'icc Litc' 1 '~Xl('lIsion
Progra lTl me S L E P: lo I'll 1'1 hn t'xll'110 j (s usefulllcss
illlO the I qt)os, 'I'his aJlownl lh(' \t'[ariIlC~ to reLain a
capabilily to <JssllulL a C()}IIl'Slt'd beach 'l'arav,;l-
LI ;hic>l1. The Illoney s,I\-'('(1 wIntle! he Llsnl to
]Jun:hase arn)(luH'cI infanll Y lllJnSp0rllTs it)}' pro-
longed Llnd campaiglls , 'I'he ~'f.a!'ill(,s ckcidf'd lo
adopt a wlH'eln\ iTlI~tntry flghling vehicle, 11)(' LA \',
lo fu II, I ILis laller role , ,'\s a n'o,;ull ()i Ihis
rc-()ril'l1tatioJ) ill [he c()nfi,~llr(lli()n or the \larinc
Corps, lhe L\"1 \ X,I progr:U1l1lw Wets s\wh'ul in
Jo./hrch 1~)B,r) bel()re an,:, pr()lolypl'~ h;lci hC('11
('oJl'lplrl('cl.
'I'h(·' ~'I a ri II,' (:orps dClen)) i rwcl l ha I llw (' xisri n,g
ill\'cnlory o( I ,\"'1'-7" w()uld IK inaclcqu~lll' to la~1
inlO the I~)~)()S due to allrili()11 and reorgallisalion,
As (1 result, all impro"ecl version or tl)(' L V'1'-;
dcsi,L"II<l(('d the LVT-,', \ I sniC's \\'as cl('\'t'lopC'CL
iTl('or)JoralinJ-" (l !lumber or (k"i~Tl imprcl\"C'J1Wtlh.
Tht.' SLEP programme n·'built the old \'chicles In
I he !l ew LVT- jA, 1 standarcls , A lOlal or 8S3
LVTP-7s, 7i LVTC-7 s alld ,r d LVTR-7 s were
rchuilt: and '2q+ L \'TP--;-A I~, '2~) LVT(:-~:\ I sand
\('11 LVTR-7/\ 1~ \,\.'('1'c 1lC\\'ly manl.llacll1rnl ill 11K
\'(',HS I 98:J-H:-),
 Dlle to the decisioll lO rela111 the LVT- 7AJ
amtracs in to the ) 9~)()S a Ilumber or ilnprO"f'ment
progra mmcs \-\'err also Lnitiatecl. The ivlarines ""ere
never happy \vith the armamf'nt on the L \.'TP-7:
and in 1~}e4- cOllducted a number or trials oj' new
\vcapons turrets , III I ~)8t) the lVlarines selC'cted a
Cadillac-Gage (lIrrct armed with both a .50-cal.
Iwavy machine gUll and a 1\:1k.19 40mm grcnack
launcher. The fIrst 100 ('OTn'Cfsions \-vill be funded in
Fiscal Year [~)H7' AI1 LVT-7 bull \vas fxpcrirncn-
tally reconfigured as all LVTEX-3 fire support
vchicle by addiug a surplus Army ~'rS5 r Sheridan
tank lurrcl \vit h a new low-recoil J osmOl gllll:
liuwn:er, Lhere art:' 110 plans lO proceed wilh
conversion or prod l1cLion or this \'ersion, 1n spi tc or
till' canrdlalioll of t/w LV'rE-7 cngincLT \,'Chicle.
(here is ,'1till Cl need ff)}" a mine-clearing' amtrac to
support landing operations . This l"l:C]uirnnenr is
being partially sa tisficcl by lhe usc of I he l\,-1CSK
CMine Clearancc Syslcm Kits) \.."bieh can be lilted
to LVTP-7 A I~, 'l'his SYSlCI11 uses a small rocket to
propel a linr charge onto a minefield \-vhac-' il is
exploded to creak a breach. /\ lTlore elaborale and
dl(:ctive sySlern, called CATFAE, to be fitted lO
spft:ial mine-fidei breaching \'chicles, is al :-;o uncler
development, using a f\lf'I-air explosive rocket.
There ;}I"C also pbus lO rnroht the LVT-7A I \vith
P-q(Jo appliqlH" annulIr ill lhe laLe Iq({os.
Thi!; is a model of the FMC Future Afllphibian Vehide
Concept. The FA VC project is aimed at examining technol-
ogies to inlprove the amphibjous qualities of amtracs,
including such techniques as retracting strea.D11ined bow
panels, side sJcirts to channel and streamline the tracked
suspension, and lengthening the hull with retractable hydrojet
tubes. (Joseph Berm.ude7, Jr.)
be replaced some limt' in the 1 qqos, As a result ) ill
[q8:,) the lvlarlnt' Corps began the FA VC (Fulure
Amphibious Vehicles Concepts) programme. The
programme is being COT1(luctt:d by the USl'v[C and
F~/IC , and IS a t\-vo-pronged eHc)rl ,Limed at
examining both I1(>W amphibious vehicle u:chnol-
og;ies \vhich could be applied to a modernised AA V-
7A 1, as well ;.\:-; new vehicle designs.
Foreign Arntracs
Botli the LVTP-.l and L V'1'-7 ~t'TI('S have beel1
exported in modesl numhers, as can be seen on the
~lccornp(1nyillg chart. The' Argenline I'vi arine [st
Amphibious Vehlck Battalion was used in Li-w
initial seizure of the Falklands in April 19t)Q, losing
o))e LVTP-7 in the process to anti-tank rockets. I
'rhc Philippines have used their LVTH-() and
Lv'TP-S in arnphibiou,..; allti-guerrilla operations:
The Italian San Alarco l\t'l arillc Battalion \\'as Llsed as
part of JTALCON (cJr(:'cs during the (9B3 Lebanoll
pCClccku:ping efforts, along \-vith some of their
I, \'''rp -7:'.
LVT Production 1941-45

