Andrew Jackson Higgins’ Landing Barges as a Tool for the Success of Operation Overlord

Abstract

During the World War II, the Allies faced a serious problem with many naval amphibious operations, both in the Pacific and in Europe. For their efficient conduct, it was necessary to construct and build various boats and landing barges. Among them were the legendary LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) landing boats designed by Andrew Higgins, an American constructor and builder of seagoing boats. Thanks to them it was possible, among others, to facilitate the landing of thousands of troops and equipment on the open beaches of Normandy during Operation Overlord in June 1944. The final stage of transporting soldiers and equipment from ships and vessels to the beaches of Normandy was, according to many military officials, the most difficult. Lightweight landing boats and barges capable of carrying men and equipment in shallow water from the ships to land were needed for this mission. It was then that Andrew Higgins proposed several types of landing boats, including the famous LCVP. There is no doubt that Higgins’ barges significantly contributed to the success of the Allied landing operation on the beaches of Normandy.