Higgins' Boat: Who Repaired The Vessel?

The Higgins boat, also known as the LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel), was a landing craft used extensively by the Allied forces during World War II. Designed by Andrew Higgins, the boat played a crucial role in amphibious landings, including the famous Normandy invasion on D-Day. With a capacity to carry 36 fully armed troops or a 6,000-pound vehicle, the Higgins boat enabled the Allies to land on open beaches, bypassing the need to attack heavily defended ports. This tactical advantage changed the nature of amphibious warfare, as entire armies could be deployed along coastlines, forcing defending armies to spread out their forces. The success of the Higgins boat during World War II highlighted the ingenuity and impact of Higgins' design, which left a lasting legacy on military strategies and operations.

The LCVP's design

The LCVP, or Higgins boat, was designed by Andrew Higgins of Higgins Industries, Inc. in New Orleans. The design was based on boats made for use in swamps and marshes. The LCVP was constructed from plywood, with a shallow draft, and could ferry 36 men to shore at 12 knots (approximately 14 mph). The boat was powered by a 225-horsepower Gray Marine 6-71 diesel engine, giving it a maximum speed of 12 knots.

The LCVP was designed to beach, lower a ramp, discharge men and cargo, retract, and return to its transport. The boat's shallow draft of 3 feet aft and 2 feet forward, allowed it to run up onto the shoreline. A semi-tunnel built into its hull protected the propeller from sand and debris. The steel ramp at the front could be lowered quickly, allowing for swift disembarkation of men and supplies.

The LCVP's hull was made of wood, including oak, pine, and mahogany. It had a beam of 10 feet, 5 1/4 inches forward, and 36 inches aft. The boat's engine could be either a Hall Scott 250-horsepower gasoline engine or a Gray 225-horsepower diesel engine. The diesel engine was preferred for its reduced fire hazard, while the gasoline engine offered a better power-to-weight ratio and could operate continuously at high speeds. The LCVP had a range of 100 miles at 9 knots and was armoured with 1/4-inch STS on the ramp and sides. It was armed with two .30-caliber machine guns.

Its use in World War II

The Higgins boat, officially known as the Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP), played a crucial role in World War II, particularly in amphibious landings by the Allied forces. Its unique design and capabilities revolutionized military strategies and played a pivotal role in the outcome of the war.

In the late 1930s, the U.S. military recognized the need for small boats that could transport troops and equipment from ships to open beaches. Andrew Jackson Higgins, a boat designer and manufacturer from New Orleans, stepped up to meet this need. Higgins had prior experience building shallow-water work boats for oil and gas exploration in the Louisiana bayous. He adapted his Eureka Boat design to meet the military's specifications, creating the Landing Craft Personnel (Large) or LCP(L). This initial design was used in the invasions of Guadalcanal and North Africa in 1942.

However, the LCP(L) had a significant drawback. Troops had to unload by jumping over the side of the boat, exposing them to enemy fire. Determined to address this issue, Higgins combined the LCP(L) with the Landing Craft Vehicle (LCV) design, creating the LCVP, also known as the "Higgins Boat." This new craft allowed infantry or small vehicles to exit through a front ramp, providing a faster and safer way to disembark.

The Higgins Boat offered several advantages over traditional landing methods. It enabled armies to unload across open beaches, giving them more flexibility in choosing their attack points. This, in turn, forced defending armies to spread their forces along a wider stretch of shoreline. The boat's shallow draft allowed it to navigate onto the shoreline, making it highly effective for amphibious assaults.

During World War II, the Higgins Boat saw extensive action in both the Pacific and European Theaters. It was used in numerous amphibious landings, including the D-Day invasion of Normandy, Operation Overlord, the Allied Crossing of the Rhine, Operation Torch in North Africa, the Allied invasion of Sicily, and battles in Guam, the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. The boat's ability to swiftly disembark troops and supplies played a crucial role in these campaigns.

The Higgins Boat's impact extended beyond World War II. It continued to serve during the Korean War, the 1958 Lebanon crisis, and the First Indochina War, where it was used by the French Navy. The design's versatility and effectiveness in amphibious operations left a lasting legacy on military strategies and tactics, shaping future conflicts even after the boat's primary designer, Andrew Higgins, passed away in 1952.

Andrew Higgins' company

Andrew Higgins founded Higgins Industries, a New Orleans-based manufacturer of boats and other naval equipment during World War II. The company started as a small boat-building business and became one of the world's biggest industries, employing over 85,000 workers and securing government contracts worth nearly $350 million.

