Does anyone know if there were amtraks and LVt’s used at Normandy?
I don’t recall ever reading about any of them being used during the Normandy operation, but I do recall reading that a limited number were used during one of the major river crossings after Normandy. Of course I can’t find that reference at the present. Sorry.
I just thumbed through a squadron (I think t was) book in the LHS, and if I remember correct they were issued to the army and used some, just not to the degree they were used by Marines in the Pacific, give me a day and I’ll see if I can check the reference again!
EDIT
Forgot I bought I bought it [:I]
Pg 44 Squadron AMTRACS in Action
“quote” LVT deliveries had not become available until late in the summer of 1944, with many of them going to the British. A large number of these LVT-2s and LVT-4s were assigned to the 79th Armored Division…“end quote”
It says they were mostly used for river crossings and such…it’s got some nice snap shots of them as well!
God I love history!!!
No. The most use of LVT’s was after Normandy during the breakout. The most significant user was the British 79th Armoured Division.
One of the largest uses of LVT’s was during the Canadian advance to capture the port at Antwerp and during the battle of the Scheldt Estuary.
Most common type used was the LVT-4 Water Buffalo as shown in the first photo. The other photo shows the British version of the DUKW. The Terrapin Mk.I,
Scores of Terrapins and Buffaloes were used by the 79th Armoured to ferry the British and Canadian troops and their supplies across the flooded areas of Holland and across countless rivers and bodies of water to liberate the crucial port of Antwerp in Belgium.
Cheers;
Gregory
There is a Color picture in the Book; “Spearheading D-Day” American Special Units in Normandy(ISBN;2 908 182 793) by Jonathan Gawne .
Pg.88 shows 2 images of an LVT-2. It’s armed with an M2HB .50HMG and has a serial #343854 hand painted on the left front spontoon. Apparently OD in color with White Stars without the segmented circle surround. It’s on Omaha beach with an LCI # 553in the background. Stills from 16mm color footage were taken by “Coast Guard Chief Photographers Mate Ruley” there is debate over whether the Film is late on the 6th or shot on the 7th. It is thought to have been used by a DUKW unit.
If I remeber right the LVT was determined to be of more value in the Pacific and most went there(both to the Army and the Marines). The LCVP being used in both the Pacific and Atlantic, but was the primary landing vehicle for Europe up to and through Normandy. Many where shipped to Europe after Normady because they where easier to transport and use in river crossings.
According to Steven Ambrose’s book " D-Day" Amtracs were not used or requested for the assault landings in Normandy because they not felt to be needed based on prior landing experience in the ETO/MTO. Thier usage/experience in the PTO was discounted as that theater was considered the “minor leagues” compared to the ETO by the senior leadership and not applicable. In hindsight this was viewed as an error due to the casualties taken by the lead assault waves at Omaha and their exposure to all types of fire prior to reaching “shelter” in the lee of the seawall/bluffs. This was taken into account for the Roer River and Rhine River crossings in 1945 and the LVT-4’s were used at that time. And as mentioned here, they were extensively used by commonwealth forces from late 1944 on on the Scheldt estuary battles, Rhineland campaign, and eastern Italian campaign. Concords book US Amphibians at war has lots of great photos and a good concise account of their usage in all theaters of WWII.