Wwii Normandy: What Was The Boat Named?

The Higgins Boat, also known as the LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel), was a small, shallow-draught motor barge used to land American GIs and Commonwealth troops on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. The boat was designed by Andrew Higgins, a New Orleans-based shipbuilder, and was first created in 1926 as a manoeuvrable craft for hauling cargo through the Louisiana bayou. The boat's unique design, which included a droppable bow-ramp, allowed infantry or small vehicles to exit through a front ramp, and played a crucial role in the success of the Allied invasion of Normandy.

The Higgins Boat

One of the key advantages of the Higgins Boat was its manoeuvrability. The boat's shallow draft of just 3 feet at the rear and 2 feet, 2 inches at the front, allowed it to navigate in shallow waters and run up onto the shoreline. Additionally, a semi-tunnel built into its hull protected the propeller from sand and debris. The steel ramp at the front of the boat could be quickly lowered, allowing troops and vehicles to disembark directly onto the beach. This improved the efficiency of the landing process, enabling the boat to disembark its cargo, reverse off the beach, and return to the supply ship for another load within just 3 to 4 minutes.

The Eureka Boat

The Eureka was a fast, rugged, and highly manoeuvrable flat-bottomed craft, developed by New Orleans-based boat builder and inventor Andrew Higgins in the 1930s. The Eureka was designed with a 'spoonbill' bow, allowing it to be driven right up onto a beach or riverbank, and then easily reversed back into the water. This innovative design caught the attention of the U.S. Navy, who awarded contracts to Higgins Industries to build landing craft for the military.

The Eureka was adapted to meet the military's specifications for a landing craft. Higgins combined the functions of the Eureka with the Landing Craft Vehicle (LCV) to create the Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVP), also known as the Higgins Boat. The LCVP featured a crew of four and could carry 36 fully armed combat troops or a 6,000-pound vehicle. It was protected by two .30 calibre machine guns and could float in just three feet of water.

The Higgins Boat was used extensively by the Allied forces during World War II, including in the invasions of Guadalcanal and North Africa in 1942, and the Normandy landings on D-Day. The unique design of the boat, combined with its speed and manoeuvrability, gave the Allies a significant advantage in amphibious assaults. The boat's ability to navigate shallow waters allowed troops to be deposited on any stretch of shoreline, giving them more options for attack points and forcing defending armies to spread their forces out across entire coastlines.

The success of the Eureka and its subsequent iterations played a crucial role in the Allied victory, with Supreme Allied Commander, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, declaring that "Andrew Higgins ... is the man who won the war for us."

The LCVP

The design of the LCVP allowed it to run up onto the shoreline, with a semi-tunnel built into its hull to protect the propeller from sand and debris. The steel ramp at the front could be quickly lowered, enabling swift disembarkation of troops and supplies. This feature proved advantageous during amphibious assaults, as it allowed for faster and more protected unloading compared to jumping over the side of the boat.

The success of the LCVP and other Higgins boats during World War II had a significant impact on amphibious warfare. They changed the way war was fought by allowing armies to unload across open beaches and choose their attack points more flexibly. This forced defending armies to spread their forces across larger coastlines and fortify more extensive stretches of shore.

Amphibious Warfare

The Higgins boat was designed by Andrew Higgins, a New Orleans-based boat builder who adapted his Eureka boat to meet the military's requirements for a landing craft. The Eureka was a fast, manoeuvrable, and rugged flat-bottomed craft that could navigate shallow waters. The LCVP, however, became the most famous of Higgins's designs. It combined the features of the Landing Craft, Personnel (Large) (LCP(L)) and the Landing Craft, Vehicle (LCV), allowing for the transport of infantry or vehicles through a front ramp. This craft, also known as the "Higgins Boat," could carry up to 36 fully equipped soldiers, a jeep with 12 troops, or 8,000 pounds of cargo. Its shallow draft enabled it to run up onto the shoreline, and its steel ramp at the front could be quickly lowered for efficient disembarkation.

The Higgins boat played a pivotal role in the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, where it was used to land American troops on the beaches of Normandy. Its unique design and manoeuvrability allowed the Allies to strike with speed and effectiveness during amphibious assaults. The boat's impact extended beyond Normandy, as it was utilised in numerous other naval operations during World War II, including invasions in Sicily, Anzio, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Saipan, Okinawa, and Peleliu.

The success of the Higgins boat lay not only in its design but also in its production. Higgins Industries, with a diverse and integrated workforce, manufactured over 20,000 of these landing craft during the war. This made Higgins Industries a major employer and a key contributor to the war effort. The Higgins boat's versatility, combined with the determination and innovation of its creator, changed the course of World War II and left a lasting legacy in the realm of amphibious warfare.

Andrew Higgins

In the late 1930s, Higgins developed the Eureka, a fast, maneuverable, and rugged flat-bottomed craft. The Eureka's superior performance in a series of competitions with boats from other manufacturers before the American entry into World War II led the U.S. Navy to award contracts to Higgins Industries to build landing craft for the military. Higgins then evolved the Eureka into a series of boats, including the Landing Craft, Personnel (Large), and the Landing Craft, Vehicle (LCV), which featured a ramp. He later combined the functions of the LCP(L) and the LCV into the LCVP, which could carry 36 combat-equipped infantrymen, a Jeep and 12 troops, or 8,100 pounds of cargo. The Higgins Boat became the standard personnel landing craft for the military during World War II and was used in numerous amphibious landings, including the Normandy landings as part of Operation Overlord.

Higgins was honored by the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps for his work, which included high-speed Patrol Torpedo (PT) boats. He held 18 patents, most of which were for his boats or different design adaptations to the vessels. Higgins believed in a diversified workforce for his plants, including all races and genders, and sought highly skilled employees. At its height, Higgins Industries employed over 20,000 people and was one of the largest manufacturers in the world, with government contracts worth nearly $350 million. Higgins died in New Orleans on August 1, 1952, and was buried in Metairie Cemetery.

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