AAV-7A1 and FAVC Type 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Total

Due to the recollllgl1)'c\tion or llit> ivfarine Corps 1.\''1''-1 :0')

I- He. ) I :-;11:< 1.:2'1 :)
1.\'1":,\ .-1 :i .Alil ~ I~) ')I(l
\v'ilb its new LA. V and L VT units, the LTSfvlC have 1.\ T-~ ) . ~i I () I. ~'2:! '2 , ~ )(;'.!
decided lo change the name of the amtracs the I, \ 'T! :\ ,- 'j '-'(JO 2:~)1\ ,I<i o
1.\''1"-:1 7Ti 2, '2 3(1 ~, ( )l;..j
butO' to reHcu their intended r6k. Bcginlling in IXT-l t I V)B() :~<)I in B ,:) ~) I
LX r ,,\ ,-_I r ..~H~I ,.fl':)i)
r~)3.'), the LVT- jA r f~Hnily was rt'IlMned /\AV-7A I 'f' ) 1
1,\' r .\ -:) '2( i~ l :.'h~1
': Am phi bious Assault Vehicle ,i, end ing a '1-5-),ear
T"Iak ! '.·2 hll ,(\.lUI
1raditio}), As durable and long-lived as the 1\A v'-
7~ f\:-)' I· '2..\ ,['2 1"1.l)iH

7/\ IS ha\'c pro\"(·c!to bf', tlH'Y will probably ha\'C to IS\"( ' \',tll,L';u;lrd , ~ n , ,I/, rft,lll/I,d /"/0 /1/;,:,

43
An LVT(A)-4 of the Marine 3rd Annored Arnprubian Battalion knocked it out by ,.-anuning it. 'Ibis is the original version of
encountered a hidden Japanese gun position on the beach the LVT(A)-4 with the -so-ca1. machine gun in a ring mounr .
during the Landing at Peleliu on IS Scpt~rnbcr 1944, and (USMC)

Lvr Production by service in World War 2 L VTP-S and L VT -7 Export

Type USMC US Army Lend-Lease Total Country L VT -5 series LVTP-7 LVTC.... 7 LVTR-7
---
1.\''/'-1 ~I'l II +8 5 '2n o 1 11 '2. } ;\ rgl'lIliIlJ Ii)
l .\ ''j' . \ I-I d-l:'! :1'21J \) ') lIl Brazi l lb
J XT· .! 1.:1;):') 1 . .')07 ! ()ll .! ,<)(i:.! l L..!\ '2+
)XT , : \ !' ': (1
-l :)0 (I
·Lj') KI);(,,1 ~3
l.\ -T- :~ 'V 1IJ 'j (I '~ ,'''li.~ Pl lil ip pillt" 17
L\ "I'··I_ 1·7{i,j b.08:{ '='0:) B·l'l l Sp ;\ in I II
L\")" '--\ "'4 .'):n 1-:10 7 51) I,H:,iCi Ta i\\' ~lll 71 7
1.\"1' ;\ :' .) uR 141 ,) '2l; ~} Th aibno .,'
\ '(,l\ l' 7.U t'!;! 9
T (.I ; .l s ' 'H b.1 I n . ] (J ~) H'):'; IEU i,.! ]

