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{{confuse|Landing Craft Assault|Attack boat}}
{{Short description|Military transport vessel}}
{{Short description|Military transport vessel}}
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{{distinguish|Landing Craft Assault|Attack boat}}
[[File:80-G-K-42552.jpg|thumb|right|ASPB on patrol during Operation Coronado IX, November 1967]]
[[File:80-G-K-42552.jpg|thumb|right|ASPB on patrol during Operation Coronado IX, November 1967]]
An '''assault boat''' is a boat used for landing in combat, specifically for inland waters. Assault boats are lightweight to be carried by multiple men. They can either be paddled or fitted with an [[outboard motor]] for high-speed operation. Some assault boats can be fitted with small firearms such as automatic rifles. Larger assault boats are used in [[riverine]] and [[Littoral waters|littoral water]] where the boat can easily berth in tight spaces and shallow waters. The length of assault boats is usually 5 to 20 meters and are made either from rubber, fiberglass, aluminum, or steel.
An '''assault boat''' is a [[boat]] used for landing in [[combat]], specifically for inland waters. Their lightweight construction allows for them to be carried by multiple men on foot. They can either be paddled or fitted with an [[outboard motor]] for high-speed operation. Some assault boats can be fitted with small firearms such as [[Automatic rifle|automatic rifles]]. Larger assault boats are used in [[riverine]] and [[Littoral waters|littoral water]] where the boat can easily berth in tight spaces and shallow waters. The length of assault boats is usually 5 to 20 meters and they are constructed from rubber, fiberglass, aluminum, or steel.


==WWII==
==WWII==
===U.S. military===
===U.S. military===
[[Image:M2 assault boat at dornot and moselle.jpg|thumb|right|250px|American soldiers deploy an M2 assault boat]]
[[Image:M2 assault boat at dornot and moselle.jpg|thumb|right|250px|American soldiers deploy an M2 assault boat during the battle of Dornot-Corny next to the Moselle River]]
Assault boats in the U.S. military during [[World War II]] were typically the property of [[Combat Engineer Battalion]]s, whose [[combat engineer]]s also deployed and crewed them.<ref>[http://www.trailblazersww2.org/units_270ECB_docs_aarMar45.htm NARRATIVE ACCOUNT OF 270TH ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION Period 1 March 1945 - 31 March 1945], accessed 27 September 2018</ref>
Assault boats in the U.S. military during [[World War II]] were typically used by [[Combat Engineer Battalion]]s, whose [[combat engineer]]s deployed and crewed them.<ref>[http://www.trailblazersww2.org/units_270ECB_docs_aarMar45.htm NARRATIVE ACCOUNT OF 270TH ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION Period 1 March 1945 - 31 March 1945], accessed 27 September 2018</ref>


The Americans deployed two types of assault boats. The "Storm Boat" was an 8-man (6+2 crew) high-speed assault boat with a 55 horsepower outboard motor designed to breach at speed thus allowing the soldiers on board to "storm the shore". The "M2" was a ten-man boat (8+2 crew) that was paddled.
The Americans deployed two types of assault boats, the "Storm Boat" and the "M2." The "Storm Boat" was an 8-man (6+2 crew) high-speed assault boat with a 55-horsepower outboard motor designed to breach at speed thus allowing the soldiers on board to "storm the shore". The "M2" was a ten-man boat (8+2 crew) that was paddled.


===British===
===British===
The British used two types of assault boat: a "storm boat" and a lower performance canvas boat- "[[Goatley boat|The Goatley boat"]].
The British used two types of assault boat: a "storm boat" and a lower performance canvas boat known as [[Goatley boat|"The Goatley boat"]].


=== Overview of the differences between British and American Storm and Assault Boats ===
=== Overview of the differences between British and American Storm and Assault Boats ===
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}}
}}
[[File:Infantry carrying assault boats.jpg|thumb|250px|British soldiers crossing the Meuse-Escaut canal]]
[[File:Infantry carrying assault boats.jpg|thumb|250px|British soldiers crossing the Meuse-Escaut canal]]
Section 8. Comparison of River Crossing Equipment, From the Engineer chapter of A Military Encyclopedia Based on Operations in the Italian Campaigns, 1943-1945
<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050211043236/http://milhist.net/docs/milencyc/index.html 15th Army Group, Allied Forces. A Military Encyclopedia, Based on Operations in the Italian Campaigns, 1943-1945.] @www.milhist.net by web.archive.org capture February 11. 2005, accessed 27 September 2018</ref>
<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=8qIkHAAACAAJ 15th Army Group, Allied Forces. A Military Encyclopedia Based on Operations in the Italian Campaigns, 1943-1945] @Google Books, accessed 27 September 2018</ref>

====Assault Boats====
====Assault Boats====
{| class="wikitable"
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a. British Canvas Boats. (The '[[Goatley boat]]')
!
⚫
:(1) Easily portable (Could be carried open by four men).
⚫
!British Canvas Boats
:(2) Easily maneuvered in the water when loaded.
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!U.S Plywood Boat, M-2
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:(3) Easily damaged in transit by rough handling.
|-
⚫
:(4) Not easily repaired.
|Portability
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:(5) Could carry ten men.<ref>{{Citation |title=Goatley boat |date=2022-03-30 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goatley_boat&oldid=1080071213 |work=Wikipedia |language=en |access-date=2023-01-04}}</ref>
⚫
|Could be carried by four men
⚫
:(6) Only weighed 150 kilograms (330 Ib).<ref>{{Citation |title=Goatley boat |date=2022-03-30 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goatley_boat&oldid=1080071213 |work=Wikipedia |language=en |access-date=2023-01-04}}</ref>
⚫
|Not easily portable
:(7) Only took two minutes to assemble by two men.<ref>{{Citation |title=Goatley boat |date=2022-03-30 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goatley_boat&oldid=1080071213 |work=Wikipedia |language=en |access-date=2023-01-04}}</ref>
|-

