Surviving Fiberglass LCVPs

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Post-World War Two Fiberglass LCVPs

This page updated 12-9-2024.

An American Auto Industry in World War Two Special Edition
The U.S. Navy ordered 452 Fiberglass LCVPs from 1965 to 1969. Several of these are still operating and being used for World War Two re-enactments. Due to their fiberglass construction, they are easy to identify. Below are photos of this type of landing craft that I have been able to identify.

All photos were taken by the author unless otherwise noted.

Fiberglass LCVPs can be identified by the rounded corners on the rear. Most World War Two plywood LCVPs have square corners. A limited number of World War Two Higgins-built LCVPs had rounded chines on the aft end. Only three still remain in existence. The fiberglass boats all have the same type of ramp. World War Two boats had a variety of ramp designs, depending on the manufacturer.

The LCVPs listed below are in order of their 36V numbers if they have been identified.

Owner: Military Veterans Museum - Added 10-19-2020.
Boat Number: 36VP642
Year Built: 1965
Location: Oshkosh, WI
Date of Photos: May 2019
Comments: This was previously part of the collection of LCVPs on the LST-325 in Evansville, IN. The LCVP was donated to the Military Veterans Museum several years ago.

The LCVP is displayed on a trailer and is one of many excellent historical artifacts in the museum. The boat still has its armor plate attached.

The interior is typical of fiberglass LCVPs as it does not have any wood bracing along the interior. It also looks like steel reinforcing has been added to the front opening of the boat. The ramp cables can be seen coming into the boat after being routed along the outside of the gunwales. The ramp locking mechanisms are evident in this photo.

The fiberglass LCVPs have rounded corners on the rear of the boats.

This has the post-World War Two mounting system for the propeller shaft and skeg. The bottom is smooth and continuous of fiberglass construction. The bottoms of wooden LCVPs have individual planking on them.

One of the volunteers closed the ramp on the LCVP while I was there.

Owner: Unknown - Added 8-16-2024.
Boat Number: 36VP6425
Year Built: 1966
Location: Southern England
Date of Photos: Unknown
Comments: This is a most interesting conversion of the LCVP into a houseboat. The photos and information on this houseboat along a river in southern England are courtesy of David Sharp.

Photo courtesy of David Sharp.

The owner has added a balcony to the aft end of the LCVP. Photo courtesy of David Sharp.

It appears there is both a water and electrical utility hookup to the boat. However, I don't see a sewage hookup. Photo courtesy of David Sharp.

The owner has modified the landing ramp to include a service door for entrance into the house boat. This is the most interesting modification I have seen of a 1960s fiberglass LCVP. Photo courtesy of David Sharp.

Owner: Cavalla Historical Foundation / Galveston Naval Museum
Boat Number: 36VP6588
Year Built: 1966
Location: Galveston, TX
Date of Photos: On or about 4-22-2024.
Comments: This boat arrived at the Galveston Naval Museum on or about 4-22-2024. It previously was used to tend buoys at Hyannis MA.

Here 36VP6588 is arriving at the Galveston Naval Museum. This photo was taken from the stern of DE-238, the USS Stewart. Photo courtesy of Brian Abugel.

Photo courtesy of Brian Abugel.

Of interest is that the armor plate was not removed from the LCVP while in civilian use. Photo courtesy of Brian Abugel.

Photo courtesy of Brian Abugel.

This image of the USS Stewart at the museum gives a good view of most of the port side. Photo courtesy of Brian Abugel.

Owner: American Military Museum (Tankland)
Boat Number: 36VP65100
Year Built: 1966
Location: South El Monte, CA
Comments: This LCVP is marked LST 1191-4 on the side. Added 11-30-2020.

https://flickriver.com/photos/sarge_schultz/36150652934/ In this photo, two more LCVPs can be seen behind the PA 21-17. Both are fiberglass. The first one is 36VP65100. It has LST 1191-4 on the side of it. The second one has no markings.

Owner: Mark C. Koch
Boat Number: 36VP6610
Year Built: 1967
Location: Lafitte, LA
Comments: This boat is fully restored and operational and is powered by the original Gray Marine engine.

Image courtesy of Mark C. Koch added 6-8-2024.

Owner: Unknown
Boat Number: 36VP6619
Year Built: 1967
Location: Anchorage Yacht Basin, Melbourne, FL
Date of Photos: July 2016
Comments: In 2016 this boat was located along East Eau Gallie Blvd. In 2018 it was moved to the back lot of the facility.

