Picture 1:
Plans for the series of vehicles called Landing Vehicle, Tracked (LVT) date back to at least 1940, perhaps earlier. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps approved most of the ambitious Borg Warner Corporation LVT design in the late 1940's and manufacturing began in the early 1950's. The LVT vehicles entered service with the US Marines in 1955-56 and replaced a number of Amtrac types that had been used extensively from WWII into Korea. These new Amtracs were roomier than their predecessors and were completely enclosed in light armor. The LVTP (P for "Personnel") was fully amphibious without preparation, other than closing all lower ports and hatches. Early models of the LVTP included both an unarmed cargo version as well as a personnel transport with a MG cupola for ground support located at the front of the roof. The typical crew load included a Driver in the bow on the port (left) side, a Commander (Crew Chief) at the starboard bow, and a third member, sometimes called the Assistant Driver and sometimes the Gunner depending on the manual you read and the mission of the Amtrac. The vehicle could hold between 25 and 34 fully equipped Marines, seated in four rows of folding bench seats--one bench along both sides of the cargo compartment and two back to back down the center. On the other hand, as many as 45 passengers could be transported standing up with the middle seats removed and the side benches folded up against the wall cabinets. The last batch of -5s were upgraded with a few minor changes to the final version of the Amtrac, the LVTP-5A1.

The -5A1 in this USMC photo is having its engine and transmission pulled by a recovery vehicle version of the LVTP-5, called LVTR1A1. Since we are looking at the rear of the left LVTP-5A1, we are also looking at the rear of the powerpack, the white transmission. Notice the engine roof access panel has been removed and is setting on the barrels to the right, complete with the later style exhaust/intake modified structure bolted to the center of the panel.

This image and others from the LVTP-5 Marine Corps Maintenance Manual (ORD-MM-7000A, October, 1957) were provided to us by Museums Branch, History and Museums Division, Headquarters Marine Corps. The picture illustrates the layout of the front and right sides of an early LVTP-5. Hydraulic motors and winch cables lower the large ramp, and with the ramp in the lowered position you can see the driver's position up on the left sponson near the bow. Thomas Williams, who crewed an Amtrac in Vietnam, reports they sometimes connected a cable to the end of the ramp and the top of the opening so when the ramp was lowered it stopped when it was level (instead of lying down at an angle). It could then be used as a table for cleaning equipment or sorting supplies. The hose rising at an angle (below and next to the driver's seat) is one of the bilge discharge hoses. The driver's domed over-head hatch is seen in the open position.

On this near side of the Amtrac sat the vehicle commander, usually a Crew Chief, and he had the same over-head cupola and hatch as the driver. The interior paint color of these hatches was the same as the primary exterior color, USMC green, but most of the surface was covered with a thick, black, leather head bump pad. The large cargo doors on the roof are shown in the open position, the hatches hinged on their outside edges and folding in the middle to fully expose the interior of the compartment below. The inside color of these long hatches was also generally the exterior color, USMC green. Down inside, the long passenger seats were padded and covered with flat black leatherette on the surfaces and all had USMC green painted support legs. Also visible here is one of the rear engine access hatches, opened, as well as the radiator air exhaust port on the side of the hull.

This is the first of a two part series on the LVTP-5. This part will cover the general development of the vehicle and the commander's station on the right side while Part 2 will explore the driver's area and the engine/transmission compartment at the rear.

Forward of the two engine access hatches are two radiator intake grills covering the location of the twin engine radiators and fans below. While on land, the engine driven fans drew cooling air into the ducts and through the radiators inside, then exhausted the air through the hull side grates. When in the water, the driver turned off the fans and the sealed radiator compartments were allowed to partially flood to cool the radiators. That is why you often see water pouring from the side grates when Amtracs come ashore. Forward of these grills are two entrance hatches into the cargo compartment with radio antenna bases outboard and two of the inboard fresh air ports I mentioned earlier. Taking up most of the roof (forward of the two hatches) are the large opened cargo hatches, in this case showing how they are articulated in the middle to fold back on themselves. Ladders were stowed to the outside surface of the cargo hatches and were used at the back edge when the hatches were open to get from the cargo compartment floor to the roof and then outside. The driver's cupola and surrounding vision blocks are at the front left of the roof and the commander's are to the right. In this case, the MG turret is not mounted and a round cover plate is bolted on the roof in its place.

Most of the electrical cables on the ceiling forward of the commander's hatch are attached to the infrared blackout lights and headlights we saw earlier on the exterior of the vehicle. Behind the seat is a wall full of storage boxes and cabinets for tools and other gear; the wall cabinets extend clear back to the right side exit hatch. The interior walls and ceiling of the vehicle are painted white, originally gloss finish but fading with wear and time to dull white. The floor was usually painted flat black or USMC forest green, but you will find it repainted white in photos taken during Vietnam. Most of the webbing belts inside, such as the seat belts, are OD green.

Under the floor is the bilge space and a number of individual fuel containers to store the total of 456gal of 80 octane gasoline for the thirsty Continental engine. The vehicle's travel range was around 250 miles on land and 65 in calm water. At the back of the compartment you can see the central engine access hatch flanked by cargo pad tie down eyes. Down on the bottom of the back firewall are access panels for the four vehicle batteries (H), two secured in each cabinet. Between the battery compartments is a typical USMC bracket box containing a set of pioneer tools. Over-head you can see the closed cargo hatches and the handles for releasing the hatches are visible at this end of the opening (A). At the right side of the photo is the driver's area and directly behind him are open racks to stow equipment, including a number of possible radio sets. The long bench seats along the sides and center of the compartment have been removed completely from this LVTP-5. Normally, the side benches would be folded up along the walls where you see the vertical roof supports. When folded, the unique zigzag pattern of the bottom seat cushion supports would be visible on both sides of the space. The roof support beams add strength to the structure and there are additional beams welded around the vehicle hatches and especially the cargo doors on the roof. As I mentioned in Part 1, the primary interior color in the LVTP is generally gloss white, with a flat black or USMC forest green floor. But, repainted white floors are as common in period photos as the darker original factory paint.

Continue on the Page Two