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might also handle stern ropes. At other times LCP(L)s might be led or towed by coastal forces craft when a raid was within reasonable range of a sally port. A number of these raids were made in 1940 to 1942 by
British forces, sometimes using LCP(L)s though more often going ashore by canoe. The first major landing from LCP(L)s in Europe took place in August 1942 when the Canadians with elements of the British army and Royal Marines
655:
plate in the boat", for its construction as much as its light weight made this speeding up of the launching-load time possible. Other craft, especially those with a ramp like the LCV and LCVP, were structurally weak in the bow and could not be loaded before lowering from davits; personnel being transported in these types climbed down scramble nets into these boats.
658:
The 3-man crew of a
British LCP(L) was led by a Leading Seaman or Royal Marine Corporal coxswain who steered the boat and operated engine controls on the port side of the cockpit. Beside him was the Lewis gunner who also acted as bowman handling any rope-work forward. The third man was a mechanic who
625:
The LCP(L)s were also known as
Eurekas or R boats. Before 1942, The USMC referred to them as T Boats. They were American-made landing craft that could carry up to 36 troops. Unlike later landing craft, the LCP(L)s did not have ramps at the bow, so the troops had to jump over the sides to get out. The
650:
In US Navy or US Coast Guard service, the craft's crew comprised two gunners and the coxswain. Though the gunners would normally occupy the two gunner's cockpits, forward, during landing, they had other duties also. One acted as the bowman while the other served as the mechanic. The coxswain was in
654:
The craft's raked bow made beaching comparatively easy, and the craft came off without difficulty when unloaded, though it could snag on rocks or poor ground as any other small boat would. The LCP(L) could be loaded from the boat deck, before launching, "unless otherwise specified by the warning
508:
as well as commercial fishing boat designs. Included in these experiments were some prototypes where, upon beaching, a ramp was deployed over rollers on the bow. A few boats were overwhelmed by the surf and others did not prove practical, but the 28 feet (9 m) craft designed by the Eureka
638:
528:. The boat's draft was rather shallow, 18 inches (46 cm), and it could cut through vegetation and slide over logs without ruining its propeller. It could also run up on shore and extract itself damage-free. As part of sales demonstrations, boats were often run up on the seawalls of
563:, president of the Eureka Tug-Boat Company, was contracted to build a slightly larger craft to carry 24 fully equipped troops, or two squads. He produced the 32 feet (10 m) Eureka or Higgins boat. This was the craft first used in American
491:
from the boat deck of their troop transport as the LCP(L) hung from its davits. When loaded, the LCP(L) was lowered into the water. Soldiers exited the boat by jumping or climbing down from the craft's bow or sides.
504:(USMC) sought boats practical for landing troops on beaches. In 1936, the USMC conducted experiments with new types of boats, lighters, and launches. Many craft were considered coming from the Navy's
710:. This widened the bow to the full width of the craft to maximize the ramp size and speed of egress. The LCVP is the craft most referred to as a "Higgins Boat", although its two predecessors and a
475:, USA. Manufactured initially in boatyards in and around New Orleans, as requirements grew it was produced in a number of yards around the United States. Typically constructed of pine planks and
651:
charge of the boat and crew. His position was at the wheel directly behind the gunner's cockpits and only slightly off-set to the port side. From here he steered and operated engine controls.
674:
that would take place in August 1942. These men appear to be filling a returned craft as first-wave troops would have entered the boat prior to its being lowered to the water.
622:
and is said to have preferred this larger craft. Further US procurements were of this larger boat, and thus the LCP(L) was the forerunner of all
American LCP types.
634:
before the war and were designed with a shallow draft to operate in swamps. But, it turned out that the design was also excellent for operating on shallow beaches.
1074:
1036:
463:. Its primary purpose was to ferry troops from transport ships to attack enemy-held shores. The craft derived from a prototype designed by the
607:
618:. An initial order for 136 was placed, with the first 50 delivered to Britain in October 1940. Higgins had already built these boats on
663:. The fortunes of the LCP(L) flotillas showed here how units and even individual craft could have very different luck in a landing.
641:
This boat, an early example from the Eureka Tug-Boat
Company, was the progenitor of thousands of Second World War landing craft.
916:
594:
had become aware of Andrew
Higgins’ Eureka boats; enquiries were made and a film of the Eureka was sent to the Admiralty in
687:. These retained the dimensions of the LCP(L) to allow use from the same launch platforms. The first development was the
666:
993:
965:
951:
505:
533:
1013:
937:
790:
699:
590:’s need for a raiding craft brought the first enquiries for an even larger boat. Purchasing agents from
501:
429:
3 x 10 lb. plates on bulkheads (fore of the .30 cal. cockpits, of the troop well and the engine space.