Note the tree growing in the middle of the boat and the armor plate along the side. LPD-13, (Landing Ship, Dock) was the USS Nashville. She was commissioned in 1970 and decommissioned in 2009.

Owner: Unknown
Boat Number: 36VP6633
Year Built: 1967
Location: Conneaut, OH
Date of Photos: August 2019
Comments: This was one of four fiberglass LCVPs used to give free rides at the D-Day Re-enactment at Conneaut, OH.

Owner: WW2 Military Vehicle Federation Museum
Boat Number: 36VP6637
Year Built: 1967
Location: Florala, AL
Date of Photos: October 2024
Comments: Note that this boat has the builder's plate still with it showing it was built in February 1967, just in time for the Vietnam War.

Image added 12-9-2024 courtesy of Ron Hargrove.

Owner: National Museum of Military Vehicles
Boat Number: 36VP6643
Year Built: 1960s
Location: National Museum of Military Vehicles, Dubois, WY
Comments: This LCVP is on display in the Korean War section of the museum. It depicts an LCVP from LST-859 landing up against the seawall at Inchon harbor. The LCVP is marked LST-859-7. This is one of two fiberglass LCVPs the museum has on display.

Author's photo added 6-8-2024.

Owner: Museum of Forgotten Warriors
Boat Number: 36VP6656
Year Built: 1966
Location: Marysville, CA

Photo courtesy of the Museum of Forgotten Warriors.

Owner: The Regional Military Museum
Boat Number: 36VP6657
Year Built: 1966
Location: Houma, LA
Comments: This was an operational LCVP and gave rides to museum visitors on weekends. When I visited the Regional Military Museum, the LCVP was in the museum's maintenance building having some work performed on it after it developed a leak. The Regional Military Museum is one of best military museums I have visited and is well worth the visit.

Author's photo added 3-28-2022.

Owner: Unknown - Added 10-19-2020.
Boat Number: 36VP6689
Year Built: 1966
Location: Nottingham, UK area
Date of Photos: Various
Comments: This 1966 fiberglass boat was misrepresented as a World War Two LCVP on the British BBC4 series "The Boat that Built Britain." I am not sure why the American-built LCVP was featured on the show as Britain only received 750 LCVs and LCVPs during World War Two. Also, while the two segments are entitled "Landing Craft," the LCVP is the main subject. The series totally overlooks the landing craft the British built during World War Two.

The links below to the YouTube videos of the LCVP segments of the series show that it is a 1966 fiberglass LCVP. Several shots show 36VP6689 on the aft end, giving positive identification as its 1966 year of manufacture. However, the segments do show the excellent maneuverability of the LCVP, and for this reason, the videos are well worth watching. But it should be noted, there were 1,089 LCVPs at Normandy, not thousands as the show states. The show also claims that the LCVPs sailed all the way from Britain to then land their troops on the beach. Not so. The LCVPs and soldiers sailed from Britain on transport ships and were only put in the water on the morning of June 6, 1944, when several miles offshore.

Boats that Built Britain - Landing Craft Part 1

Boats that Built Britain - Landing Craft Part 2

Owner: Russell Military Museum
Boat Number: 36VP6731
Year Built: 1967
Location: Zion, IL
Date of Photos: July 2016

The LCVP sits among a large collection of armored vehicles at the museum.

The pattern of the fiberglass can be seen in this photo.

Owner: Unknown
Boat Number: 36P6735
Year Built: 1968
Location: Conneaut, OH
Date of Photos: August 2019
Comments: This was another of the four fiberglass LCVP used to give free rides at the D-Day Re-enactment at Conneaut, OH.

The Detroit Diesel 6-71 engine had its original Delco-Remy DC generator replaced by a Delco-Remy alternator. Very cool!

Owner: Unknown
Boat Number: 36VP6763
Year Built: 1968
Location: Conneaut, OH
Date of Photos: August 2019
Comments: This also was another of the four fiberglass LCVPs used to give free rides at the D-Day Re-enactment at Conneaut, OH.

Note the way the bracing is bent on the ramp bracing and compare it to the following photo.

The ramp on the LCVP in the background looks the same as the one above. These are two LCVPs that were photographed in 2012 in Blue Hill, ME. LCVP 1188 is now at the Estrella Warbirds Museum in Paso Robles, CA. There may have been several other LCVPs at this location in 2012. Photo courtesy of marinesinforestgreen.blogspot.com

The Gray Marine diesel engine had its original Delco-Remy DC generator replaced by an alternator. The original Delco-Remy cranking motor is still part of the engine.