|Water maneuverability
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b. U.S. Plywood Boat, M-2.
|Easily when loaded
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:(1) Not so easily portable.
:(2) Easily maneuvered in the water, loaded or empty.
|Easily when loaded or empty
|-
:(3) Not so easily damaged in transit (boats "nest").
|Fragility in transit
:(4) More easily repaired.
⚫
|Easily damaged by rough handling
:(5) Served dual purpose (i.e. making infantry support rafts and expedient assault boat bridge).
|Not likely to be damaged
:(6) Much noisier in use with non-rubber shod personnel.
|-

|Repairability
c. Conclusions:
⚫
|Not easily repaired
:(1) The American pattern assault boat was decidedly more robust and had the great advantage of dual purpose. However, the British boat proved itself perfectly adequate for its primary task which did not require excellent durability.
|Easily repaired
|-
|Purpose
⚫
|Carrying up to ten men<ref>{{Citation |title=Goatley boat |date=2022-03-30 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goatley_boat&oldid=1080071213 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=2023-01-04 |language=en}}</ref>
|Infantry support rafts and assault boat bridge
|-
|Assembly
⚫
|Two minute assembly for two men<ref>{{Citation |title=Goatley boat |date=2022-03-30 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goatley_boat&oldid=1080071213 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=2023-01-04 |language=en}}</ref>
|
|}


====Storm Boats====
====Storm Boats====
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:(1) Heavier to carry across the country.
:(1) Heavier to carry across the country.
:(2) Would carry the heavier load (6-pounders or jeep though the latter a top-heavy load).
:(2) Would carry the heavier load (6-pounders or jeep though the latter a top-heavy load).
:(3) Carried ten men, but with a lower speed.
:(3) Carried ten men but at a lower speed.


b. American Storm Boat.
b. American Storm Boat.
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c. Conclusions:
c. Conclusions:
:(1) For assault crossing of personnel the U.S. boat carried fewer men but got them across the river and in action much faster.
:(1) For assault crossing of personnel the U.S. boat carried fewer men but got them across the river and in action much faster.
:(2) For cargo carrying, British boat carried a greater load but at a slower speed.
:(2) For cargo carrying, the British boat carried a greater load but at a slower speed.


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 11:47, 16 August 2024

Not to be confused with Landing Craft Assault or Attack boat.
ASPB on patrol during Operation Coronado IX, November 1967

An assault boat is a boat used for landing in combat, specifically for inland waters. Their lightweight construction allows for them to be carried by multiple men on foot. They can either be paddled or fitted with an outboard motor for high-speed operation. Some assault boats can be fitted with small firearms such as automatic rifles. Larger assault boats are used in riverine and littoral water where the boat can easily berth in tight spaces and shallow waters. The length of assault boats is usually 5 to 20 meters and they are constructed from rubber, fiberglass, aluminum, or steel.

WWII

[edit]

U.S. military

[edit]
American soldiers deploy an M2 assault boat during the battle of Dornot-Corny next to the Moselle River

Assault boats in the U.S. military during World War II were typically used by Combat Engineer Battalions, whose combat engineers deployed and crewed them.[1]

The Americans deployed two types of assault boats, the "Storm Boat" and the "M2." The "Storm Boat" was an 8-man (6+2 crew) high-speed assault boat with a 55-horsepower outboard motor designed to breach at speed thus allowing the soldiers on board to "storm the shore". The "M2" was a ten-man boat (8+2 crew) that was paddled.

British

[edit]

The British used two types of assault boat: a "storm boat" and a lower performance canvas boat known as "The Goatley boat".

Overview of the differences between British and American Storm and Assault Boats

[edit]
British soldiers crossing the Meuse-Escaut canal

Assault Boats

[edit]
British Canvas Boats U.S Plywood Boat, M-2
Portability Could be carried by four men Not easily portable
Water maneuverability Easily when loaded Easily when loaded or empty
Fragility in transit Easily damaged by rough handling Not likely to be damaged
Repairability Not easily repaired Easily repaired
Purpose Carrying up to ten men[2] Infantry support rafts and assault boat bridge
Assembly Two minute assembly for two men[3]

Storm Boats

[edit]
German soldiers in a rubber assault boat crossing the Meuse

a. British Storm Boat.

(1) Heavier to carry across the country.
(2) Would carry the heavier load (6-pounders or jeep though the latter a top-heavy load).
(3) Carried ten men but at a lower speed.

b. American Storm Boat.

(1) Carried by 6 men (plus 2 for motor).
(2) Would carry up to 1500 lbs with very little reduction in speed.
(3) Carried 7 men (above crew) at maximum speed.
(4) Was the faster boat; would beach at full speed.

c. Conclusions:

(1) For assault crossing of personnel the U.S. boat carried fewer men but got them across the river and in action much faster.
(2) For cargo carrying, the British boat carried a greater load but at a slower speed.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ NARRATIVE ACCOUNT OF 270TH ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION Period 1 March 1945 - 31 March 1945, accessed 27 September 2018
  2. ^ "Goatley boat", Wikipedia, 2022-03-30, retrieved 2023-01-04
  3. ^ "Goatley boat", Wikipedia, 2022-03-30, retrieved 2023-01-04
[edit]
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