The Origin Story Of Higgins Boats: A Naval Legacy

The Higgins boat was named after its designer, Andrew Higgins. The landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP) was used extensively by Allied forces in amphibious landings during World War II. Andrew Higgins, a Nebraska native, established himself as a successful lumber businessman in New Orleans and began building boats in the 1930s. He is credited with changing the course of the war, as the boats allowed Allied armies to move ashore and gave them the advantage in amphibious assaults.

Andrew Jackson Higgins: The man who won the war

> Andrew Higgins is the man who won the war for us.

> —President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1964 interview

The Early Years

Andrew Jackson Higgins was a Nebraska native who established himself as a successful lumber businessman in New Orleans. In the 1930s, he began building flat-bottomed boats to meet the needs of his customers, who navigated the shallow waters of the Mississippi River delta.

Higgins was a hard-drinking, eccentric character who was said to have sold his fast boats to the US Coast Guard for chasing rum-runners during the Prohibition era, and then offered to sell even faster boats to the rum-runners themselves.

The War Years

When World War II broke out, Higgins was sure there would be a need for thousands of small boats in the US Navy, and that steel would be in short supply. He was right. As the war progressed, he applied for a position in Naval design, insisting that the Navy "doesn't know one damn thing about small boats".

Higgins's eureka moment came when he adapted his Eureka Boat to meet the military's specifications for a landing craft. The result was the Landing Craft Personnel (Large), or LCP(L), which was used in the invasions of Guadalcanal and North Africa in 1942.

Higgins's boats changed the way war was fought. Previously, navies would have to attack ports, which were usually heavily defended. With Higgins boats, armies could unload across open beaches and have more options when choosing their attack points. This also stretched defending armies thin, as they could no longer concentrate their forces on a few entry points.

The Legacy

By 1943, Higgins's small shipbuilding business had ballooned to more than 20,000 workers across eight manufacturing plants, producing not just LCVPs but a broad range of landing craft, PT boats, and even torpedo tubes. At the war's peak, Higgins's factories were cranking out 700 vessels a month.

Higgins's boats saw action in all theatres of the war, from the Mediterranean to the Pacific and, of course, Normandy, France on D-Day.

> Higgins boats broke the gridlock on the ship-to-shore movement. It is impossible to overstate the tactical advantages this craft gave U.S. amphibious commanders in World War Two.

> —Colonel Joseph H. Alexander, USMC (Ret)

More than 20,000 of the Higgins-designed landing craft were made from 1942 to 1945, but fewer than 20 remain today. Higgins himself died of stomach ulcers in 1952, at the age of 65.

The Higgins boat's design

The Higgins boat, officially known as the LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel), was designed by Andrew Higgins, who based it on boats made for operating in swamps and marshes. The LCVP was a shallow-draft, barge-like boat typically constructed from plywood. It was just over 36 feet long and almost 11 feet wide, and was powered by a 225-horsepower Gray Marine 6-71 diesel engine, giving it a maximum speed of 12 knots.

The boat's design allowed it to run up onto the shoreline, and a semi-tunnel built into its hull protected the propeller from sand and other debris. The steel ramp at the front could be lowered quickly, allowing for the swift disembarkation of men and supplies. The LCVP could hold either a 36-man platoon, a jeep and a 12-man squad, or 8,000 pounds of cargo.

The LCVP was vulnerable to enemy fire due to its plywood construction, and it was found that extremely shallow water and hard obstructions could stop the boat. However, its design revolutionised amphibious warfare, allowing Allied armies to unload across open beaches and choose their attack points, rather than having to attack heavily defended ports.

The LCVP was initially known as the Eureka boat and was designed as a manoeuvrable, shallow-draft motor barge for hauling cargo through the Louisiana bayou. The 'spoonbill' bow allowed the boat to be driven right up onto a beach or riverbank, and the propeller was partially enclosed by a groove in the underside of the hull, enabling the vessel to operate in little more than three feet of water.

The famous bow ramp was inspired by Japanese landing craft observed by a U.S. Marine Corps officer during the 1937 Battle of Shanghai. The drop-ramp allowed troops to quickly disembark from the bow, rather than having to clamber over the sides. Despite opposition from the Navy's Bureau of Ships, the Marines were impressed and placed orders for their own fleet of Eureka boats.

By 1943, Higgins Industries had expanded dramatically, with over 20,000 workers in eight manufacturing plants producing not just LCVPs but also a broad range of landing craft, PT boats, and torpedo tubes. Higgins broke new ground in production, with his factories cranking out 700 vessels a month at the war's peak, and he was also ahead of his time as an industrialist, with his shop floors being fully integrated, with blacks, whites, men, and women earning equal pay for the same work.

The Higgins boat's impact on amphibious warfare

The Higgins boat, officially designated the Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) by the military, was a landing craft used extensively by the Allied forces in amphibious landings in World War II. The Higgins boat played a crucial role in the Allied victory on the Western Front, as well as in previous fighting in North Africa and Italy.