44
 lh'-111 lhl' ~illlilarly naml'd L~S :'\rmy Oli\'(
The Plates colour
Drah. Th(' ~'(-'II()w (·irck ill~i,t(lli~l is incliclti\'(' or'c'
TI l(' ca m n u f\a gr p a inting or LOS amphilliou:-; Squacl1'(JIl, a nd [he r emaining marki ngs ~lIT ill
tract ors [uri n~ t he Second \\'orlel \\'ar r~'rnll itl :-. or
\"hi 1(', Ot her exa III p its \'C hie lc I L(I Ill e s ill I h(' troo p
largely lIllknown, The author has becn ullal)1c 10 ;.11'(' 'Southport ' ancl 'S raO(xd ',

find painting ill.l l'uctinns j(l]' amlracs in lht record, '

nr tlw U,' '\larinc Corp).;. lh t LiS l\alion al Ar hi\,( ·:-; , R:..:: /, r -T( .-1) -1 , l oll/Ii ,·lmjJhibiall I allk iJ £lf{({/iu lI , l-, '
or lllC F.\IC Corp. ,lIThi\·cs, i-'rOIll ('xisling col()lIr .. lm~l : "',,i/NIII, I:j JUlle I,()+J
phot o,' <lIId film, i(l1ci \YT'ilLt.'I) (lCCOUtW,. it is n·iclClII 'I'll i: ;\ rill y 1.\ 'T (A j - r \\'as k 11m' ku\ Olll d 1I ri ng tile
that (he a mi f<l(S wcrt' llri~inally [lnishccl in a hlu!'- inil i:tI hl'lIch fighting- a t Salpall, I t is ill o\Trall
'2'rcy col! III I" which t hl' <\Uthor ])clic\-,(':\ \V<l~ ()('(',lJI (;n'y, Thr l\\'/Jycllo\-,\slripcsoll til(' Itul l sicl('

pr(lhably L1S .\:a\·y Un'an Crcy. Thc liSe of' this
col()ur Ql'l1lnll'( I fi'ut1l the bel Lhat LVT" \\'(TC
ill iii a II ;- I'll u d t'( I Cn) III ! he US l\ a v y's (Ted'L h 1I cI g ('!.
Durin,!:!,' J 1),1,.1_, Ihen' \-\,il'·: considnablc criticism fi'olll
,-\r my Ulli [s thai t he ~ 1'cy \\'(1 : 1I11sui [able for lise once
thc LYT lert Ihe wat er , As a rl'sult. the LS Army
bega n to p<'iillt its L\'T::; in Oli\'(' Drab around (he
i.lU lLlT11ll of l q -t+ It i~ llot clc-ar \\'Iwther this \\,' l ~
d Ollt' at tlie l~l Cl or y /II' h~ ' i\rrny depots . i\ iaritle Ullil~
d urillg thi s peri ocl seem to 11,I\T re.'-.ort('o to I,l-I('il'
()\\'Il me asu res, ad opti ng loca ll y imprO\'isc I
ca nw ufla gc, Cn! c)l'tunalcly, tlll' battalion rccorci :-.
do nul rrWllli()1l tht·s(' aCli"itil's, Following tlw W(ll'
tilt· ~laril1(' Corps f()II()\vcd tile Army's lead, ill)(]
pailllecl it s ;lInlr£l(,S ill unifnrm Forest Grn-'Il until
tll(, micl- I t)7()S, w!ll'n il <Id()]>ICd t1w US .I-\rrn y '.'\
100lr-colollr ). I ER])(: camouflagc paillt.
ill: LI"[~/ . FJIF . II /(Jllli( : 0lll'm/inn 'Torrh', Ftc/fI/fI,
,\ [ oman , .J /) 1"((,11I/) 1'1' IfN :!
I'Ill' \'c h iclc i~ fl ni:-. lwd in o\T ra ll O cean Grey. and is
prominclHly ma l'kl'cl ",'itlt a la rge L S Hag, This
marking wa!' calTiccl on 1110Sl [rackecl \Tlliclcs
pa rt icipatin g' ill llie I<'Uldings. and \1, .:IS adoptcd ill
th(' \-aill IIOpt' tilal the FrcllciI wOlild not lir(, Oil
:\[)H'riC;-lll LI·(HlpS.
illdil:l.lC thal il \\'a~ used at Ikacli Yellc)\,\" ']\-\'0. il is
1)'oTLl C C(}rtip . 1ny, ;1'\ is n'ickl1l hoth Irolll lllt'
\'('lli('le 11([1'11(' ,'Crazy Legs') and lht' bllmper code
Oil \1)(' l'1'O1l1 ["C-:'?o' \, III the P,lcilic, m"ln~'l1S ArlllY
baltali()n~ lI sc l a hatlalion in.' ign ia ill lit'll or t he
humper c(]de T he balt(tlioll insig-nia or Ihe 7()Ht h
:\mphibiall Tank Baltalion \\'<t , a \.\-hite ()r yello\.\'
lriallg le \\'illl a st a r ill th e Centre. T he 7n RI h
:\ mph i hi a 11 Tall k Ba Lta lion a Iso clllTi('r! l.l gCOn1 t'l ric
insi g llia 011 Ihc turret rcaI', which may ha\T hee)] a
'\.\' :.1 ,.(" 111<lrking rather lhan <111 indi,'iclua l \Tilick
m~lrkili g , til this cast' , it \\-as a ~'('Ilo \.-\' "'2 ' inside ,
yt'lIm.\' square on til(' lunTt rcaI' . It ,lIso carri( 's
prOllli 11('111 l- ,'-; nal i()lIal insignia, il \\·hi ll' st aI", 011 Ilw
IIIITCI sick aile! hull side.
('I.' /_ 1"7'( :1 I--/-, C\ ;\Imine :!nd /~nn(}rl'd :Im/,liibi{w
Dalla/iuN : '] iniall , ..-l ugu,} / 19-N
The .\"arillt's appear to hav(' SO hTd the camuufla ge
pr()hlnn ill llwir arntr£t(' unils I)y : imply ~tclopti\l ,l!.
IlJca L ('xpccli( "lll ca m oufl age ,,·iLIt ""hatcWT pailll
\\'~-I S a\·;\il~ll)h-. This I \,T .;-\ .1 - -1 0[1 Tiniall is Lli rl y
t ypi ra l and i filli~d1l'cl ill \,dlat appears to he a sa ncl-
coloured I\(illl O\'lT the bCl~I' Occan (; I'ey , Thl'
"chide IlI~Lrkillgs arc ill \-\,hite. COJ\ 'i stillg tht' or
\'chide JllIllIlwl's 1'.-\:2']. and tilt' uni t l1l :-i lgnl<l . •1