Owner: Unknown
Boat Number: 36VP6970
Year Built: 1967 by United Boat Builder
Location: Ewell, Smith Island, MD
Comments: This was purchased by the owner in Ewell, MD in 2015 and used to ferry supplies to the Smith Island. It had a new wooden helmsman cabin built in 2017. It was then sold. The new owner and location are unknown. This is listed on some websites as a surviving World War Two LCVP.

36VP6970 Sale Information - Boats from USA

36VP6970 Sale Information - POP Yachts

Owner: D-Day Ohio
Boat Number: Unknown
Year Built: Unknown
Location: Conneaut, OH
Date of Photos: August 2019
Comments: This was the fourth fiberglass LCVP used to give free rides at the D-Day Re-enactment at Conneaut, OH.

LST-325 has three fiberglass LCVPs for re-enactments.

Owner: LST-325
Boat Number: 36VP876?
Location: Evansville, IN Boat #1
Date of Photos: June 2014 and May 2018

This June 2014 photo shows both LST-325 LCVPs #1 and #2.

LCVP #1 was used in a re-enactment at the Evansville ShrinersFest in June 2014.

It is taking two of the crew to retract the ramp, with a third crew member adding assistance. June 2014 photo.

As the boat was heading back up river, the crew is still trying to get the ramp closed. June 2014 photo.

I visited LST-325 in May 2018 and photographed LCVP #1 from this overhead location.

May 2018 photo.

Owner: Unknown
Boat Number: Unknown
Year Built: Unknown
Location: Snohomish, WA
Date of Photos: July 2022
Comments: This LCVP was "discovered" by John Rottiers in July 2022. There is an effort being made for the owner to donate the LCVP to a marine museum in Oregon which would make it operational. More information and photos will be added as they become available.

Photo courtesy of Jack Rottiers added 7-30-2022.

Owner: LST-325
Boat Number: Unknown
Year Built: Unknown
Location: Evansville, IN Boat #2
Date of Photos: August 2014 and May 2021
Comments: As of May 2021, this boat is on loan from LST-325 and is on display at the Evansville Wartime Museum. I have included photos from both dates.

Author's photo added 5-22-2021.

Owner: LST-325
Boat Number: Unknown
Year Built: Unknown
Location: Evansville, IN Boat #3
Date of Photos: August 2014
Comments:

Owner: Estrella Warbirds Museum
Boat Number: Unknown
Year Built: Unknown
Location: Paso Robles, CA
Date of Photos: Unknown
Comments: The museum purchased this fiberglass LCVP in 2019 from the previous owner in Blue Hill, ME. The museum website states it was built by Higgins Industries in the 1970s. Higgins did not build any LCVPs after World War Two, and the company was not in existence in 1970.

Note that the landing ramp is the same as the previous boats. This seems to be a post-World War Two ramp. Photo courtesy of the Estrella Warbirds Museum.

Photo courtesy of the Estrella Warbirds Museum.

This is LCVP 1188 in Blue Hill, ME in 2012.

Owner: Louisiana Military Museum
Boat Number: Unknown
Year Built: Unknown
Location: Abbeville, LA
Comments:

Photo courtesy of the Louisiana Military Museum.

Owner: Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum
Boat Number: Unknown
Year Built: Unknown
Location: Everett, WA

Photo courtesy of the Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum.

Owner: National Museum of Military Vehicles
Boat Number: Unknown
Year Built: 1960s
Location: Dubois, WY
Comments: The National Museum of Military Vehicles is a new museum that opened on August 7, 2020. It features mostly land vehicles but does have two LCVPs. Both are fiberglass construction. This one has been modified to look like a World War Two LCVP and is on display in the World War Two section of the museum. It is one of the displays one sees after entering the World War Two gallery.

Several fiberglass ribs have been added to the original construction to make it appear to be a wooden World War Two era LCVP. Author's photo added 6-8-2024.

One indication that this is a post-World War Two era LCVP is that the ramp cables are routed to the interior of the gunwales at the bow of the boat. World War Two era LCVPs had the cables routed to the outside at the bows. Author's photo added 6-8-2024.

Post World War Two LCVPs, both wood and fiberglass types, did not have gun tubs. Gun tubs were added to this fiberglass LCVP to make it resemble a World War Two LCVP. Author's photo added 6-8-2024.

World War Two LCVPs had the ramp winch on the floor. Post World War Two LCVPs all had their winches located as this one is. The cables run outside the gunwales on this LCVP, unlike a World War Two version where the cables ran inside the boat. These two items are clear indications that this is a post-World War Two boat. Author's photo added 6-8-2024.