The Higgins boat's flat-bottomed design, with a shallow draft, allowed it to run up onto the shoreline and quickly disembark troops and equipment through a front ramp. This improved upon earlier designs where troops had to climb over the sides of the boat, exposing them to enemy fire. The Higgins boat's manoeuvrability in shallow waters, along with its ability to carry infantry, small vehicles, or cargo, made it a versatile asset for amphibious assaults.

The Higgins boat's light weight, achieved through the use of plywood in its construction, increased its capacity, reduced costs, and saved steel. Its semi-tunnel hull protected the propeller from sand and debris, and its steel ramp at the front could be quickly lowered. These features allowed the Higgins boat to efficiently disembark men and supplies, reverse off the beach, and return to the supply ship within three to four minutes.

The success of the Higgins boat lay in its design, which met the specific needs of amphibious warfare, and in the determination of its inventor, Andrew Higgins, who was known for his problem-solving skills and persistence in overcoming obstacles. The boat's impact extended beyond World War II, with over 20,000 Higgins-designed landing craft produced from 1942 to 1945. The Higgins boat's legacy is that it changed the course of the war and provided the Allies with a strategic advantage in striking quickly and effectively in amphibious assaults.

The Higgins boat's use in WWII

The Higgins boat, officially known as the landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP), was a landing craft used extensively by Allied forces during World War II for amphibious landings. The boat was designed by Andrew Higgins, who based it on boats made for operating in swamps and marshes. Over 23,000 Higgins boats were built and used during the war, playing a crucial role in the Allied victory.

Design and Features

The Higgins boat was a shallow-draft, barge-like craft typically constructed from plywood. It was just over 36 feet (11 meters) long and could carry approximately 36 men, a jeep, and a 12-man squad, or 8,000 pounds (3.6 tonnes) of cargo. The boat was powered by a 225-horsepower Gray Marine 6-71 diesel engine, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 12 knots (14 mph or 22 km/h). Its shallow draft enabled it to run up onto the shoreline, and a semi-tunnel built into its hull protected the propeller from debris. The boat's steel ramp at the front could be quickly lowered, allowing for swift disembarkation of troops and supplies.

Use in WWII

The Higgins boat was first used in combat during the invasions of Guadalcanal and North Africa in 1942. It proved to be a game-changer for amphibious operations, as it allowed Allied armies to unload troops and equipment across open beaches, bypassing heavily defended ports. This new tactic forced defending armies to spread their forces out along a wider stretch of shoreline. The Higgins boat saw extensive action in both the Pacific and European Theaters of World War II, including during the D-Day landings in Normandy and other significant operations such as Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of Sicily, and the Battle of Guadalcanal.

Impact

The success of the Higgins boat had a significant impact on the war effort and the home front. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander, credited Andrew Higgins with playing a crucial role in the Allied victory, stating that "if Higgins had not designed and built those LCVPs, we never could have landed over an open beach." Higgins Industries also became a major employer during the war, with its workforce expanding from 75 workers in 1938 to over 20,000 by 1943. Notably, Higgins's company was the first in New Orleans to be racially integrated, with employees of diverse backgrounds all receiving equal pay according to their job rating.

The Higgins Industries workforce

In the early years of the company, Higgins Industries had a small workforce of only 75 employees in 1938. However, as World War II unfolded and the demand for Higgins boats surged, the company experienced significant growth. By 1943, the workforce had expanded to over 20,000 employees, with some sources citing a number exceeding 25,000. This remarkable expansion reflected the essential role that Higgins Industries played in supporting the war effort.

Higgins Industries stood out for its commitment to racial and gender diversity in the workplace. In a time when segregation and discrimination were prevalent, particularly in the South, Higgins Industries was a pioneer in racial integration. The company employed people from diverse backgrounds, including undrafted white males, women, African Americans, the elderly, and handicapped persons. This inclusive approach not only challenged societal norms but also contributed to the company's success.

Higgins Industries fostered a culture of equality, where all employees were paid equally based on their job rating, regardless of their gender, race, or other factors. This progressive approach to compensation was a powerful motivator, and the diverse workforce responded by breaking production records. By the end of the war, they had built more than 20,000 boats, with 12,500 of them being LCVPs (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel), also known as Higgins boats.

The workforce of Higgins Industries included skilled workers from various trades, engineers, designers, and production staff. They worked across multiple manufacturing plants, with seven or eight plants in operation by the peak of the war. These facilities were hubs of innovation and dedication, with employees working tirelessly to meet the demands of the war effort.

The impact of the Higgins Industries workforce extended beyond the company walls. Their contributions to the development and production of the Higgins boat left an indelible mark on the course of World War II. The boat's unique design and versatility revolutionized amphibious warfare, enabling Allied forces to execute landings on beaches that were previously inaccessible. This changed the very nature of how wars were fought, and the strategic advantage it provided cannot be overstated.

In conclusion, the Higgins Industries workforce was a diverse and dedicated team that played a pivotal role in the company's success during World War II. Their innovation, skill, and commitment to equality broke barriers and set new standards in the industry. The legacy of their work continues to be recognized and celebrated, honoring the impact they had on both the company and the course of history.

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