Com-Central.net

Like many of us I went and saw "Flags Of Our Fathers". While I thought certain elements of the movie pacing itself subtracted from the whole, I thought for the most part this was a very worthwhile movie to see. Certain elements are left unexplained, but a war buff will understand them. (1).

Being a big tank fan, I was especially happy to see heavy use of the LVTA4s in the movie - the amphibious tanks fitted with the 75mm gun turret of the M8.

The LVTA4 is a very rare vehicle these days, so I highly doubt any of the vehicles depicted in the movie were actual originals. They were probably mobile mockups or some such - or were perhaps entirely computer generated.

I had always been interested in this vehicle, but it was "Flags Of Our Fathers" that compelled me to start researching more on it. I began wondering just how many LVTA4s are still in existence.

There is one restored, functional, swimmable, LVTA4 in the World War II Vehicle Museum and Learning Center, Hubbard, Ohio.
ipmslondon.tripod.com/...ww2vm4.jpg

Apparently, several were given to China in WWII, and one was put on display. (from the TANKS! website)
mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/...stArmy.jpg

Both an LVTA1, and LVTA4 exist in a knocked out, rusted out, state on the island of Peleliu, in the island nation of Palau.
www.danheller.com/imag...-4-big.jpg
www.pfweb.com/plf-usmc...Nview2.jpg
www.pfweb.com/plf-usmc...etank1.jpg
www.pfweb.com/plf-usmc...setank.jpg

Furthermore, France was given several LVT-A4s and operated them for quite a while - so it is possible an LVT-A4 survives in France aswell.

Anyone know any other survivors? I got that list of mine from perusing Google for a while - so it is almost surely not complete.

Also, I was wondering... The vehicles rusting away in Palau appear to be pretty well thrashed, but at what state is an AFV not even worth refurbishing into Static Display quality? The LVT series of vehicles were made primarily out of aluminum - so it is presumable that a high level of the actual structure of those rusted hulks is still there. It seems that with the rarity of the vehicles, a skilled team could at least refurbish them into static museum display quality. What do you think?

---Vil.

(1) (Possible Minor Spoiler!!!)
For instance, when the Marine runs forward and throws 2 grenades into the MG pillbox, surely knocking it out, as soon as he gets back to the friendly lines, the MG starts up again shooting at them. There is confusion as to why the MG is still shooting - but it is never explained. In fact, much of the dug-in defensive positions on Iwo Jima were interlinked. So, in that scene, the grenades kill the MG crew - but a new crew run down the tunnels and man it again. Several minor things like this could have been explained better in the movie. A non "war buff" audience might come out of the theater feeling a bit left out.

Hello,
I know a LVT in the Saumur Tank Museum , but this is not the one with a 75 howitzer.



Also a wreck on Utah beach, very very bad condition (which type??) :




I don't remember of any other LVT in France, but I will have a look.

Pierre-Olivier

There's an LVT(A)1 with the 37mm turret in the Patton Museum here at Ft. Knox.

The LVTs of WW II were built of Un-armored sheet steel with the later version being built of welded armored plate steel (see TM 9-784,TM 9-775, and OCM 19108, 19367, 19992) The LVTP-7 (1970s) was built of an aluminun alloyed.

The Melbourne Tank Museum had several LVT 4s including one LVT(A)4 that was undergoing restoration. It lacked the mantlet for the M8 turret.

Not sure what happened to them when the collection was sold.

David

- David_Clark

The Melbourne Tank Museum had several LVT 4s including one LVT(A)4 that was undergoing restoration. It lacked the mantlet for the M8 turret.

Not sure what happened to them when the collection was sold.

David

Yeah, the 2 inside sold but don't know to who. Only went for around $20,000 Aus as well.