\\'ill gcd Wllitl' star.

"f.: I, r 1~ f , l') _\ IflI ',1 ',' ~',.'rl ;.J mphiuian Tra ctor
j)ollalioJl : 'j aWZI'(l, :!t) .A,'(lI'f'mlin J!J.-J..'i (,':.!,' /, I ·7 ~:.!, l"S ,H ({ rifl e .1' It AIIIjJltih irlJJ Tra(t /JI
This LVT-J C<11Til's a ,,\·hil(' tanictl numher Hal/(l/io}l : hC(J .lima , f9i-j
Illftl'killg, <1.-- wl'll ;.1', Ill(' 1Il1orlici;)1 11(lJ11l' '\Iy D(' TIll' .lLh \laril1 f" Di\'jsioll ap p', rs to 11;,[\,(, u~('(1 .1
L()ri~\ (HI Ill(' .O';l1j)('rstl'lIC1llrt· sick, r1101'(' (·Ial>()I"<'ll(' and colourful C;lllloufhuJ'c thall ill

many Ollier \llIiIS. Frol\l colour fitm ul'thc hallk ICli

nf: r [' T --/, nriti.ih I I til R(~ral 7 ank R(:£:i711Ol /: Elbt' h\"() .lima It \\'()ulcl seem that the --ph \brill!'
Ril'f'/' , (,'('J}7/{/}~ r , :}f) .-J/Jril Il)_I.') Di\'isinll'i\ armoured \'Chick" \\'('rc filli~,dl('d ill ,
'fhi s L\'T- +, 1l1~1111l(,cI hy ! J RTR, \\~l.._ prt'scnt on P;-I I l(,rn or ~ alld, reel-blll\\,11 allci cl a rk g n'1,'11. 'I h('
Ihl' Elhc RinT ill lI w linal da y: of the war. It \\' ;,1 :, number ing is ill ~ell(j\\·, The initial ' 11' i'-, not a
fillishnl ill (]\'I'l'all liSt <)H~T Oli\T Drah. a gnTII('r llumber. hut ralhfr t\VO ycllm\' ·-tripl"·;, inclicating-
thal lhis amtrac wa," earmarked for Yellow Beach
'T\vo durillg thc allack. Tbe 'Rl~' is probably a
company and \'C'hick nllmlwr, rlithou,gh [his sl ylr' 01'
numbering; \-va~ also occasionally used If))' 'vI/a\'c'
markings, i!lel ica ti ng \V hieh in i tia I "va \'(' the a Ill( rae
would be placed in, and ,vhat it." position in liw
\-vave would be. The number could indie(lrc 4th
wa \'f, :lod vehicle.
j) I." r VT-,') , l.:S A1(Lrilll' 11'1 .lmjJhihilill.l' Tun/or
Ballal/on: HUl/g/lam HariJoll r, ko/('{/, DI'(f'm/Hr J,(l"JO
FnllO\'\'ing the waL l\'larillc amlTacs \VflT finished in
()\'('rall Forest Grecn, a clark grccn cnloLlr orten
called 'i'vIarinc Green'. The Second VVorlci \Va)"
praclice of' beach landing markings i~ "till n"idclll
on lhis vehicle, in 1he form o[ two red slripl's,
indicating Red Bcach '1'\0\'"0. l'he unit markings al {'
in eh rOl11e Y cllo\-,," and the nat iona I \11 SI g;1l I a IS III
white,
D2: {, r'T( ,A )-4, Fict)r/z AmjJhibiolls /1,\,10/111 (;roup: Pori
}'U{1r/, L:f!JjJl, 6" )VOrcmOei 19.,;6
Thc5(, \"Chicles werc given a hasty coal of sancl-
ye llnvv pai III befon' de barking, Iliad eq ual (' su pplics
Marines of the 5th Regiment, riding LVT-3 amtracs of the 1st
Alnphibian Tractor Battalion, pass through a North Korean
village after the crossing of the Han River on 20 September
1950. The unnIodified LVT-3 Bushmaster and the irnpro~;ed
LVT-3C arntrac were both used in Korea. (US Anny)
werc kamel, sn many oi'lhc (\lnll'ac~ )'cc'Ci\'('ci a m()l'C
hl()lchy carn{)uflagc coat lhan lhi" ,"chicle. The
",·hilc·H' \'\,a~ an id(~nlity [)\ar~ing ad()pted ii»)' lhe
operaliol'), ha~cd 011 the iniLial namc or OpcrLlliOiI
·Hamikar'. The hlack halld around lh(' ll.1\TCl was
abo adopted as (In ]Cknlity marking I()}' lanb and
other armuured \Thick" tu help c1i."linguish allil'd
French and British armoured \'chicles from
Egyplian armoured vehicles.
EI: LVT(J)--J. I" (;n)1ljJCmm! .. /uLoJloJJ/f'. I" JU:.X-':
jillIOn!, Indochina, 1.'),'j2
French armour in the Inclochina \\";H was "imply
finishcr!' in this casc in o\'crall olin' drah \vilh 111L'
rcgimerHal crest paillLcd 011 the turret sicle, allci ~I
\"(. hiclc number on the hull super,-arllClurc Cl'onL
I,;:.:: r VTF-I, 3rd :lm/iIl/'1I/IlIIS Tmclor 11a/!((l/oJl, IS/ [is
,\/arinl' Dil'isiOIl: 1'// /1/11111. 'f)67
l\Jarinc armour ill \ J("lllam \\'(lS marked in dl('
usual peacetime fashi()n: o\Trall forest Green willI
Chrome Yellow markin,Q;s. In Lhis casf', SOUle more
personalised illsignia ha H.' b('('n addul, iuclllclin.2,
111<' card symhol and the C)'TS Oil the 'd07CT hlack.
FJ: L r'TH-(J, Trziu,'(lnesl' /\.1(//111(' Dil'i,\ioll: Tah("tll} ,
If/~'1
The markings on lhis 'TaiwaliC'se amtrac sh()w
,\mnicall ildlu(,I1("(,s, both ill ,he :-ild(" ofdw i\Llrill('
iIlSig lli'l. and in Llw pC(lc('linw l'S praniu '
paintin g g rLL~ \: nipples in recl lo make t1wm ('((sin
to find II)\" sClTicing.
The LVTP-SAI was t.he standard troop ca.rryiDg vcr!'>ion oftht:
LVT-s series, The \,fulnerahilily offhe LVTP-SAI La land mines
or due to the location ofils petrol tanks led most Marine infantry
to ride outside the vehicle during fight Lllg ill Vietnam, Thib'
LvrP-SAI C3rric~ Marine .. of the 4r.h Regiment during the
fighring around Cua Viet aJld DOD!? Ha all 30 May 1968. (USM C)

1-"2: LVIP-7, ROlt" / j l ;,\jf.lliTi f Dil'l.1l01l; Rl'jillh/'"( t!j

It im-'(l . FjR.1
Tl w R 0 Kist \b.ri Ill' Di "isi nil h;tS SOm(' or till
g, rishl~'-(kc()ratf(l or illl
illlllracs. The rOllr-c()I()llr
L I1wllfl agc paucrtl , rtdopt{'d li'om th e LS s y~tcl1l.
: {TIl1 S l-atl)(T puinL1c"'i in till':' I~lc e or th e (lther
rnarking:--. Thl." di"isi()nal in:-;ignia ()Il the 1)0.';("
(()llsi:--IS ()r ,I ':'tyliSl 'd m;lp ()f' Korea \\itlt till'
di",isinll;iI 1IIl111bfT sllpcrimpClsed ill n'd.
(; , : l.r '7/>-7. T r(lfl\/ }(}rt Cnm/}(/Ill'. B a/laglirlfll' .\Im /Nfl
'S({1l '\/ {ll(fJ ' : I/(/ {I'. I ,(JR.,
Both ,he .'\}'lny and N~'l"~ operale lh{' LVT-~ ill
Ilaly. Thi-; \t,hi("h from th e San .\farm \Iarilll'
\\ itll lht' "chicle nUl1lber ill \Tllo\·\ . the \ ''[arill(,
rHoSI al1chor insig-lIi;l ill \\ hile, alld t\)(, llational fla g
carried aho\'{' it.
/I J : L f"7 J)-;, [','" ,\,fa r-jnt' :md Amplzihiolls .4 .\,1(1/1/1
(;()1JlI}(lr~ l' : (;rellac/o, :.If) Octobl:'r '9H..'I
.\ brin e a mtral'~ llst·d ill t ht' Gn'llacla jjg h lill?; \.\' <.')'c
plailtly m ;lrk('(l. The camoll fl ag!' is ..1 direct
adoption ol'tlH' L1S Army ~'lERDC: scheme,lll tl'ls
ca~ l' \.\·ith h('ld Drah and Fore.' ! Lr('cTl a s th ('
primary U)IOllJ ,\ and Sanrl an d RI<\( k as Ih('
sllh..:idi<ll y colours. The only insig nia arc the bla ck
\T hi cil' m,lrk i lI ,t ;S .

