| LCVP "Higgins Boat" | |
|---|---|
| |
| General information | |
| Place of origin | Great Britain |
| Category | Landing Craft |
| Debut in FHSW | Debut in FH mod |
| Used by | USA Great Britain Soviet Union |
| Speed | 12 knots (14 mph; 22 km/h) |
| Crew in‑game | 6 |
| Special abilities | ↑ Open ramp ↓ Close ramp |
| Seat 1 | |
| Primary weapon | Driver / Whistle |
| Seat 2 | |
| Primary weapon | 12.7 mm .50 M2HB Browning |
| |
The Landing Craft, Personnel (LCVP) or Higgins boat was a landing craft used extensively in amphibious landings in World War II. The craft was designed by Andrew Higgins based on boats made for operating in swamps and marshes. More than 20,000 were built by Higgins Industries.
Anyone who thinks that the Higgins boat was nothing but a clumsy steely box is mistaken in two respects: on the one hand, the boat was actually made of wood, which was clad with steel plates and light armor around the loading bay for protection against MG fire and shrapnel wore. And on the other hand, the boat was far from clumsy. It had in fact such outstanding properties that even the supreme commander of the Allied landing operations in Normandy and later U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was tempted to remark that Andrew Higgins, the designer of the boat, had won the war for America.
With this type of boat more soldiers were brought ashore, as with all other similar designs together in World War II. Its landing space was large enough to transport 36 soldiers with full equipment or a jeep and 12 men or other supplies. You could put an LCVP at full speed to the beach. As long as the screw is remained in the water, the Higgins boat could pull themselves back into the water, return to the troop carrier and take another load. A total of 23,000 were built and used in LCVP landing operations in all aspects of war.
In-game, the Higgins boat is the only way to get quickly from the major surface ships to the beach. Ideal way is to embark entire squad, then they can make a coordinated attack on an outpost. With the machine gun boat is limited to defend against aircraft or troops ashore. If you want to use it again later, you should park a bit away from the shore. But then you have to swim a distance through the water, while you are completely defenseless - under fire, it is therefore advisable to sacrifice the boat, it is far to sit on the beach and immediately take cover. This boat used by Soviets on the maps Alaska and Simusyu To.
Template:Landing crafts