Here's the LVT(A)1 with the 37mm turret at Fort Knox



and here are 2 photos of an LVT at the Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg, Texas





I saw Flags of Our Fathers this evening. Was a well done show. Certainly was a very different war than we see in today's world.

cn

well good news for you , I've found this LVTA4 in France, in a private collection :







Here is the website :

www.asphm.com/nos_vehi...gator.html

Pierre-Olivier

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotor...dZViewItem

The RAAC Museum has two examples but only one on display. I took some pics of the one undergoing restoration when I was still serving. I'll see if I can find them and post them. We were issued them in the last months of the war but they were too late to see service. They were used by the CMF post war (Northern & Hunter Rivers lancers)
Cheers
Al

- Shadow_Banshee

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1944-1945-LVT-4-ALLIGATOR-AMTRAC-FLAGS-OF-OUR-FATHERS_W0QQitemZ180042846555QQihZ008QQcategoryZ80765QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks for posting this one! I did a walk around on it about two years ago when it was in not the best of shape. I'll think I'll pay them a visit again real soon.

Hi,

Here some pictures from the Buffalo, Kotem Belgium.

Regards,
Wim.

And another one.

Surviving American Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT)
Last update: August 24, 2010

Listed here are the LVT-1, LVT-2, LVT(A)-1, LVT(A)-2, LVT-4, LVT-3, LVT-3C (standard LVT-3 modernized in 1949 by addition of roof) LVT(A)-4, LVT(A)-5 Landing Vehicle Tracked that still exist today



dc.about.com/od/photos.../tank2.htm

LVT-1 – National Museum of the U.S. Marine Corps, Quantico (USA)

s10.photobucket.com/al...nt=026.jpg

LVT-1 – World War II and Korea LVT Museum, Camp Pendleton, CA (USA)






www.militaryimages.net...photo/4173

LVT-2 – Utah Beach Landing Museum, La Madeleine (France)

s10.photobucket.com/al...seum/LVT2/

LVT-2 – World War II and Korea LVT Museum, Camp Pendleton, CA (USA)





www.flickr.com/photos/...512516632/

LVT-3 – Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution, Beijing (China)

s10.photobucket.com/al...seum/LVT3/

LVT-3 – World War II and Korea LVT Museum, Camp Pendleton, CA (USA)

www.cybermodeler.com/a...walk.shtml

LVT-3 – Victory Museum, Auburn, IN (USA)

s661.photobucket.com/a...ns/LVT-3C/

LVT-3 – National Museum of the U.S. Marine Corps, Quantico, VA (USA)






www.flickr.com/photos/...304939451/

LVT-3C – Seul War Memorial (South Korea)

www.cdsg.org/forums/vi...44d7d7e666

LVT-3C – Seul War Museum, Seul (Korea)

www.uraken.net/world/k...rea05.html

LVT-3C – Unknown Museum (South Korea)

blog.chosun.com/blog.l...Id=1231749

LVT-3C – Unknown Museum (South Korea)

kookbang.dema.mil.kr/k...e=20091224

LVT-3C – Unknown location (South Korea)

blog.roodo.com/fck1/ar...09755.html

LVT-3C – Unknown Marine Corps Museum (Taiwan)

www.com-central.net/in...ic&t=11854

LVT-3C – Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park, Cordele, GA (USA)

s10.photobucket.com/al...s/Barstow/

LVT-3C – WWII and Korea LVT Museum storage, Barstow, CA (USA)

s10.photobucket.com/al...eum/LVT3C/

LVT-3C – World War II and Korea LVT Museum, Camp Pendleton, CA (USA)

www.com-central.net/in...ic&p=84269

LVT-3C – American Legion Post 285, Galesburg (USA)






forum.planetalk.net/vi...575ec9675e

LVT-4 – Bovington Tank Museum (UK)

s1015.photobucket.com/...t/?start=0

LVT-4 – Armycars Museum, Zwijndrecht (Netherlands)

www.afvregister.org/De...AfvID=4834

LVT-4 – Kotem (Belgium)

www.mapleleafup.org/fo...hp?t=11266

LVT-4 – For Freedom Museum, Knokke-Heist (Belgium)