r.atlalioll carries the battalioll insi~lli<1 --(l Sail

\Lll'U) lion 011 a reel hackground-as \\·ell as (he 1/:!: f. r.'Tl)-7, ( :S /v/n.rin(' 61h :IJJJjJiLibiolll jJrigor/I' :
Na\'<s anchor synJi)()l, and tilL' Italian nalior.lid Ila(l' , '9H..')
l'(lluul's on the hull fro nt. Thi s ~darin a m Lr ac t a ~lng pan ii, ~ ; TO (' xt:rcis,:"
in ltaly is fini shed much the sa me a, thL' ,'chick
( ; :! ,' I.I' T J)-7 , .'l l~st/'lIli!ll' 1.1'1 ,·l mjJhihioll.\· I' hirl, ahm'c , bill ha s h~ld the hrjj~h!cr L.trth 'iC'II(J \\'
jj(l Ua/ioll ,' Falklal/d . April l.(/ l!.! suhstillllCd :1 .' a ~l1hsic.liarv colour illSlU1.d OJ' the
'1'111.' L\'Tl'-7S or Ihis
ullit :'ipcarheaclcrl the paler Sanrl. The hlack ' Pack Rat ' Car£OOI) is
:\rgcl1titlian attack on the Falkland Isl a nds in I ~JB :l. ddinilcly ul1(lUicial , and lhis styl e nfmllrkillg is 'Try
Thl' ,'chicks \\'C1T filli~hcd ill (l\'C' ra ll Fore·t en'en uncommon ill the ~larinC' Corps IOcl ;; y.