411:
479:, and fitted with some armor plate, this shallow-draft boat with a crew of 3 could ferry an infantry
303:
610:
wanted a 36 ft 8 in (11.18 m) craft, intending the boat to carry a full
British army
570:
748:
670:
US Marines climb down a scramble net to an LCP(L) during preparations in the Fiji
Islands for the
543:
The
Marines' specifications at the time were for boats operated by a crew of 6 that could carry a
1069:
564:
525:
1064:
753:
696:
397:
129:
728:
119:
1017:
743:
705:
695:, which added a bow ramp to the LCP(L) design for faster egress. The concept came from the
671:
174:
8:
574:
A Eureka Boat, an early model of the LCP(L), used in commando raids. This image features
109:
723:
626:
boats themselves were made of plywood but had armored bulkheads. They were invented by
529:
464:
86:
57:
702:
ramped landing craft. The second development, the most-produced of the three, was the
1040:
989:
961:
947:
933:
912:
587:
139:
30:
683:
Two significant further developments of the LCP(L) were produced, also designed by
509:
Tug-Boat
Company of New Orleans was both a good sea boat and superior at beaching.
460:
559:. The general lines of the boat were accepted by the USMC, and in September 1940
517:
290:
19:
This article is about the World War II landing craft. For the military rank, see
684:
631:
591:
575:
560:
35:
United States Marine Corps reinforcements at Guadalcanal debark from an LCP(L).
20:
1058:
456:
307:
599:
660:
619:
548:
537:
484:
468:
152:
61:
579:
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286:
99:
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390:
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65:
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had changed British procurement plans dramatically. The Admiralty's
382:
378:
637:
487:(13 km/h). Men generally entered the boat by walking over a
733:
711:
611:
552:
480:
476:
296:
532:. (The craft was also infamous among law enforcement along the
738:
690:
615:
603:
595:
930:
U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History
556:
544:
521:
400:, bowman/machine gunner, plus 1 officer per group of 3 boats
236:
US Model: 13,500 pounds (light), 21,600 pounds (loaded)
551:(17 mph; 28 km/h), and to be hoisted on the
981:, US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 1949.
911:
New York: Berkley Caliber, The Penguin Group, 2008,
714:
design were also developed and produced by Higgins.
547:of 12 men. Such boats should be able to achieve 15
125:
115:
105:
923:The Watery Maze; the story of Combined Operations
342:US model: 50 miles (gasoline), 130 miles (diesel)
1056:
1075:Military vehicles introduced from 1940 to 1944
418:.30 cal. machine guns RN model: 1 x .303 cal.
608:Inter-Service Training and Development Centre
946:, Hippocrene Books, Inc., New York, 1976.
932:, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, 2002.
586:Before the USMC received their boats, the
512:The craft was based on the company's 1926
414:.30 cal. machine guns, or US manufactured
339:RN model: 120 miles at full speed (loaded)
393:(last two also operated the machine guns)
1014:"LCPL - Landing Craft, Personnel, Large"
791:"LCPL - Landing Craft, Personnel, Large"
665:
636:
614:and two or three attached signallers or
569:
352:6,700–8,100 pounds (3,039–3,674 kg)
1057:
1002:, US Government Printing Office, 1944.
974:, Methuen & Co. Ltd., London 1949.
704:Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel (
441:, US Government Printing Office, 1944.
645:
960:, New English Library, London 1976.
312:or 1 x Superior 150 hp diesel engine
986:Basic Manual of Military Small Arms
689:Landing Craft, Personnel (Ramped) (
13:
14:
1086:
1006:
979:Guadalcanal: The First Offensive
165:Various ship's boats and cutters
145:
134:
124:
114:
104:
92:
79:
29:
988:Stackpole Books, Harrisburg PA
944:Assault From the Sea: 1939-1945
889:
880:
871:
862:
449:Landing Craft Personnel (Large)
327:US model: 8 kts. (fully loaded)
49:Landing Craft Personnel (Large)
1000:Allied Landing Craft and Ships
956:Lund, Paul, and Ludlam, Harry
853:
844:
835:
826:
817:
808:
783:
774:
765:
578:leading a charge armed with a
439:Allied Landing Craft and Ships
16:World War II-era landing craft
1:
901:
678:
7:
717:
10:
1091:
502:United States Marine Corps
495:
18:
1037:"At Home A Float, part 2"
324:RN model: 9-11 kts. (max)
219:
40:
28:
958:War of the Landing Craft
759:
749:Landing Craft Mechanized
459:used extensively in the
396:RN model: 3 - coxswain,
925:, Holt, New York, 1961.