bohshi.fc2web.com/08fr...mur-6.html

LVT-4 – Saumur Tank Museum (France)
digilander.libero.it/p...ignola.htm

LVT-4 – Museo della Motorizzazione Militare della Cecchignola, Rome (Italy)

blog.roodo.com/fck1/ar...09755.html

LVT-4 – Unknown Marine Corps Museum (Taiwan)

plaza.rakuten.co.jp/co.../?PageId=1

LVT-4 – Unknown location (Taiwan)

commons.wikimedia.org/...-lwt-4.jpg

LVT-4 – Royal Thai Navy Museum, Bangkok (Thailand)

www.panoramio.com/photo/3247809

LVT-4 – National War Memorial, Pathum Thani, near Bangkok (Thailand)

www.flickr.com/photos/...955943564/

LVT-4 – Museum Brawijaya Malang, Malang (Indonesia)

www.pointmanspage.com/...?g2_page=8

LVT-4 – Indiana Military History Museum, Vincennes IN (USA)

www.williammaloney.com.../index.htm

LVT-4 – American Armoured Foundation, Tank Museum, Danville, VA (USA)

www.flickr.com/photos/...222462998/

LVT-4 – National Museum of the Pacific War, Fredericksburg, TX (USA)

travel.webshots.com/ph...8314BYdPQt

LVT-4 – National World War II Museum, New Orleans, LA (USA)

s10.photobucket.com/al...seum/LVT4/

LVT-4 – World War II and Korea LVT Museum, Camp Pendleton, CA (USA)

s44.photobucket.com/al...P060-1.jpg

LVT-4 – Richardson Motor Pool Storage Facility, Patton Museum, Fort Knox, KY (USA)

www.cdsg.org/forums/vi....php?t=258

LVT-4 – US Army Ordnance Museum, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD (USA)

www.lejeune.usmc.mil/mcb/poi13.asp

LVT-4 – Camp Lejeune, NC (USA)

www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM3EH2

LVT-4 – Iwo Jima Monument & Memorial Museum, Harlingen,TX (USA)

www.waymarking.com/way...ngfield_MI

LVT-4 – Springfield, MI (USA)

www.flickr.com/photos/...813479948/

LVT-4 – Yakutat, AK (USA)

www.flickr.com/photos/...045324903/

LVT-4 – Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles (VMMV), Nokseville, VA (USA)

www.flickr.com/photos/...957757108/

LVT-4 – Armed Forces Museum - Alton Depot, Alton, IL (USA)

www.flickr.com/photos/...754701880/

LVT-4 – location unknown (USA)
Photo taken during Thunder over Michigan 2009

www.flickr.com/photos/...779013098/

LVT-4 – Unknown location (USA)
Photo taken during Peleliu and D-Day landings re-enactment at Tiscornia Beach, Benton Harbor, Michigan

www.airdaleamericanhis...4-Pg3.html

LVT-4 – Pacific War Museum, Guan Island, Mariana Islands (USA)

www.toadmanstankpictur...i_lvt4.htm

LVT-4 – Kauai Island, Hawaiian Islands (USA)

commons.wikimedia.org/...LVT4-2.jpg

LVT-4 – Royal Australian Armoured Corps Tank Museum Puckapunyal (Australia)

www.flickr.com/photos/...512443624/

LVT-4 – Army Museum Bandiana, VIC (Australia)

www.ammssydney.com/con...M_AFV.html

LVT-4 – Melbourne Tank Museum (Australia)
This vehicle was sold on an auction lately in 2006 to an unknown collector (Bonhams and Goodman auction house)

www.ammssydney.com/con...M_AFV.html

LVT-4 – Melbourne Tank Museum (Australia)

armygear.org/?Items:MAMM_-_Page_2

LVT-4 – ANZAC Memorial Museum, Meandarra, Queensland (Australia)

anzacsteel.hobbyvista....lyph_1.htm

LVT-4 – John Belfield Collection (Australia)

www.murchisonhousestat...llery.html

LVT-4 – Murchison House Station (Australia)