There are a series of photos on the BAIV B.V. Facebook page showing the restoration of this boat. A close look at the photos reveals that the boat is a 1960s fiberglass LCVP that has been made to look somewhat like a World War Two LCVP. The BAIV B.V. Facebook page claims the fiberglass LCVP was built on August 13, 1945. These were not produced until 1965. Maybe this is a misprint, and the BAIV B.V. FB author meant it was built on August 13, 1965.

The reproduction is inaccurate because 1943 LCVPs had the ramp cables that ran inside the boat before running back out of the coaming to attach to the ramp. Fiberglass LCVPs have the cables running outside along the coaming. Some attempt has been made to represent the wooden ribbing that is part of a wooden LVCP. Once one knows what to look for, the restoration photos tell the story. One obvious point that stands out is that there is no ribbing on the floor. In several photos, fiberglass sheet can be seen being installed by the workers. Also, several side ribs have been added to make the original smooth wall look like a wooden boat. Close examination of the photos will show both before and after the fake ribs were installed. Machine gun tubs have also been added.

The cool thing about this is that one gets to see how the molded fiberglass boats were constructed.

BAIV B.V Facebook LCVP link

Owner: Unknown
Boat Number: Unknown
Year Built: Unknown
Location: Unknown location in the United Kingdom
Comments: This fiberglass LCVP was used in the movies "Saving Private Ryan" and "Monument Men." For a more recent BBC documentary "Heroes of D-Day" it was modified to look like a World War Two LCVP on the inside by adding wooden ribs, just like the original boats had. Images of the LCVP can be seen in the link below:

The Shopland Collection

Owner: Northern Recon Group
Boat Number: Unknown
Year Built: 1967 by United Boat Builders of Bellingham, WA
Location: CA

Photo courtesy of the Northern Recon Group.

Owner: Unknown
Boat Number: Unknown
Year Built: 1960s
Location: King Edward Point on South Georgia Island
Comments: This has been reported as a World War Two LCVP. In looking at two photos I have found of the LCVP, I believe it is actually a 1960s fiberglass LCVP. One photo shows the aft section having a rounded transom as the fiberglass LCVPs have. There are no machine gun tubs. Also, if it were of wooden construction, I think it would be in far worse shape than it is.

King Edward Point Photo 1

King Edward Point Photo 2

Owner: Unknown
Boat Number: Unknown
Year Built: Unknown
Location: Key West, FL
Comments: This fiberglass LCVP was photographed in 2014 at an auto junkyard on US 1, northeast of NAS Key West, FL. It was sold in December 2014 and may be one of the restored boats shown above. There were two others in the area being used as working boats. One was used to deliver workers and materials to construction projects near Key West.

Photo courtesy of an online post written by shoestring1923.

Owner: American Military Museum (Tankland)
Boat Number: Unknown
Year Built: Unknown
Location: South El Monte, CA
Comments: This LCVP is marked PA 208-10 on the side. Added 11-30-2020.

Photo at: Ballistic Mag

Owner: American Military Museum (Tankland)
Boat Number: Unknown
Year Built: Unknown
Location: South El Monte, CA
Comments: This LCVP has no visible markings. Added 11-30-2020.

https://flickriver.com/photos/sarge_schultz/36150652934/ In this photo two more LCVPs can be seen behind the PA 21-17. Both are fiberglass. The first on is 36VP65100. It has LST 1191-4 on the side of it. The second one has no markings.

For information only - There are several boats at this location. They are assumed to have been sold and now are part of the boats shown above.

Owner: Unknown
Boat Number: Unknown
Year Built: Unknown
Location: Blue Hill, ME in 2012
Comments: The photos below show at least four, possibly five, different fiberglass LCVPs that were on this property. As noted above, two are now in other locations.

There are two boats here. Photo courtesy of marinesinforestgreen.blogspot.com.

These appear to be another two LCVPs that were, or still are, at Blue Hill, ME. They are not offset in the manner of the photo above. Photo courtesy of marinesinforestgreen.blogspot.com.

This may be a fifth boat. Photo courtesy of marinesinforestgreen.blogspot.com.

For information only - The three shown and listed below in the 2007 link below are assumed to have been sold and now are part of the boats shown above.

Owner: Unknown
Boat Number: Three - Unknown
Year Built: 1960s
Location: Unknown in 2007
Comments: For information only. There are some nice photos of the LCVPs in the link.

Three Fiberglass LCVPs