LVT-1 Buffalo
In 1935, Donald Roebling developed the Alligator, a wide-hull, tracked vehicle that could operate in swampland. As it was equally mobile in water and land, the Alligator was meant for rescue work, but when the US Marine Corps learned of it, they commissioned Roebling to develop a larger version for amphibious operations as the Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT).
The Marines, after studying the failed Gallipoli operation during World War I, determined that the reason why such operations failed was a lack of ability to quickly move troops and supplies from ships to shore. The LVT was meant to solve that problem: it could use its tracks to "swim" from offshore ships to land, then go further inland like a tank, just like Roebling's Alligator. It went into full production just before the US got involved in World War II. Roebling, for his part, refused to accept payment for his design, regarding it as part of his patriotic duty.
First used at Guadalcanal in 1942, the LVT-1 was found to have several flaws. It was unarmored, leaving it vulnerable to enemy fire, while the Marines inside would have to dismount by going over the sides, also exposing them to enemy fire. It was slow through the water and had a tendency to throw its tracks on land. Finally, it lacked firepower. In the words of Herman Wouk, "It could do neither job [sea or land transportation] well, but it existed because it could do either at all." In Marine lexicon, the LVTs were referred to as "amtracs," for amphibious tractor.
The Marines began working on options. Field modification kits were issued, adding armor to the sides and increasing its armament; the LVT(A)-1 was modified with turrets taken from M3 Stuarts and dubbed the "amtank" (amphibious tank). Later versions, such as the LVT-4, added a rear ramp for easier and safer disembarkation, and in LVT(A)-4s, added a turret with a 75mm howitzer for use against Japanese strongpoints. LVT(A)s were invaluable in providing fire support for landing operations, especially as Japanese fortifications on their islands became more elaborate and well-protected.
LVTs were used in every landing operation in the Pacific, and in later operations in Europe, where they were useful in clearing out the Scheldt estuary and crossing the Rhine. The lack of an adequate replacement kept them in service until the 1950s, when they were replaced by the much larger LVT-5.
I believe this is a LVT-1, given the more pointed sides of the forward hull, but I may be wrong. This is one of two LVTs in the possession of the National Museum of Military Vehicles, though this particular vehicle is unrestored. "Big Ugly" sits outside in the NMMV's storage shed, and likely will at some point join the other LVT inside in a new display.
There were many things to love about the NMMV, but one was the very friendly and helpful staff. When I asked if I could photograph their vehicles in storage, they replied "Please do, that's what they're there for." It's something of at-your-own-risk, as these vehicles are crammed under the shed, and negotiating them means opening yourself to be cut by sometimes rusty equipment. Still, good photos can be had from the periphery. It's probably the only museum I've been to where I stopped photographing everything, since I'd already shot several of any particular type of vehicle inside the museum!
LVT-1 Buffalo
In 1935, Donald Roebling developed the Alligator, a wide-hull, tracked vehicle that could operate in swampland. As it was equally mobile in water and land, the Alligator was meant for rescue work, but when the US Marine Corps learned of it, they commissioned Roebling to develop a larger version for amphibious operations as the Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT).
The Marines, after studying the failed Gallipoli operation during World War I, determined that the reason why such operations failed was a lack of ability to quickly move troops and supplies from ships to shore. The LVT was meant to solve that problem: it could use its tracks to "swim" from offshore ships to land, then go further inland like a tank, just like Roebling's Alligator. It went into full production just before the US got involved in World War II. Roebling, for his part, refused to accept payment for his design, regarding it as part of his patriotic duty.
First used at Guadalcanal in 1942, the LVT-1 was found to have several flaws. It was unarmored, leaving it vulnerable to enemy fire, while the Marines inside would have to dismount by going over the sides, also exposing them to enemy fire. It was slow through the water and had a tendency to throw its tracks on land. Finally, it lacked firepower. In the words of Herman Wouk, "It could do neither job [sea or land transportation] well, but it existed because it could do either at all." In Marine lexicon, the LVTs were referred to as "amtracs," for amphibious tractor.
The Marines began working on options. Field modification kits were issued, adding armor to the sides and increasing its armament; the LVT(A)-1 was modified with turrets taken from M3 Stuarts and dubbed the "amtank" (amphibious tank). Later versions, such as the LVT-4, added a rear ramp for easier and safer disembarkation, and in LVT(A)-4s, added a turret with a 75mm howitzer for use against Japanese strongpoints. LVT(A)s were invaluable in providing fire support for landing operations, especially as Japanese fortifications on their islands became more elaborate and well-protected.
LVTs were used in every landing operation in the Pacific, and in later operations in Europe, where they were useful in clearing out the Scheldt estuary and crossing the Rhine. The lack of an adequate replacement kept them in service until the 1950s, when they were replaced by the much larger LVT-5.
I believe this is a LVT-1, given the more pointed sides of the forward hull, but I may be wrong. This is one of two LVTs in the possession of the National Museum of Military Vehicles, though this particular vehicle is unrestored. "Big Ugly" sits outside in the NMMV's storage shed, and likely will at some point join the other LVT inside in a new display.
There were many things to love about the NMMV, but one was the very friendly and helpful staff. When I asked if I could photograph their vehicles in storage, they replied "Please do, that's what they're there for." It's something of at-your-own-risk, as these vehicles are crammed under the shed, and negotiating them means opening yourself to be cut by sometimes rusty equipment. Still, good photos can be had from the periphery. It's probably the only museum I've been to where I stopped photographing everything, since I'd already shot several of any particular type of vehicle inside the museum!