Military

LVT4 Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Unarmored (Mark IV)

Also known as the Water Buffalo, the LVT4 carryied cargo or personnel, particularly in an amphibious assault role. First used in mid-1944 at Saipan, a total of 8,348 were built during 1943-45 by FMC, Graham-Paige and St. Louis Car Co. Similar to the LVT2, it was the first amtrac to provide much-needed stern ramp for unloading of personnel and cargo. Provisions were made for mounting of 4 MGs, with or without shields.

The LVT4 was a remodeled LVT2, where the engine was moved from the rear of the vehicle to behind the driver's cab, yielding a larger cargo area and allowing a rear loading ramp to be installed. The power train consisted of a Continental W670-9A mounted behind driver's compartment, driving front sprockets via very short prop shaft and controlled differential/final drive unit. Applique armor could be attached to the LVT4: .5" (1.3cm) armor on the front and .25" (.64cm) on the sides, but this reduced the LVT4's payload by 3000lbs (1360kg). The LVT4's cab had two large glass windows and two roof hatches, and three armored cabs could be installed as well, with .5" (1.3cm) armor to the front and .25" (.64cm) armor on the top and sides.

The LVT3 and LVTA4 both had ramps at the rear that could be lowered to load vehicles or other equipment, while LVTA5 had a ramp in front; LVT4 was open-topped, while LVTA4 was enclosed, topped with a turret, and armed with a short-barreled 75mm howitzer.

Two types of LVTs, the LVT(2) and the LVT(4), were used at Peleliu. Of the two vehicles, the latter proved to be much more versatile and useful. No mechanical failures of the ramp were experienced; the position of the engine in the LVT (4) facilitated its maintenance, and the vehicle afforded more protection for the assault troops who disembarked from the rear. The only disadvantage observed in the LVT(4) was an inadequate cooling system which caused the engine to overheat.

Prior to the Peleliu operation, the 1st Marine Division received three of the Navy Mk 1 flamethrowers, together with four LVT(4)s for mounting the weapons. A fourth LVT(4) was used as a supply carrier for the flamethrowers. The new weapons were assigned to the 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion. The Navy Mk 1 flamethrower proved vastly superior to anything of this type the 1st Marine Division had used on previous occasions. The weapon, modelled after the Canadian Ronson flamethrower, had been modified at the Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor, to eliminate mechanical and technical difficulties. Initial tests indicated that the range of the flamethrower was 75 yards with gasoline and oil mixture, 150 yards with napalm. Duration of fire was 55 seconds for gasoline and oil mixture, and 80 seconds for napalm.