What was the name of the US landing craft commonly used in amphibious assaults?

The US landing craft commonly used in World War II amphibious assaults was the LCVP, better known as the Higgins boat. LCVP stood for “Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel,” describing a shallow-draft boat that could carry troops and equipment directly onto a beach. Its bow ramp allowed soldiers to disembark quickly under fire.

Designed and built by Higgins Industries in New Orleans, the craft evolved from Andrew Higgins's Eureka boat. Tests in 1938 showed that Higgins's design performed better than a Navy prototype in important beach-landing conditions. The LCVP was usually made largely from plywood and could carry about 36 troops, a vehicle, or general cargo.

More than 23,000 were completed between 1942 and 1945. Higgins boats carried Allied forces during Operation Torch in North Africa, the invasions of Sicily and Italy, Normandy's D-Day landings, and many Pacific operations. They are often mixed up with the DUKW, an amphibious truck; an LST, a large ship for tanks and vehicles; or an LCT, a heavier tank-carrying craft. The LCVP was the iconic troop-and-vehicle shuttle from ship to shore.