The Amphibian Tractor Battalion

The H&S company provided administrative, command, communications, heavy repair, medical, and engineering functions. It included twelve LVTP5A1 personnel cariers that served as utility vehicles and a battaliion reserve, three LVTP5A1 (CMD) variants, one LVTR1A1 recovery vehicle, and eight LVTE1 engineer vehicles.

The battalion included only two line companies (Alpha and Bravo), though the commandant might authorise a third company. Each company consisted of a headquarters section, equipped with four LVTP5A1 carriers, three LVTP5A1 (CMD) variants, and 1 LVTR1A1 recovery vehicle. The AMTRAC units suffered frequent mine strikes and numerous breakdowns caused by prolonged land operation for which the vehicles were never designed and as a result, AMTRAC companies often incluided two or three LVTR1A1s, rather than the one authorised.

Each company consisted of four platoons (eight in the battalion) each of ten LVTP1A1.

The AMTRAC battalions took advantage of the amphibious capabilities in the local security functions, using their AMTRACS to patrol rivers and coastal areas. In this they were supported by their own provisional rifle platoons and reinforced by detachments from 1st Armored Amphibian Company.

The Armored Amphibian Company

The Marine Corps possessed large stocks of the last assault amphibians, or cannon-armed AMTRACs, but activated only the 1st Armored Amphibian Company. This company was equipped with eighteen LVTH6s, armed with a 105mm howitzer and doctrinally an artillery weapon. These were divided into three platoons, and supported by a headquarters platoon that provided minimal truck transport. Doctrinally the armored amphibians were artillery rather than tanks, but were generally parceled out in two or three vehicle sections for patrol support or direct fire support on specific operations in areas inaccessible to tanks.

LVTE1 Engineer Vehicle

The LVTE1 was the engineer version of the LVTP5. A large, toothed, V-shaped excavator blade was mounted on the front of the vehicle, and it could clear a path through a minefield that was 16" (41cm) deep and 12 feet (3.7m) wide. Plastic foam-filled buoyancy tanks were fitted to the rear of the blade to help the LVTE1 keep the right attitude while afloat. A rocket-propelled line charge was carried in either side of the cargo compartment, and these were elevated hydraulically. The familiar machine gun cupola was installed between the commander and driver.

LVTH6 105mm Howitzer

LVTH6 was the armored amphibian version of the LVTP5. The hulls were identical, but the H6 had a turret armed with a 105mm howitzer installed over the cargo compartment. The vehicle commander and loader had their own hatches in the turret.

The crew consisted of;

• Commander in turret right rear
• Gunnner in turret right front
• Loader in turret left rear
• Driver in hull left front
• Crew chief in hull right front
• Two ammunition passers in hull

The LVTH6 carried 150 rounds of 105mm ammunition although for water operations the howitzer ammunition was reduced to 100 rounds in order to help reduce the weight of the vehicle.

LVTR1A1 Recovery Vehicle

LVTR1 was the recovery and maintenance variant of the LVTP5 with a 60,000lb (27,000kg) winch installed. A boom was mounted on the front of the vehicle to assist in removing engines or other loads, and the crew chief acted as the crane operator. The boom had a capacity of 8000lbs (3600kg) with a single line or 14,000lbs (6400kg) with a two-part line.

The most obvious difference between the LVTP1A1 and the LVTR1A1 upon which it is based is the A-frame installed on the roof of the vehicle.