Hi all

Did the LVT and the landing craft LCMs in the Pacific land together during the Island battles i only ask this because from some pics certain Islands beachs seem to have mainly LVT any info would be great i have 2 LCMS and iam in the process of picking up a number of LVTs i want to create a dio but want to show the closeness of the beach landing men kit Landing vehicles etc,any surggestions as to which island landing would best suit this i was thinking of either Iwo Jima because of the the Black sand or Okinawa
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Cheers chris

Hi Chris!

I was only abble to find this aerial picture (from Betio - Battle of Tarawa) where you can see LCM, LCVP and some LVT's (right on the beach)...
Although it's not from the places you ask, the type of terrain and vehicle/craft characteristics shouldn't make it very different

http://www.worldwar2database.com/cgi-bin/slideviewer.cgi?list=tarawa.slides&dir=&config=&refresh=&slide=18&cycle=off&scale=0&design=default&total=24

Hope this helps

Skipper

They would actually be phased in. It also depended on how heavily defended the beach was. The LVTs would go in first, since they were more armored and could take a little more punishment. The LCMs and LCVPs would follow on after the initial beachhead had been established and was a little more secure. The First LCMs would have carried the tanks and more infantrymen ashore, then LCVPs and LCMs with more support equipment and troops. Some LVTs would also remain on the beach for security for the LCMs and LCVPs until the beachhead was more established and the fighting pushed inland.

If you like your references maybe you should go to the horses mouth, so to speak.
Try here
Amphibious Operations, Staff Officers' Manual, USMC, Nov 1944


It should be covered in there.

Happy reading,
Bob

Hello Chris

Depending on your diorama placing you may have to consider reefs. The LVT's were often used 'cos they could scrabble accross and onto the landing beaches, however the normal boats would have had some trouble.
I have seen footage of Marine landings with LVT's, LCM's and LCVP's, I think that was Tarawa, or so it said on the narrative.

Look forwards to seeing the diorama.

Dus