willysma.com/lvt/lvt.html

LVT-4 – Private collection (Australia)






www.cdsg.org/forums/vi...2be4301a3b

LVT(A)-1– Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor, Fort Knox, KY (USA)

www.flickr.com/photos/...675069819/

LVT(A)-1 – Fairmount Park, Riverside,CA (USA)

s10.photobucket.com/al...eum/LVTA1/

LVT(A)-1 – World War II and Korea LVT Museum, Camp Pendleton, CA (USA)





news.webshots.com/phot...2038GPJeaL

LVT(A)-4 – Saumur Tank Museum (France)

www.asphm.com/vehicule...gator.html

LVT(A)-4 – Association de Sauvegarde du Patrimoine Historique et Militaire (ASPHM), La Wantzenau (France)

picasaweb.google.com/p...ankMuseum#

LVT(A)-4 – Armoured Corps Museum, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra (India)

picasaweb.google.com/m...3777795298

LVT(A)-4 – Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution, Beijing (China)

www.flickr.com/photos/...977146655/

LVT(A)-4 – Tank Museum of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing (China)

picasaweb.google.com/b...cleMuseum#

LVT(A)-4 – Private collection, Titusville, FL (USA)

commons.wikimedia.org/...VTA4-2.jpg

LVT(A)-4 – Royal Australian Armoured Corps Tank Museum Puckapunyal (Australia)

www.ammssydney.com/con...M_AFV.html

LVT(A)-4 – Melbourne Tank Museum (Australia)
This vehicle was sold on an auction lately in 2006 to an unknown collector (Bonhams and Goodman auction house)




blog.roodo.com/fck1/ar...09755.html

LVT(A)-5 – Unknown Marine Corps Museum (Taiwan)

airport.world.coocan.j...fdx19.html

LVT(A)-5 – Tsuchiura Tank Museum, Tsuchira (Japan)

www.primeportal.net/ap...php?Page=1

LVT(A)-5 – World War II and Korea LVT Museum, Camp Pendeleton, CA (USA)

www.toadmanstankpictur..._lvt5a.jpg

LVT(A)-5 – Jacques Littlefield Collection, Portola, CA (USA)

www.mullinsjeepparts.c...Collection

LVT(A)-5 – Brent Mullins Jeep Parts, College Station, TX (USA)





www.amtrac.org/4atcp/1...ay/107.asp

Group of LVT-1 wrecks – Tetere, Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands (USA)

www.amtrac.org/4atcp/1...ay/107.asp

LVT-1 wreck – Tetere, Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands (USA)

picasaweb.google.com/l...1560371650

LVT-2 wreck – Sunked near Saipan Island, Northern Marianas Islands (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands)

www.flickr.com/photos/.../46007847/

LVT-2 wreck – Tinian Island, Northern Marianas Islands (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands)

www.airdaleamericanhis...ian02.html

LVT-2 wreck – White Beach 2, Tinian Island, Northern Marianas Islands (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands)

www.flickr.com/photos/...372878806/

LVT-2 wreck – Peleliu Island (Republic of Palau)

www.flickr.com/photos/...461002855/

LVT-4 wreck – Exact location is unknown, New Jearsy (USA)

www.flickr.com/photos/...414480750/

LVT(A)-1 wreck – Peleliu Island (Republic of Palau)

www.flickr.com/photos/...728939782/

LVT(A)-4 wreck – Peleliu Island (Republic of Palau)



I’m looking for photos of those vehicles:

LVT-1 - Canadian War Museum, Ottawa (Canada)

LVT-3C - Grayslake (USA)
LVT-3C - Albany (USA)

LVT-4 - Kansas Museum of Military History, Augusta (USA)
LVT-4 - National Museum of the U.S. Marine Corps, Quantico (USA)

I'm pretty certain that this a LVT3 the picture was taken by a buddy of mine about 10yrs ago up around Yellowknife NWT. if I remember correctly. For all I know it could still be there today.



If anybody knows more please enlighten me on what happen to it