·17
Notes sur les planches en couleur Farbtafeln
I,," e, 'mIJlll;,i"'II' eI, Iwinlur,' 1-'·gkl1l1""I.tlr<" 1"'lId.llll L. .'llIl, C;a,:n (" ,\1"1,,11,,1,· I )i,' I" ... , 1l111"t'I1'i"'I""II F;,,-I ,II"'\('''-! Ur ,I,'" / '\['1[,'1\ \\ ('ltl 'd'!:! '" I< I "I,'hl I wk.""
III "1111 pOl,' L'O'" Ill('" 1.1",11111''' , , k, "Til' -'l',l!.~i', ('n, ",,11,,1.-""'''1 iJ ll' I'"n" ul ilo" ~'" FiI";"11 und- '-,L'I;~lcl""'IIIl!' II \\1'1\' Ill;!ll. d,·", ~111r:lIlt,(Ijr"I, l'~ :\a\'1 ()""J,1l (jl" I
i, I" \111'1' 0,-,'1111 (;'1, gTI.' n,('alL!I< I;. 11l,\I'llll'll,1lInll',d,'(k" [-;I:)i.,·t illS "It-, llllll(', \ 'TII"'IJI.I(' I II link .. \IlKrlk~.nL'( I,.. \1 1l1,·,'-Llllil(il,·n iK((",IlII'.'" 1111 'l-krIJ'1 1:1,1.,'[.
d,' I',\rrll~" d" L'Cll'- L ,'1' (,LlO' ")I" 'el'l ( ' 'l ., PI'I,,<I I (' k i l l ' \\'llI<"lIl", , n I iii!"~ JJrlll, \::,]ll!, 1I((<' Oilll ])I"L dl \In:i.-J,\ 1\. ";tlll-,',,d l'~ ,\I,,",,~--J',JI,]""I"" ",;t
,grJ' ,,j,,.1l!'(" "I' ;1111"'"111' I~I f I land" "I,l(' I.. " "111\(" d,< I., t-I .I/,JIII.'! ' 1111(,% I' '1.1 hl!'d,"WI' r,.!] rtl:l,.1 "'I, 1I'1l1)]'n\ 1.]1'1'1"1' :\.,,-1, clnn 1\.1 wg "'UHler; ,\j ,\ rI ,,..-
I,lJJ/.'f}!I rdl d/\ 1~·l/Jj\-l·Jl}\) IrnprO\1"'lt'tlt .:l\-/"L lIt,,, n~(Hl("k, ci( l_,.nI14JuH,l,'..!,t \,lnt' .... 1' ..tlll'l.j"IJ,l..!,l" "() \\ II dll del" .\1 rrH"C 11 t i L If (','11 C; ITj·ll gt"II ..,.1 tC"n. I}]-= \ ht ll' dn" ;i IL'I
\1'1"" I;) ~')('I r,', Ii'.' \'('llInd",,!I, 1,\ \Iun})1 ,)1\1 <'Ii ]>('ill". (",IIllll.- (,,"IX ri, I'f', 1.JIIl ( d..,- \ inl,lJ hw' !l.JER 1)(:- J iJl'ILIII'ti]( h rln .\1 \111'" "T""'I,ticl \' Ilrd,
,lfI)~l. ('n (",,1/ 1''I,,',l \'(1-( 1'(1]"1 I1l1ll('ll d" .11I1,n,. 1'<7", 1(1l'(jU< I,
I'IS'Ill':lll
A I ( ), ,'OJ 1\ ( : '-('y-.-\I1'I,,( h ",il l!'1 (h"" L'~-I' I,,_~.:~, II ,"'d,' f)(', dl,·,,'r ( )1"'" :111.-.1, \ nil
("m"lIfl'g'" \ (FNIJ(; ,\ ,,,"k,,l" (iI- 1'['" 1"'11 ,I (,I( .,d"I'("
'l,,,,ln
rio-" 11'11 'N('IL F.tlil I""~' '\1 \I 'n, "ml "1 \Tl d .. , \';'r.>.:·.·l,li, h('iJ I-II ,ili ttl rI,,-,. d.". ,i, \',,"
AI P'<'"I'II" ()c,(Jri ("'.'1 :1\1" I.ln.~·' dr:q"',LlI .'lTLel'l' .,111 1'.tIl'I""'I!' p"r L. pl!!p.,rl I", "1"'1,,.-1 \('11 S, ,ld.lIl'II 11]('111 I "" .. 1"",_" I' 11'11' d, IL A2 \\ ,'1\," j-"" h ,-II' " ~II" I) 1]1 u.,
