Buffalo LVT4 coming over the ice, 26 January 1945

Photograph, World War Two, North West Europe (1944-1945), 1945.

The Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT) was an amphibious vehicle developed by the Americans. Originally intended as cargo carriers for ship to shore operations, they rapidly evolved into assault troop and fire support vehicles as well. Although primarily used in the Pacific theatre, toward the end of the war LVTs were employed in Europe as well. The Americans, British and Canadians used them during the Battle of the Scheldt (1944) and the Rhine Crossings (1945).