565:Fleet Landing Exercises
526:Mississippi River delta
465:Eureka Tug-Boat Company
220:General characteristics
754:Landing Ship, Infantry
675:
642:
583:
500:During the 1930s, the
299:225 hp gasoline engine
130:Royal New Zealand Navy
729:Landing Craft Assault
669:
640:
573:
516:-bowed craft used by
437:from US Navy ONI 226
120:Royal Australian Navy
1018:USS Rankin (AKA-103)
972:Assault From the Sea
744:LCVP (United States)
672:Guadalcanal Campaign
483:of 36 to shore at 8
262:2 ft 6 in aft. light
921:Fergusson, Bernard
365:US model: 36 troops
362:RN model: 25 troops
110:Royal Canadian Navy
724:Gray Marine Engine
676:
646:Manning the LCP(L)
643:
584:
530:Lake Pontchartrain
265:3 ft 6 aft. loaded
87:United States Navy
58:Higgins Industries
1041:Popular Mechanics
928:Friedman, Norman
917:978-0-425-21921-8
909:Rangers at Dieppe
616:assault engineers
588:British Admiralty
561:Andrew J. Higgins
536:as a vehicle for
445:
444:
170:Succeeded by
140:Royal Indian Navy
1082:
1051:
1049:
1048:
1043:. September 1937
1032:
1030:
1029:
1020:. Archived from
998:US Navy ONI 226
896:
893:
887:
886:Buffetaut, p. 28
884:
878:
875:
869:
868:DeFelice, p. 120
866:
860:
857:
851:
848:
842:
839:
833:
832:Maund, pp. 62-63
830:
824:
823:Friedman, p. 75.
821:
815:
812:
806:
805:
803:
802:
793:. Archived from
787:
781:
780:Ladd, 1976, p.24
778:
772:
769:
661:landed at Dieppe
461:Second World War
186:Royal Navy model
151:
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771:Fergusson, p.37
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498:
291:gasoline engine
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144:
135:
93:
91:
80:
78:
36:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1088:
1078:
1077:
1072:
1070:Military boats
1067:
1053:
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1008:
1007:External links
1005:
1004:
1003:
996:
984:Smith, W.H.B.
982:
975:
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954:
940:
926:
919:
907:DeFelice, Jim
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700:Daihatsu-class
685:Andrew Higgins
680:
677:
647:
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632:Andrew Higgins
602:occupation of
576:Jack Churchill
497:
494:
443:
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410:US model: 2 x
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377:US model: 4 -
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41:Class overview
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21:Lance Corporal
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1065:Landing craft
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1034:
1024:on 2003-04-09
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994:0-8117-1699-6
991:
987:
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977:Miller, John
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966:0-450-03039-3
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952:0-88254-392-X
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859:Miller p. 57.
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814:Fergusson, p.
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797:on 2003-04-09
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457:landing craft
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308:diesel engine
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48:
45:
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39:
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27:
22:
1045:. Retrieved
1026:. Retrieved
1022:the original
999:
985:
978:
971:
957:
943:
929:
922:
908:
891:
882:
873:
864:
855:
846:
837:
828:
819:
810:
799:. Retrieved
795:the original
785:
776:
767:
703:
688:
682:
657:
653:
649:
624:
585:
582:(far right).
555:'s standard
542:
511:
499:
452:
448:
446:
438:
233:Displacement
970:Maund, LEH
895:US Navy ONI
877:US Navy ONI
850:Ladd, p. 24
841:Ladd, p. 24
538:rum-runners
469:New Orleans
391:bow-hookman
306:165-225 hp
252:10 ft 10 in
162:Preceded by
153:Polish Navy
62:New Orleans
1059:Categories
1047:2013-11-15
1028:2013-11-15
938:1557502501
902:References
801:2013-11-15
679:Successors
580:broadsword
534:Gulf Coast
287:Hall-Scott
280:Propulsion
244:36 ft 8 in
181:Subclasses
100:Royal Navy
942:Ladd, JD
628:Louisiana
567:in 1941.
514:spoonbill
489:gangplank
473:Louisiana
420:Lewis Gun
387:signalman
212:Preserved
199:1940-1943
155:(postwar)
73:Operators
66:Louisiana
718:See also
697:Japanese
518:trappers
412:Browning
407:Armament
383:engineer
379:coxswain
349:Capacity
189:US model
173:LCP(R),
54:Builders
734:LCM (2)
712:PT boat
630:native
612:platoon
592:Britain
553:US Navy
524:of the
520:in the
496:Origins
481:platoon
477:plywood
453:LCP (L)
302:or 1 x
297:Kermath
295:or 1 x
289:250 hp
257:Draught
992:
964:
950:
936:
915:
739:LCP(R)
691:LCP(R)
604:France
600:German
598:. The
596:London
557:davits
522:bayous
506:Bureau
455:was a
398:stoker
389:, and
357:Troops
241:Length
204:Active
150:
97:
84:
760:Notes
549:knots
545:squad
485:knots
434:Notes
426:Armor
416:Lewis
334:Range
319:Speed
272:Ramps
196:Built
68:, USA
990:ISBN
962:ISBN
948:ISBN
934:ISBN
913:ISBN
706:LCVP
620:spec
447:The
372:Crew
304:Gray
285:1 ×
249:Beam
225:Type
175:LCVP
46:Name
540:.)
467:of
451:or
1061::
1039:.
1016:.
471:,
385:,
381:,
64:,
60:,
1050:.
1031:.
804:.
708:)
693:)
275:0
215:0
207:0
23:.
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