,I, , \I'],,, 11 Ie , :, ,-I" ,,111,·. d."h , l lI' "1,,'1,,1 ir>". (Llll' Ii. 1.1 "' '·'p",ir qu e I," I nil' IY" 1)ll1nil:db rl<-I 1-:1111\('11,11\11 \'(\1' II{'I \I, ,al/.llll\! '<' ~..!ll'1I"1I1 ~iHI1' II '\1\, J), Lo) 1.\'
Ir.>1lt:;\I,n I ... 111'( l'al,"'1 p;.I" ,lIl' ,'"X A2 "limn" hlall' I Ilnl\-lrJlI(' I (io- ..... \',,11]("1']( HI Da' lyrlll:;cilf' Oil \', PI "I \ 11:1" ,((' 1111 ['1' ;' h dil' .1 Il'l"Ilk;, II '" II(' '\'1"i I ,,j'--"l D."
d 'LLlLi II". I·t [lull' ,''I''U I' P,lf I'('q\llpa(('(' . ,1-11 /), l,vl!l' 8. I,;, P('III lLiIT I Jim ' Drrt/! ti, ~,'II)I" I\. ,,·i_, i,kn[i 1'/11', I d." '( : -1\,1("i II"IL. ITIlI F.liI r!ctL,o:n,"lWll ill \ \ "h. B2!)n
1.11",..' 1,,;1.11""'1'11' ('''111 1,lu, \nl" 'i"' I~ «,"k,,, "1[11".01(, 1\1" (j,- I',"m", I "'i ,kr ," ,I, 11 K <I'l('n I ,)11(.iu"~ "''',''1'
Cd,-cl,1 ,~l"('I/I' 1.\ I '\ -I "I ( k"all ( :, l"\
.'11"'11{' ",,. 1,( ('[,'( I, 1.Il'lL'< Iii, nl1il'" 1'1,." ,!llroll '(:. "1 Ie ',."" dll \(-hin,!. ,"I", ,~"'IrI( ['('11. nl' ,,('II>t'iJ "lnl~'·IIIlt' ~;) '!;<: n. (l ~""'T.m (10 I '[kalli' ttl{\\\ .!' ~,l;]lIdL'1
hi;" ... 82 ~ II; linr, eI, "TI'I(": pelldanl I,' dcl.>:lr<.j ll~ 111<"1\1 IIl1tl~li, ,... 1,1'1' ( .J ) -/ "" i" <i"1 K"" k '( ,-leo l' ",-1 d('1 .\lI:an g, f.IIIl:·["lal), 1')1>'(:1:1/ I 1.<'1.';<' "kill i I '1;,'11'11
11"'"1"11 Ort'lI/i l ",.'\' I,," I ,,1< ".I'" "'(', 11l""U-"II1'lu-oI" rkh;Llqll('a 'Bn,dl Y .. II(,,, ! ,[" C-K"mp.llIi,' ,"d" B"I"lIl"Ii' l>w,,' EI1IIJ1'II 1"'''lIl,I('' III \\,'1'''''' ,,1"1 ,-II' ,,·,·liI, ..
I,' L lId, 'C-:", 1'11.1 I"ll n ;l11li.,j,- rill 'Jlllli '(,}n,), /.'1.' . ,dcllld:,r11l b, <>mpakl1[("'( I )\('ll"~ "tL I ,'lIl('ll1 '>u'rll ,j,lrll' ,,[. B," ,,,II"'h'- \ I ad""'I'''"g 1)11' g·,'1 hI' '.' III ,.; 1)('111
.11.1 h.ll,\illllil C .. ll' LlIlIt' IIlil";nl 'I" 111.",((1, 1>I,m, till l"lI11' .1\ .... 1.1'''' ':'[,,11,' "II I{,· .. h(l'('k .111 tin 'I u,'ll1rtl('ks(',[, k"I1r111 '1,\\"'lle \\"'111' rli-r 1.<tlLlI'ln'f)I1l'II'
""1111' ('("1111W 11\';1.;11' <10- j-"II.,tll,)1l I., '~-d,1I1'-"'I-' ..\fl'·· I,lllll(' :. 1'''1,'1",.,· ,j,- LJ lll'dl'IJI('1 11.11)('1\
li'tm'll<- i'l\Urrall ;\~'O)I I ILdi,!IL" b ' dl'iI)"I"'J[i" l ' d ~: 1It: ,j,-s 1",;",,; d., l[.-harqLl( 111('111
CI ),' ,k .. I, '/1\ '" kd;,.n E, '11<' '1"", rill 1I~' ',11,,11.11 \ ':'-', ,llli' (,' .lIl, ])]1' 1- .tllI-I'·""
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 OSPREY· VANGUARD