Higgins Industries' diverse workforce, including people of all races and genders, was uncommon at the time and drew the attention of politicians such as Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, who were frequent visitors to the plants. The company's first plant was built on City Park Avenue, and as Higgins' government contracts increased, he expanded to seven plants, enabling the production of larger landing crafts, PT boats, and airplanes.

During World War II, Higgins Industries played a crucial role in amphibious operations, producing over 20,000 boats, including the famous LCVPs (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel), also known as "Higgins boats." These boats were used extensively by the Allied forces and were instrumental in landing troops and equipment on invasion beachheads. The company also manufactured torpedo tubes, gun turrets, and smoke generators, contributing significantly to the war effort.

Higgins Industries' success was due to Andrew Higgins' persistence and innovative designs, which led to lucrative government contracts. Higgins believed in a diversified and skilled workforce, and his plants in New Orleans became a hub of activity, attracting the attention of political leaders. The company's contribution to World War II was significant, and its products left a lasting impact on naval history.

The boat's legacy

The Higgins boat, officially known as the Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP), played a crucial role in World War II, particularly in amphibious landings. Its designer, Andrew Higgins, recognised the need for small wooden boats in the US Navy and successfully pitched his design to the military.

The Higgins boat was a shallow-draft, barge-like craft constructed primarily from plywood. Its lightweight design allowed it to carry a platoon of 36 men, a jeep and a 12-man squad, or 8,000 pounds of cargo. Its shallow draft enabled it to navigate onto the shoreline, and its semi-tunnel hull protected the propeller from debris. The boat's ramp allowed for quick disembarkation, and it could return to the supply ship within three to four minutes.

The Higgins boat was extensively used by Allied forces during World War II, including in the Pacific Theatre and the Normandy landings as part of Operation Overlord. Over 23,000 Higgins boats were built, and they proved instrumental in transporting troops and equipment during the war.

The legacy of the Higgins boat is evident in its recognition by military leaders and its impact on amphibious warfare. Supreme Allied Commander, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, acknowledged the significance of the Higgins boat, stating:

> Andrew Higgins ... is the man who won the war for us. ... If Higgins had not designed and built those LCVPs, we never could have landed over an open beach. The whole strategy of the war would have been different.

Colonel Joseph H. Alexander, USMC (Ret) emphasised the tactical advantages the Higgins boat provided to US amphibious commanders during World War II, stating that it "broke the gridlock on the ship-to-shore movement".

The Higgins boat's design and functionality revolutionised amphibious operations, and its role in World War II cemented its place in military history.

How to see a Higgins boat today

The Higgins boat, officially known as the LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel), was a crucial component of the Allied victory in World War II. With its shallow draft and ramped bow, it revolutionised amphibious warfare, allowing troops and equipment to be swiftly deployed onto beaches. Given their importance during the war, it is no surprise that many people are interested in seeing a Higgins boat in person. Here are some of the places where you can do just that:

• The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, has a replica Higgins boat on display. This replica was built in the 1990s using the original specifications from Higgins Industries.
• The American Heritage Museum in Stow, Massachusetts, is home to an original Higgins boat that was discovered in Normandy and professionally restored by the North Carolina Maritime Museum.
• The National Museum of the United States Army in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, has an original Higgins boat on display that was located on the Isle of Wight and underwent extensive restoration.
• The National Museum of the United States Navy in Washington, D.C., also has an original Higgins boat on display.
• The D-Day Story in Portsmouth, Hampshire, features an original Higgins boat that was restored by Hughes Marine Service and may have seen action in North Africa and Italy during World War II.
• The Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, Indiana, is currently restoring an original Higgins boat that was presumably attached to the USS Menemsha during World War II.
• The Motts Military Museum in Groveport, Ohio, has an original Higgins boat from the USS Cambria, which survived seven Pacific Theatre invasions.
• The Roberts Armory Museum in Rochelle, Illinois, also has an original Higgins boat on display.
• The Louisiana Military Hall of Fame and Museum in Abbeville, Louisiana, is in the process of restoring a Higgins boat.

In addition to these locations, it is worth noting that several other Higgins boats are in storage or undergoing restoration, and may be available for viewing in the future. These include boats at the WWII Veterans History Project in Clermont, Florida; the Maisy battery in Grandcamp-Maisy, Normandy; the Nebraska National Guard Museum; and the Regional Military Museum in Houma, Louisiana. Furthermore, there are some surviving Higgins boats that have been repurposed for film productions, such as Saving Private Ryan, and may be on display at various museums as part of exhibits or collections.

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