LVT(A)-1 speeds over dunes in the Pacific in March 1944

U.S. Navy Official photograph, Gift of Charles Ives, from the Collection of The National World War II Museum
Description: 

LVT [Landing vehicle, tracked]. "File No. OOR-44971. March 9, 1944. New 'Water Buffalo' joins the Fleet --- These official U. S. Navy photographs portray the capabilities and characteristics of the new amphibious tank, known as the LVT(A)-1. Differing from earlier styles of the 'Water Buffalo' in that it has a turret 'superstructure', armored vehicle boasts a 37mm cannon and two .50 calibre machine guns for armament. Agile on land, the tank is doubly formidable through its outstanding features of being able to travel on water. Already the craft has played a contributing role in the successful invasion of enemy strongholds in the Pacific, as the Allied standards march West to Tokyo and East to Berlin, the squat, hard-hitting new comer will appear in growing numbers on both sea and land manned by Army troops and Marines. Sand often presents almost as great a hazard as mud. But the Water Buffalo belies its name by speeding over the dry, shifting dunes as easily as over firm ground." 9 March 1944

Image Information

Donor: 
Charles Ives
Accession Number: 
2011.102.279
Date: 
Location: 
Hometown: 
Branch: 
US Navy
Theater of Service: 
Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO)
Unit: 
Campaign / Event: 
POW / KIA: 
Topical Subjects: 
Tracked landing vehicles--American
Tanks (Military science)--American
Collection Level: 
The Charles Ives Collection consists of 719 photographs from the Pacific Theater of WWII. Many of the photographs were taken between 1944 and 1945. Mr. Ives inherited the photographs from a friend from Marblehead, Massachusetts who served as an aviator in the Army Air Corps and discharged as a Major in 1945.
Thesaurus for Graphic Materials: 
Tracked landing vehicles--American
Tanks (Military science)--American