A s(Tie~or honks describing key units and \vcapons systems 01

2uth c(,lltury \'Val"l~ln', prepared I)y leading military C'xperts
ror the (,1)[hllSi~lst alld l1l(lcklkr, and illustrating iluthcllllC (ktails
or arrnOllJ' and supporting vehicics, ClHnouJiag<', markil1g~,
unif(»)'ms, insignia aile! 'vvcapons.

Avec annotations en francais sur les planches en couleur

lo Mit Aufzeichnungen auf deutsch uber die Farbtafeln

(3) US 1St Infantry Division 1939-45 (29) The M47 & i\14 8 Patton Tanks
(6) The Lee/Grant Tanks in British Service (30) Polish Armour 1939 45
(8) US 1st Marine Division 194 J 45 (31) US Half-Tracks of World War II
(13) The Churchill Tank (32) The SdKfz 251 Half-Track
(15) The Sherrnan Tank in British Service (33) Gerrn.an Light Panzers 1932-42
1942 45 (34) MII3 Series
(16) The Panzerkarn.pfwagen III (35) Armour of the Pacific War
(17) The Stuart Light Tank Series (36) Long Range Desert Group
(18) The Panzerkampfwagen IV (37) Modern Soviet Corn.bat Tanks
(19) Arrn.our of the Middle East Wars 1948 78 (38) Mechanised Infantry
(20) The Tiger Tanks (39) US Annour Carn.oufiage and Markings
(21) The PzKpfw V Panther 19 1 7-- 45
(22) The Centurion Tank in Battle (40) US Light Tanks 1944-84; M24 Chaffee, M41
(23) British Tanks in N. Africa 1940-42 Walker Bulldog and M551 Sheridan
(24) Soviet Heavy Tanks (,p) The MI Abrarn.s Battle Tank
(25) German Annoured Cars and Recce Half- (42) Annour of the Vietnam Wars
Tracks 1939 45 (43) The M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle
(26) The Sherrn.an Tank in US and Allied Service (44) Anti-Tank Helicopters
(27) Arrn.our of the Korean War 1950 53 (45) Amtracs: US Arn.phibious Assault Vehicles
(28) The 6th Panzer Division 1937 45

~TEVEi\ .J . L :\ LOG /\ \\ '~IS horn ill I ():)"2 , I"ccC:'ived lli~ vcl0pmcnl . His m<ljll ;.trC{t rli"illlITcsl is mililary ~)ILlir" ill
DA in hiSltHY fi-o m U lli()11 C(lllcgr-, and his 1\1A li"onl [hI'Suvit'l U )'Ijon and Easlcrn Europe in \ he Sccond
(:()lul11bia Cllin·rsiIY. He hoJ.s puhlisllcd ()\TJ" [\-vellly \Vorlcl \,\'aJ, and he 11fls \vritlcn ,IS \-vell on American
bo()ks alld IIUrtltTllllS "nick'" dc;llillg with modern armoured rorces . S[l' \"t'll I.aln,ga li\'l"~ ill (:()1l1wniuJ!.
mililary l('chn(llo~y, ('spcci;:dly al"ll)()urcd vl'hick dr-

ISBN 0-85045-748-3
90000

9 780850 457483